Puppy biting ouch!!

We've had tizzy for a few days now and she has certainly come out of her shell.

She is biting a he'll of a lot! She's ripped my hands to shreds that they sting, she seems to bite when she gets excited and when we are playing with her.

Im not sure how to train her to NOT bite as I know it's a puppy thing, also she's only 6 weeks and not 7 so is this too young to do anything about it?

When I'm playing with her I try to give her her rope to bite instead of my hand but she still try's to go for my hand.

Any suggestions?

It is never to young to start we had Milly from a young age. You need to say no in a firm voice and walk away and do not take her on that is what we did with Milly and it did the trick they seem to learn quick.

I've tried saying no and getting up but then she starts to go for my feet.

I have noticed if I say no and bang the carpeted floor at the same time it startled her and stops what she was doing which then gives me the opportunity to get away from her without getting bitten on the way.

I'm not sure if the banging on the floor is a good idea though as she's going to associate the bang negatively isn't she?

No doesn't seem to be working as she's on a proper hypo at that point.

She is very young so i think you should do what her mum would.
Which is wrap your fingers around her muzzle like a mother would bite her (not tight) and tell her no in a very firm voice not loud, just mean it.
You could try yelping also this has worked for several people.
When she bites you yelp and move her away from you and ignore her for a few minutes
If she still tries to get to you, turn her around facing awau from you and scoot her away.
Encourage nice play and calmness and ignore the nipping and bad behaviour.
May i ask why you have her so young, its such a shame this is becomming more and more frequent, and then you have a petty little problems like nipping which their mum would of taught her, but those petty little thing can turn into something else entirely, especially if it is not a nibbed in the bud asap.

It takes time you need to be persistant and make sure everyone else is doing the same with her its the 3 p's Patients, persistance and praise I thought I would never get there but I did. When they are so young they just see it as playing but you need to set the foundations now. I am sure she will be fine xx

I'll try the muzzle thing and see if it that works.

I didn't realise, stupid I know. I thought she was 7 weeks when we got her so she would of been 7 weeks 3 days today but I worked out when she was born and she's actually 6 weeks and 3 days.

I'm here asking so I can nip it in the bud instead of just ignoring it, thinking it's cute.

Deverill wrote:I'll try the muzzle thing and see if it that works.

I didn't realise, stupid I know. I thought she was 7 weeks when we got her so she would of been 7 weeks 3 days today but I worked out when she was born and she's actually 6 weeks and 3 days.

I'm here asking so I can nip it in the bud instead of just ignoring it, thinking it's cute.

You will get there xx

I do not blame you, a respectful breeder would not allow their pups to go until they are old enough.
I don't really care what excuse they have oh the mother is having problems, if thats the case there is nothing stopping them from bringing the pups up on their own and if they do not have time do to that and they do not prepare for the worse and they wouldn't know where to start then they shouldn't breed.There is no excuse.
I am sure you will do your up most in bringing this pup up correctly and asking for advice is great and always welcome....These "breeders" just annoy the heck out of me.

MissRogue wrote:I do not blame you, a respectful breeder would not allow their pups to go until they are old enough.
I don't really care what excuse they have oh the mother is having problems, if thats the case there is nothing stopping them from bringing the pups up on their own and if they do not have time do to that and they do not prepare for the worse and they wouldn't know where to start then they shouldn't breed.There is no excuse.
I am sure you will do your up most in bringing this pup up correctly and asking for advice is great and always welcome....These "breeders" just annoy the heck out of me.

And I agree with everything your saying as I know it's true.

I'll try the muzzling thing and see how that goes then report back, she's a feisty little bugger though lol.

Deverill wrote:

MissRogue wrote:I do not blame you, a respectful breeder would not allow their pups to go until they are old enough.
I don't really care what excuse they have oh the mother is having problems, if thats the case there is nothing stopping them from bringing the pups up on their own and if they do not have time do to that and they do not prepare for the worse and they wouldn't know where to start then they shouldn't breed.There is no excuse.
I am sure you will do your up most in bringing this pup up correctly and asking for advice is great and always welcome....These "breeders" just annoy the heck out of me.

And I agree with everything your saying as I know it's true.

I'll try the muzzling thing and see how that goes then report back, she's a feisty little bugger though lol.

She's female we are all the same

That's very true, I have a nasty bite lol

I remember saying that to a few chavs who were making comments about my dogs. they were calling them ugly and dangerous i turned around and said its not the dogs you gotta worry about mate, ill do more damage then these three put together and if you don't keep your mouth shut i'll prove it.
Never had that problem again, now they just avoid me completly even when i on my own.
I supposed the facial piercings, black clothing and the witch rummors about me scares them more than the dogs, which is fine by me.

