Hi all Just after a bit of reassurance really. Murphy is now 11 weeks - we got him at 8 weeks 4 days. Over the first 10 days his mouthing was really pretty minimal - if he did mouth (with pressure, not just holding) I would yelp and ignore him - he would calm down and often sit and wait then play gentler. Literally since yesterday he has got 100% worse! if I do that now it seems to spur him on and he jumps up and nips even more - he is chewing way more than last week too - absolutely anything he can get near..I was completely aware he would do this, but am a little worried he seems MUCH worse this week than last - is this normal? Does it kind of reach a peak then die off again? I am giving him loads of things to chew, his kong etc and trying to put a toy in his mouth when we play, but could just do with a little reassurance this can happen and its not something Ive done. Ive had to remove him from the room twice today for really biting and not calming down or backing down
Yes completely normal. You are in the crocopup phase . I didn't get Myles until 11 weeks so we never went through this phase (I think because he spent longer in his litter), but it seems MOST go through it and he will grow out of it. Others will have better advice on what to do, but just wanted to reassure you that it is normal .
Oh yes - it gets worse, the crocapup often only emerges after a week or two - Gypsy was very bitey indeed up to 16 weeks and still had her moments at 20 weeks! Tatze was bitey from day 1 in the car coming home! Here are the excellent articles on biting by Pippa http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/
Thanks for that - I think if he had been like this when we got him I would have thought it was normal, but its because I think hes actually got worse over the last few days I was worried our training wasnt working or making him worse! Will stick to what we are doing and thank goodness he likes his crate and his kong for a break from it!
We had exactly the same thing with Lola with the biting getting suddenly worse about a week in, I sort of assumed that it was to do with her getting more settled and confident in her new surroundings, but I'm not sure. Anyway, you have all of my sympathy - we were there very recently, but your post has actually just highlighted for me quite how far we've come, she's 19 weeks now and the biting has been massively better for a few weeks. It sounds like you're doing really well with him and are doing all the best things to cope with the croco-pup phase and just remember, it will pass
Completely normal. Willow was fab when she came home at 8 weeks, but then crocopup phase hit. I don't remember exactly when, but it finished just before we brought Shadow home at 14 weeks. He never had it at all, probably because he spent so much longer with his litter mates and mum. Shadow does now mouth me sometimes in play, but there is absolutely no pressure, so I don't mind it.
Totally normal for a puppy. I never had much of a crocopup phase with Juno - we brought her home when she was 10.5 weeks old and like others I subscribe to the improved bite inhibition from being with litter mates and mum for and extra couple of weeks. In Juno's case Dad was also around with the pups together 2 King Charles Spaniels, a Maine Coon cat and 3 other Labrador girls (2 of whom were in varying stages of pregnancy) so she had lots of other doggy interaction and that was without the breeders 4 boys and her resident visitors for her mediation centre .....
Ella is just hitting 12 weeks too so I feel your pain! I've found that she's biting me less but she's just started biting EVERYTHING in the house! Arrgghh! Here is what was once the cover on out remote control (needless to say we have now moved everything out of reach)
Yikes!! Yes everything is up and out of reach - especially shoes!! weirdly since I posted this he has calmed down a bit again, and today has hardly been mouthy at all - Im guessing its like when my daughter is getting a tooth pushing down, some days she is drooly and grizzly and biting everything, then not at all - puppies are so like toddlers its unreal!
That's about the best way of approaching puppyhood . First you don't understand what they're crying for so you offer food, drink, pee breaks, cuddles, toys and still don't know what they want. Then you have to remove everything to a higher level to prevent them getting hold of it to play with/chew and before you know it you're teething with sore gums (luckily it doesn't seem to last anywhere near as long as human teething ) and before you know it you have a moody teenager . Just as well we love them to bits
I came on here tonight intending to ask about this biting business. My guy Marvin is the worst! We can't walk around in the backyard with out him attacking our legs, and then arms when we bend down to get him stop. My arms and legs are completely bruised and scratched up. Something has to give! Maybe citronella or something that isn't harmful but tastes bad? I have been reading about bite inhibition Maybe that's what is going on- his mom got loose when the litter was 4 weeks and was killed by a car. The couple started rehoming the pups at 6 weeks. I'll take any ideas (as long as they are not hurtful to my guy.)
Hi there. Yes, if your pup was without a mother from an early age and then left his litter at 6 weeks, you're bound to be suffering more than someone whose puppy stayed in the family environment for a proper amount of time. Honestly, though, there is no magic pill. It will get better, but until then, you simply need to remove yourself from the situation and all attention from the puppy when he starts to bite. Have a safe area you can pop him into - a crate, pen, or a safe bathroom. Consistency is key; you have to do this each and every time he bites too hard. Do not talk to him, do not make eye contact with him. Separate yourself and ignore him for 30s. I found a good way was to actually set up a scenario where my Willow was more likely to bite, rather than waiting for it to happen at probably an inopportune time. This is then used as a proper training session. So, I would do it when actively playing with her. If she bit, I stopped and she was ignored for 30s. Then, I would initiate play again, until she bit too hard again. It didn't take many goes of doing this at all before she worked out that biting meant play ended.
Some good advice from Fiona. I took the same approach with Juno of allowing"biting" as part of play but as soon as it became too hard play stopped. They learn amazingly quickly. Please don't use any spray or lotions to discourage Marvin as it could lead to problems with him associating bad things when he touches you - not something you would want. This phase will pass, he's a baby that has missed having his mum to learn manners from and then his siblings which unfortunately leaves you in the biting line.
I'm new to this forum and have been trying to find some testimonials from people who have done "bite inhibition" training. My Charlie is 11 weeks old and really likes to bite hands, arms, and legs, Everything I've read says proper mouthing is ok as long as it isn't too hard. And that if he really wanted to bite me hard I would know it. So for now I'm working on teaching him that gentle mouthing is ok. My question is how do you get him to stop mouthing when the time comes? I feel like if I keep teaching him this he will always think its ok.
Hi there - I started this thread off, and readin back was just having a chuckle as Murphy is now 16 weeks and rarely mouths at all! The only time he does is if I get him really excited and he'll have a little go, but one yelp and an arms crossed and he stops and waits patiently for attention! I started off letting him mouth a bit, more 'holding' my hands than actually biting them - if I felt any pressure I yelped and completely ignored him. On a couple of occasions he went back in for the kill, and he got a "too much Murphy" and put into time out (in the hall where his crate is) - a couple of mins later he was back in and calm. Just be consistent and he will get there! Also for the leg bitiing, the "be a tree" method works really well!
Molly didn't seem to know how to mouth, only bite. I was a network of scabs and bite marks at various stages of healing. Then one glorious day when she was about eighteen weeks I found myself absentmindedly fondling a silky ear and not being noshed for my trouble and that was it. She is nearly two now and i would trust that mouth anywhere.
Twiglet never mouths either, she's either fine and lets us stroke her as if she's a much older dog or CHOMP!! gotcha! I also have scars on my arms which I never had with the last two pups. It's fine when I'm ready for her and get a toy in her mouth, but she still catches me unawares sometimes.
