Hi everyone, I'm new here and we picked up our 8week old black lab a week ago. The first few days he slept most of the time and although he still sleeps a lot, he is ready for more play time now and I am struggling. I have never had a dog before (my hubby has and he is great with him) but I was bitten by a dog as a child so developed a phobia that lasted 2 decades. We have 2 young children so thought now would be the perfect time to introduce a new member of the family that we can all grow up to love and bond with. Now 90% of the time he is good and gold, and we are focused on socialising him as much as possible with babies/children/elderly people etc but during that 10% of the time when he is having that hyper time, if I'm left on my own or with the kids with him, I don't know how to handle his biting and growling. I have to sit on the sofa with my feet up because he goes to bite my feet or the bottom of my trousers. This morning my daughter was lying on the sofa with her hair dangling and he gripped into her hair and wouldn't let go. I tried shouting no firmly, I tried giving him a toy to distract him to let go, I tried opening his mouth to force him to let go but nothing was working. The more she was trying to pull her hair free, the more he thought it was a fun game of tug of war! What can I do to stop this? I know the biting is a phase and as such Im not too concerned and am happy to wait it out, but I don't know what to do in the moment that he won't let go of something like her hair, or my hoodie as he did earlier. He starts growling if you try to pull back and it terrifies me. He will be playing quite nicely on the floor and then all of a sudden jump up so his front paws are on the sofa and he'll bark at me. And if I try to push him down or go to try and reach a toy etc, he goes straight for my hands. I feel like I'm trapped on the sofa until he backs off slightly so I can run out the room for a breather! I know if won't be long before he can jump right up on the sofa so I won't be safe anywhere! It's that sharp bark and growl that I can't stand, it's like he's just waiting to pounce on me and bite me to death!! When he's playing with his toys nicely, I try to praise him and give him a fuss but as soon as I stroke him or anything he whips his head round and rolls around going for my hands! Please help, I'm sure (I hope!) that this is normal behaviour - my husband doesn't seem phased by it at all but when he's at work and I'm alone with the puppy I don't know what I'll do if he grabs me and won't let go!! Hoping you guys can help, sorry for the essay. Emma xx
Hi Emma and welcome Rest assured that this is 100% normal behaviour and your puppy is definitely not being aggressive or anything like that It is purely play, even though it's a bit painful and confronting for humans! The growling is just play too. Don't think for a second that you have a problem puppy - he is completely normal and won't end up with a biting or growling problem when he's older Now, that doesn't mean you have to love getting nipped or have to feel trapped on the furniture. I'm sure it's also not nice to recall the traumatic experience you had in the past. Do remember that your playful pup is not that dog though and will never be. What happens if you get him to loosen his grip by tossing a treat? Or moving a toy on the floor with short exciting darting movements? Do you use a crate at all? Popping him in a crate with a filled Kong can give puppy some quiet time and you some respite With your daughter's hair, it might be an idea to braid it and keep it pinned up for the biting phase. Can you wear footwear that will make you feel a bit more protected in the ankle and shin area? Gumboots..? As you've found, loud voices and pushing the puppy only seem like part of the game to your pup, and will get him more excited as he mistakenly thinks you're enthusiastically joining in. So, hard as it is, being calm and non-physical is the way to go There are some good articles about this very issue on the main site so I'll try to find the links for you.
Have a read of the article in this link: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/your-labrador-puppy-biting/ There are links to other relevant articles at the bottom of that one too.
Hi there and welcome here! I'm so glad you have found us and have gathered up the courage to post. Rest assured that many others have struggled with their pups in exactly the same way that you are now. As Rachel has said, your pup is completely normal and even though the growling and biting seems terrifying, especially with your background, she is behaving like every puppy does. The growling and biting is part of play for them, and they have to learn that people don't play like that! Do have a look at those articles, there are lots of good tips there. Please keep posting and asking questions, you will find lots of people here with lots of experience and ideas.
Hello and welcome from me too. Black Lab called Lady - 5 years old now. We went through the crocodile stage too and now she's a lovely gentle girl. Hang in there and have a look at the really good advice in those links.
Welcome to you. I hope you get used to his puppy ways, pups rarely play nicely, all is mouth and teeth - but it all is just play. I needed to wear wellies for both of my crocapups!, but the phase will pass xx
Hi Emma and welcome. The ladies above have given you some great information. I can't imagine how the growling and biting must make you feel, given your history. It's a very brave thing to take on a dog when you have a fear of them. I can only reiterate what the others have said. It is completely normal and it will pass. I had a hair-biter, too, and it was very difficult to get her off once she had clamped on, so I just kept it out of the way (tucked up under a cap, in a bun etc) when I was playing with her. She now has absolutely zero interest in my hair. Keep us posted and please join in elsewhere on the forum; it's a great community here and loads of people to support you and sympathise during the difficult times.