I like your style

I've told OH about the muzzling and he agrees so we are on the same wave length which is good.

Fngers crossed hey!

Good to know your both in on it, it'll be alot easy and you will teach her a few things or two about being a pack.

I think the muzzling thing is going ok, well I haven't been properly bitten since starting doing it.

When she starts to get nippy most of the time when I muzzle her and say no shell give a little growl and when I let go sometimes she will really try to go for me.

So when she does that I either put her on the floor (if she's up on the sofa with me) and ignore her (she doesn't like this but she soon learns) or I'll put her in her crate and give her some time out to calm down.

As I'm writing this, I've muzzled her for nipping, she growled and tried to retaliate so I've put her on the floor and am ignoring her (she's trying to jump up the sofa crying).

When she's calmed down I'll show her attention and shell probably lick me as she usually does and praise her for the good behaviour.

Is it natural for her to growl and try to retaliate when being told off? Am I not being firm enough or is she just being the uruly baby and trying to get her one way?

Try just holding her scruff of her neck see if she stops and is submissive to you she may be a doninant girl to growl at you or she just playing

I think that turing around and ignoring them is the best method. The breed craves human affection so much that this seems to work well. She is very young and could benefit from socializing from older dogs provided they are properly vaccinated. If that is not and option try giving her something she can chew every time she misbehaves. Yelping to correct the behavior is okay but is no substitute for being taught what is proper by other dogs. Have patience and be consistent with all the handlers and every thing will work itself out.

She's got her first injection next Wednesday and then her second one two weeks later, so other dogs isn't an option at the moment. I'm going to have a look and see if there is a puppy class near me to join in a few weeks time so she gets that socialisation.

I've tried several toys, rope and rubber chews. I've even frozen a tea towel and tried playing 'tug o war' with it so she would get a could bite on it to hopefully help cool her gums but she looses interest very very quickly lol.

I've even bought her a puppy teething kong and put the kong puppy paste in the groves, nope she just gives it one or two licks then buggers off haha.

When she does start to get really nippy she also gets really whiney too, so I know her toothy pegs are hurting but I don't know what else I can do, I've offered her the things which are meant to help but she doesn't seem to get it.

I'll keep offering her these things though and hopefully she will click on soon as she is still very young.

It's like having a teething baby and feeling helpless

I've always used a vegetable paste inside of the Kong. I use carrots, sweet taters and cabbage. This seems to keep her occupied. Best of luck and I'm sure you will find what works for you.

We have just been through the nipping stage with Winston.. we said a loud NO or BAH which seemed to work eventually. Should see the scars on my hand.. he still does it when he gets excited though . perserverance is the key !!

When your puppy teethes you can make up a takeaway container with bits of vegetables, a boiled egg cut in half, any odd scraps of meat and then top it up with water with a stock cube dissolved in it. Freeze it and then tip it out for your puppy to lick and chew at.. but definitely only outside.. it makes a mess!

Frozen carrots are soothing as well.

Oo they sound like good ideas and tasty from a dogs point of view lol. I can do the takeaway container to freeze over night tonight and see how she gets on with that tomorrow.

We shall see! It's just trying to keep her mouth occupied and not by me lol.

Thanks for all your tips!

try not to play tug of war games with your pup until they completely stop nipping has it encourages the pup to hold on
when they bite thinking its all part of the game

Yeah my hands found that out the hard way lol.

I've calmed down with the games today and yesterday and she seems to be getting better.

Tracie-Milly-Moos Mum wrote:
She's female we are all the same

So true!

MissRogue wrote:I turned around and said its not the dogs you gotta worry about mate, ill do more damage then these three put together and if you don't keep your mouth shut i'll prove it.

Good for you!!

Our Ellie tends to nip while getting very excited, she is 7 weeks and 3 days. I find telling her firmly 'NO' seems to work for me. Toilet training needs some improvement. She is adorable though.

*AL* wrote:Our Ellie tends to nip while getting very excited, she is 7 weeks and 3 days. I find telling her firmly 'NO' seems to work for me. Toilet training needs some improvement. She is adorable though.

At just over 7 weeks, I wouldn't expect her to be anywhere near housetrained yet!

To be fair she's doing well for her age. She's managed to poo by the french doors nearly every time so far and loves getting a treat for encouragement. Wee's are a bit hit and miss. She seems a very good natured pup and just loves the attention.