mjablonski10
Oct 12, 2007, 05:57 PM
I have a chocolate lab 8 weeks old. I have had him for 6 days now and he already listens to my sit command but he will not stop biting me even after I yell at him. He doesn't get scared when I clap at him loud when he is doing something wrong. I was told to hold his snount shut till he squeels and say no in a stearn voice till he sqeels and it does nothing. I am going to classes with him starting Octber 20th but I need tips now on how to stop this agressiveness he has. Its something you would see in a dog a year old I think.
michealb
Oct 12, 2007, 06:04 PM
Puppies will nib, the best thing we found to do is put a toy in their mouth. My 5 year old lab will still search out a stuffed animal to put in her mouth if I start to play with her.
labman
Oct 12, 2007, 06:09 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 are doing the right thing teaching him obedience now. Keep the sessions short. I really question taking a 10 week old puppy out to a class. Even the best shot programs leave a window for a puppy to catch parvo or other life threatening infections. See Canine Parvovirus, What you should know about (http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/canine_parvo/parvo_brochure.asp)
Still, they do need continuing time with other dogs and strange people. Just avoid places where there may be poorly cared for dogs.