Hello, Jenny seems to be much more bitey and lunging in the past week. Today I felt like I could have strangled her although I wouldn't. She has been so bitey all day. Took her out three times in the yard just to let her run and pick up sticks, etc., a little clicker training, just fun things. As soon as we came back in every time, she would lunge at me. When I would give her a treat, she'd lunge if she didn't get another. This has been how my week has gone with her. Do they get worse before they get better? Jenny will be 4 months the 16th. Love her to death but my hands and arms look like I have been in a battle!! Any advice is appreciated.
Um it didn't get "worse" for us, just stayed the same until it started petering out (4.5 months was our turning point, so hang in there).
Bessie's right around four months and we're having a resurgence of crocopup. She was really good after about 10 weeks of age, and now it seems to be back in slightly different form. I realized she bites my ankles when we're at the end of a (short) walk either because she's tired or she doesn't want the fun to end. I took her to the farmers market today for socialization and I'm sure everyone thought I had a deranged puppy. She was lunging at everyone's faces and jumping in the air to try to get at them. Stand on the leash, sure. We'd never have been able to leave! Sigh. Patience is so hard.
Betsy didn't get worse - but she was pretty terrible so it's a good job! She is still a bit snappy at 5.5 months. She'll snap at hands etc but on the whole much improved. The biggest difference was her adult teeth coming in. Losing the razor sharp puppy teeth helped a lot! Then there was a gradual improvement.
I would say they got worse in that they got livelier, stronger and more confident. Big front teeth coming in is definitely the turning point imo. ...
Molly is much better at almost 6 months - until she gets too excited and leaps around snapping She does respond though when told 'no biting', seems to suddenly remember her manners and sits down looking sheepish.
Thanks for your responses. I guess I just have to have more patience and thicker skin. I feel better that I'm not the only one going thru this. I do remember I went thru this with Coco, my beloved first lab, but after 14 years, you forget how long this phase lasts.
Bailey was a terror with his crocopup stage, but now at 7 months old he is so much better - adult teeth coming through made life easier although when over excited or tired he can get mouthy but a quick "excuse me" and it turn into a thorough licking of my wrist/arm and then a big yawn as though that's what was planned all along!
Kibs is 6m soon still crocoing, it's hasn't gotten worse or better cause it was bad to begin with. Every time I'm on the couch he thinks it's crocotime. Just gotta bear the pain and keep on reminding yourself this should end soon.
Around 16 weeks is when they start to fall out. I never found any lying around (she swallowed them all), I just kept an eager eye on her mouth.
The best advice I got from a trainer was, when Ted got over-excited, was to put him gently into his crate to allow him time to calm down. Only a few minutes, but repeat each time he misbehaves, or constantly repeats a behaviour you want to stop. If all this is done calmly, not in anger, the pup will not see his crate as punishment. Early work needs to be done if a crate is part of the pup's life, in getting him accustomed to loving the crate. Over-excitement is often there because the puppy is still over-stimulated from playing, training, or out walking, and putting him in the crate routinely immediately after such events, is to let him know he can chill and power down a bit. It works for Ted - and he had quite a reputation as a croco-pup. Every visitor now comments on how much calmer he is. He'll be 6 months in about a week's time.
Betsy started teething really early! I'd say she was losing puppy teeth from about 11 weeks! Charlie was much later. She didn't swallow them and it was really obvious her teeth were falling out! She had almost all her adult teeth coming through by 5 months, and she is done now at 6 months.
I feel your pain - figuratively and literally I'd bet! We are using corrections as best we can but are looking forward to the end of this stage. I have been wondering about giving Archie a "time out" for aggressive biting. I think I will give it a shot. Thanks for the tip, Dennis. Archie is 12 weeks now. Looks like we will be living with a crocopup for a long while yet! Deb
I did consider giving my boy a bone wrapped with sandpaper in hopes he would dull those baby teeth down. It was awful and if you haven't been through it you don't get it. Distraction helps. Immediately leaving the room helps too. As soon as his chew toy (me) left, he would quit. There is a lot of good advice on here but mostly you just have to live though it.
