View Full Version : Biting puppy
jaynav
Oct 6, 2007, 01:59 PM
My staffordshire puppy is 16 weeks old, after having very hard time when we got her, i.e. nearly dying twice and costing us a fortune at vets, she is currently waiting for second injection, due in 6 days, she has never been for a walk yet as not fully covered for parvo etc, she is a lovely puppy, has been spoilt rotten but now recorrecting bad habits, i.e. house training,(nearly there), eating really well, but the main struggle we have is an overwhelming excitable exploding puppy! Because she can't go out for walks yet she is mental, this leads to biting and barking when told off, barks at you if your eating, love her to bits but with the bad press bull terriers get the last thing I want is a dog that's going to bite me or my children, please help its nearly two weeks before she can go for a walk yet
labman
Oct 6, 2007, 03:51 PM
Young Labs, which I know best, and other puppies tend to very bad about
Biting. You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting
Another one or themselves. I am not even sure they realize that when they are
Alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten. At 3 to 4 months
They are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking
Moment biting or chewing. One thing you can do at that stage is to knot and wet a piece of cloth. Then freeze it. The cooling will soothe the gums. Only let the puppy have it when you are there to watch it. I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another
Lab. Otherwise they settle for any person they can. They keep hoping to find
One that won't yelp, jerk their hand away, and leave.
You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens.
Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones. Avoid things they can
Chew pieces off and choke on them. Keep them away from electrical cords.
Crates are essential for most young Labs and other dogs.
The pet stores are full of toys that many dogs will quickly chew up into
Pieces they could choke on or cause intestinal blockages. If you are not
There to watch, stick to sturdy stuff such as Nylabones and Kongs. Keep a
Close eye on chew toys and quickly discard anything that is coming apart in
Pieces. Rawhide is especially bad because it swells after being swallowed.
I don't trust any of the consumable chews. The dogs just gnaw them down to a
Dangerous size too quickly. These problems are the worst with, but not
Limited to, large, aggressive chewers such as Labs.
You should also be working on obedience. It can be done at home, and the younger you start the better. With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea.
In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban
Areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings
For extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog
Or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a
Pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much
Easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn
To play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience
Class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete (http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/). For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm) Follow their link to the page on children and dogs.
Wear her out at home with fetch and other games. If you can't take her out, try to have people come visit her. If dogs are going to do be friendly to strangers, they must meet many of them when young. You are already past the most effective age.
You will find more info at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/information-articles-our-dogs-expert-labman-53153.html#post251802
jaynav
Oct 7, 2007, 02:32 AM
So for reassurance, just because she bites now and barks at us if we tell her off doesn't mean she will bite when she is older, we do some obedience with her, she will sit, lie , give paw and wait when told, anything for a treat! We start puppy classes in two weeks after her final jabs so will keep perservering until then thanks
labman
Oct 7, 2007, 05:25 AM
As the beginning of my answer indicates, the biting is very common. She sounds a little more strong willed then most. With careful training, you should have a fine dog.