Hi everyone! How are you? I need some serious help. I have a 7 month old female labrador puppy that hasn't stop biting everything. I must admit that this is the first time I have a puppy, so I'm new at training and, well, all things puppy related. I got my dog when she was just one and a half months old because her previous owners where selling her at such age. However, later I learnt that it's not correct to obtain a puppy so young, but I couldn't return her with her mom due to reasons out of my reach. She is very curious, playful, and energetic, but stubborn. Even though she knows she isn't supposed to bit a plant, she'll later try to bit it again. My family and I love her and are constantly demonstrating her that. It's hard to coordinate everyone in my family to be reminding her what she may or may not do, what she can and cannot bite, and, in general, how to train her. I can only speak for myself, but every time I've caught her biting a chair o anything that she isn't allowed to bite, I don't encourage that behavior and teach her that what she is doing is wrong. However, I'm not always present as sometimes I have to go to classes. Currently, her biting hasn't decreased at all. I feel it has even increased. A lot of people have told me that she might never change, which is my biggest fear. Is this true? I've also heard that if she wasn't properly taught biting inhibition by 4 months age, she would never learn. Is this also true? Could you help me, please? It would be great if you could share with me some techniques I could teach her to stop bitting. Will she ever stop biting?? Thanks for reading this!
Don't worry, you are not alone. There are plenty of forum members who are going or who have gone through the "crocopup" stage, as you will see if you have a look through the puppy board. But don't despair, there is help! Yes, it is true your puppy did not have an ideal start by being separated from her mum and siblings early. One of the things they learn in those couple weeks she missed is bite inhibition. But that's not to say your pup can't learn it from you, it's just a little more difficult as you are not as effective a mum as her doggie one was! Anyhow, here is a link to an article on the main site all about this problem including training tips and videos that will help you: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/ Are you using a clicker in your training? It is a marvellous tool that can help give you an effective way to communicate with you pup. She is just a baby and is exploring her world with her mouth, so yes, she will likely be chewing on things you don't want her to! It helps to provide positive alternatives - Kongs stuffed with soaked kibble and frozen, puppy "teething" toys, etc. We love to see puppy photos! If you go to the technical help board you will I see how to do it, basically you use a site such as Flickr and download your pics from there. What is your pul's name? Good luck with this, do have a look around the boards and don't be afraid to ask questions. There are many knowledge owners who will come along with great tips to help!
Hi and welcome to the forum. Lisa has given you some really good advice. Have you got Pippa's book," The Happy Puppy"? It would really help you to have a read of it. Your darling girl will grow out of the biting stage, it is hard but she will. What is your puppy name?
It sounds as if your puppy isn't biting you (which is what 'bite inhibition' refers to - i.e. learning to treat humans gently) but furniture and objects that she shouldn't. Just continue to stop her, gently, if she gets hold of something she shouldn't and replace it with something she can chew. You may have to put up with this for some time - my Molly didn't grow out of chewing furniture etc, until about 18 months of age - but she will grow up in the end!
Thank you so much for your help It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this puppy biting problem haha. Thanks for the link and the book reference! It's good to learn the proper ways to deal with a puppy. I haven't tried training her with a clicker, but sounds like a great idea. I've read that this technique has helped a lot of people, so will definitely have to try it. Toys have been a lifesaver, but she has her favorite furniture already, so it has been hard not letting her chew it haha. I haven't tried the Kong puppy toys, but will have to My puppy's name is Mocha (she is a brown labrador). She is very sweet and loves to be around people. She is very energetic and playful. She loves water and likes to soak her face in the water bowl haha. I'll try to upload a photo so you can see her. Thanks again!!
What a lovely name for a chocolate girl. My chocolate girl, Juno 14 months old, loves King toys and always has. Her favourite is Mr Squiggles http://www.kongcompany.com/en-uk/products/for-dogs/plush-toys/squiggles/squiggles/ Look forward to seeing some photos of Mocha
Hello there,welcome to the Forum.Mocha sounds lovely and very loved by you all,where abouts do you live?I was really lucky as Dexter only chewed on permitted items.....the only incident I had was a skirting board and door frame ..... I bought one of the bitter sprays you can get from the pet shop and he never did it again....I live in Dubai and it was available here....it might help your chair legs and furniture.... At the age he was I only ever left him alone for a max 1.5-2 hours so I went back to crating him with a kong if I went out....that might have been more to do with it never happening again than the bitter spray now I think about it . Do you use a crate? Best Wishes Angela
I only had a couple of nibbles on furniture from my pup but I then sprayed the part she had bitten with a special bitter apple spray that deters dogs from chewing. Try finding that on line in your country. Also, I recommend lots of cardboard boxes for your pup to chew to pieces, she'll love it.
