Help with sharp puppy teeth

Discussion in 'Labrador Training' started by Ziggys mum, Dec 26, 2016.

  1. Ziggys mum

    Ziggys mum Registered Users

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    Hi Ziggy is now 16 weeks and coming along nicely with training.... well for someone that hopes she is doing it right, Sit and Down are working..with the help of treats. Toilet training a success weeks ago...Pee on command a success, this will ne needed as we intend doing a lot of caravanning and of course Ziggy will come with us. We have naughty time where he nips at clothes and feet... NO seems to be my favorite word. We do have several gentle time sessions where i sit on floor with him and pat gently and coax him to be gentle, seems to be working. Walkies are mainly sniff everything, though i use treats to try heel sit st curb etc. I just want to know if any of you have other tips or suggestions and advice if I am doing things right. It is amost 20 years since I had a pup, and Ziggy is my first Labrador pup..
    Thankyou in advance
     
  2. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    My puppy woke up yesterday as a devil dog, so I can sympathise with the sharp teeth! Especially when a tooth slips into a hole previously made by the little gnashers.
    It sounds like you're doing everything right, though. Just keep on interacting with Ziggy, encouraging gentle play and distracting him when he uses his mouth too hard. Something @Boogie says is to always have a toy on hand and shove it in pup's mouth when they get too hard. This didn't work with my last pup, who just wasn't interested in toys, but is a fabulous tactic with Luna. When she turns into a Tasmanian Devil, I know there's no reasoning with her, so she gets put in her crate for a rest.

    I've not taught any "standard" stuff yet (but I've had her less than a week, so you can give me a bit of a break ;) ) but I've done a little bit on "no mugging", giving me attention in the face of distractions and the first steps of a free stack, because I hope to show her. I think the attention one is something that will help anyone. Also, the obvious of not rewarding ridiculous behaviour, so waiting for calm before she comes out of her pen, before I put her dinner down etc.
    Um, recall basics - using the whistle at food time and when she's chasing me around the garden. I know very little of this stuff will stick through adolescence, so I'm not stressing anything at this stage. It's just good for her to learn how to learn at this point.

    Good luck, and I'd love to see some photos of Ziggy :)
     
  3. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    The secret is to be more determined than they are that their teeth will bite on something (anything!) other than your hands and ankles. Be it a toy, a chew a kong - anything at all. Have them at hand and put them in the pup's mouth. They will prefer to mouth your hands so you need to be VERY determined. When they are light enough to pick up I pick them up to put a toy/chew/whatever in their mouth and hold it for them to mouth. If they get overwrought/crazy/loopy/snappy I also put them in the cage for a happy time out with a kong.

    :)
     
  4. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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  5. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    I had a complete monster episode again earlier, out in the garden. Luna was grabbing at my legs - skinny jeans, ouch! - and tugging with all her might. Which may not be that mighty right now, but it was still rather unpleasant. I couldn't get away easily, without it being a great game for her, so I simply picked her up, facing away from me, and in such a way that she couldn't bite my hands. No eye contact, no speaking, just held her for a few seconds before putting her back down again. It worked this time - I couldn't say whether it will continue to do so.
     
  6. xxryu139xx

    xxryu139xx Registered Users

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    it won't be long before you can't pick her up at all anymore
     
  7. Ziggys mum

    Ziggys mum Registered Users

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    Thanks for the replies, and encouragement. Ziggy is nearly 20 kg so no picking him up. I was worried about his weight but after seeing his sire I now realise I am going to have a very big stocky boy...all the more to lovehow do i post a photo
     
  8. Ziggys mum

    Ziggys mum Registered Users

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    Samantha Jones likes this.
  9. Rosie

    Rosie Registered Users

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    I can vouch for that! (Pongo is 42kg, he's a big boy...)

    Without doubt the best training tip I ever heard was that when they bite you immediately turn away and ignore them. It is more effective than "no" because it says: "You just hurt me and you are now boring and I'm not going to play with you when you are boring". If they are biting, then they are wanting to play; you refuse immediately to play; that means the thing they really want just at that minute is taken away; so it is a very, very effective message. It took Pongo maybe two days to figure that one out.

    Welcome to the big boys club!
     
  10. Ziggys mum

    Ziggys mum Registered Users

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    Thankyou Rosie
     
  11. Jenny B

    Jenny B Registered Users

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    We have found in different stages different things working. Yelping worked for a while then it didn't, tasmanian devil - putting in puppy pen and walking away was the only solution, ending play session when the teeth came out seemed to work (similar to putting in playpen), growling at her worked for a while, currently at 6 months its about telling her no and either ignoring or keeping her still until she calms down. We didnt have a tanti today for the first time in a week but at the moment she isnt allowed her normal running and jumping so is a bit frustrated at the times of day when they would usually be walked or out playing chasey etc. Only a couple more days....

    But as it says elsewhere on here the crocodile/tasmanian devil does eventually make way for a puppy when the adult teeth eventually come through.

    Mind you ours has now started to try chewing wooden chair legs - that only started a week ago.....

    We went to puppy training and then to the obedience puppy classes and used food for training (as I wasnt having another 30kg to wrestle when out walking like our older dog was when we got him). Walking is at my pace and food is there for when she is heeling or when she is sitting/dropping/gettign past scary stuff like lawnmowers etc. We have spots where we stop and she can sniff but since the last couple of months there were grass seeds everywhere it was fairly important to stay on the path and keep moving.

    And at the dog obedience puppy training she learnt 'look' in about 30 seconds when the instructors tried a few things with her - often dogs look for the food she looked them in the eye with the 'and wheres the treat' look. Very handy command to have - now when out walking I can get her attention back on me and the food with saying look and having the food in hand for reward when I want her to do something (I kinda also use it instead of 'working' at dog obedience as it works for her). She's also learnt how to sit when we stop automatically without being told. By using the feet right and stomping a little on stopping actually seemed to be the signal ahead of lead pressure or the food (food being the go to second option as lift up and the head follows and they sit)
     
  12. Ziggys mum

    Ziggys mum Registered Users

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    Update on Ziggy.. For the last 4 days i have had quite a few 5 mim sessions with Ziggy....sitting on the floor with him and its a no bities....kisses session, and he is learning that mummy prefers a big we sloppy tongue on my hand instead of a nip. Bit unorthodox but seems to be working for us. Of course there is a treat and cuddle for the kisses and a gentle no bite when he nips,
     
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