Hi everyone. Rufus is now 9 1/2 months. He's gone through lots of bitey phases throughout his puppyhood but this had greatly reduced of late. He was neutered on Friday, and it's like I'm living with a shark again!! My hands are scratched and I'm sporting a nice wee bruise on my leg from a nip from yesterday. Now I know he's frustrated...there's nothing Ruf likes more than to play fetch with a beloved tennis ball, but we're on short walks for the 10 days following the surgery. I've been doing short clicker training sessions to try to tire his brain. We had previously stopped the clicker training as he can get quite denanding for the treats and that's when the biting starts....exactly what's been happening again. He's been particularly growly and barky at my partner...I'm convinced he's just wanting to play/wants his attention, but my partner has me worrying again about this ongoing biting/aggression. We have plenty of frozen kongs, are going on nice short on lead walks, visiting relatives and taking wee car journeys, and perservering with the clicker training. I've also bought a kong wobbler to try with his food. Any other tips? Also, back to square one with the biting...ignoring and stopping play/training and either diverting or removing myself from the room/his attention. What do you think? At nearly 10 months I'd hoped we would be over this. He's so much bigger and when he's growly and bitey he does look intimidating... Thanks in advance lab lovers! Trina x
It sounds as if you’re doing lots of appropriate things to keep his brain busy while he can’t be so active, but he’s feeling the frustration of not being able to rush around. Try turning your back on him and ignoring him, or even leaving the room, as you’ve suggested. Wispa can still be intimidating at times - and she’s now 6! Her recall is very good when we’re out on walks, but getting her in from the garden is another matter if she hasn’t finished all her sniffing! If I try to hurry her she’ll suddenly rushes at me, so I turn my back and she then calms down and follows me indoors. The Kong wobbler should keep him busy for a bit. You could try hiding it for him to find too, rather than just giving it to him. I hope he settles down again once he’s back to his normal routine.
Keir is ten months old, he’s not a shark but he’s a monster in other ways. He shouts at me for attention. I’ve started standing stock still and covering my face. Then when he stops I continue (usually it’s when I’m getting ready to take him out, but not always). He’s beginning to respond and stop the barking sooner. The snuffle mat keeps him busy for a good 15 minutes - Tatze gives up long before he does. .
Shark Puppy... sounds about right. Bella loves to eat on me. My favorite is the ankle sneak attack. (very painful ) My hands and arms look like I have been playing in briars and thickets.