Hello there,I'm so pleased you have found us so we can offer you some support through the 'croco pup 'phase. I hope your other replies have reassured you that everything is totally normal and this time will pass. Puppies are a lot of work and Labrador puppies cuteness belies the little mischiefs they can be Patience and calm will win through but I can appreciate it's tough when you have the added responsibility of a young family too.Rachael (Oberon ) mentioned a crate,they are wonderful tools to help you through puppy times. If you don't can you make a secure area that your pup can be encouraged into if things are getting a bit hectic?We turned our Utility room into the dog room where Dexter's crate and a bed where,I closed it off with a child gate so he could see us but he was secure if he was getting a bit overexcited. Dex used to grab my pony tail but I usually had a treat about my person to encourage him off and he was a 'cap burglar' for a time,if I bent down when I had one on he'd grab it off my head....he doesn't do either now,they do grow out of things ,you just need to be calm and consistent and they do learn what's what. Lovely to meet you here ,any worries or questions during the day when you are on your own,pop on by,there is always someone around x Best wishes Angela x
Hi, Just wanted to add a little reassurance that what you've written sounds very familiar to me! My mum was scared of dogs most of her life up until a few years ago, having got to know a friend's dogs, but because of this she still really struggled with all the things you've mentioned, she was convinced at one point that Lola (our pup) knew that she was scared of her and 'went for her' more because of it. This wasn't true at all but it can get so difficult when a supposedly adorable puppy turns in to this growling, biting monster! We spent this stage in old clothes, hair tied up, jeans and shoes with no laces. The other trick that was really useful is that if a puppy has grabbed something and won't let go, they will often release if you put your hand right round it directly by their mouth, though I can see that putting your hand right by his mouth may not be something you're massively keen on! We're now 6 weeks ahead of you and honestly, all of this is now a distant memory. Difficult as it is at the time, it really does pass quite quickly, honest
I pick up my Lab this Friday and have warned my kids they are going to lose some socks. Can't wait as it's part of the fun. Yes it will pass.
Welcome to the forum. Some great advice already given on the crocopup stage, I think it's something many puppy owners are taken aback by. How can that gorgeous cuddly pup turn into such a biting machine? If you haven't read it you could also try the Happy Puppy Handbook as that has lots of advice of dealing with the early months with your puppy - biting being just one phase. Good luck and let us know how you're getting on.
Thanks everyone, lovely to meet you all! Thanks for all your kind words and brilliant suggestions, the link was brilliant Rachael so thanks for that. It's made me feel a bit better knowing this is completely normal, I did start to feel like he was going for me because he knew I was scared but he's just a baby I do get that. He does have a crate for night time and for daytime if we are out (school runs/shopping etc) - he has a kong toy but I've never filled it with anything as I wasn't quite sure what to fill with - at this age what would you recommend? Just his normal food? I think the problem we had and I'm quickly realising is that the puppy isn't going to just fit into our current lifestyle as easily as I thought! So things like tying up hair, wearing boots and clothes with no dangly bits, etc are necessary to get through this stage. I've always brought my children up with the view of - they need to learn NOT to do it, not just that they physically CANT do it because I've moved it out the way etc - note to self - this is a puppy not a baby, a puppy not a baby... so will persevere with picking the house up constantly so there's nothing he can chew that he shouldn't and then if he finds something, that's my fault for leaving it out! Thanks guys, feeling way more positive already. You lot are amazing x
Welcome!! Here to offer my support/empathy as well. If you scroll through enough of the pages of the forum you'll find my own post freaking out about my puppy. Rest assured it's just a phase. I don't know exactly when it stopped because it was instantaneous. One day I just realized he hadn't been trying to jump at me and bite me. What worked best (and I tried a lot) was definitely standing up and ignoring him. He eventually learned it was not a fun game and tried something else. But during that stage I was pretty stressed out. My hands were covered in scratches and standing up and ignoring him when all I wanted to do was relax on the couch or nap was really frustrating. Luke (6 months now) is an amazing pup. He is quiet and calm and knows when mommy needs alone time so he entertains himself. Granted he's practically crazed when there's people or dogs around but that's just him being a lab- they have so much love to give to everyone. I can't believe how much he's grown and I can't love him any more than I do. I imagine it must be harder with kids who just want a soft, loving pup but showing them how to best behave around a puppy is great learning for them too. They will definitely get some patience and understanding training. Good luck!
Forgot to mention, I was feeding Luke an overnight frozen kong filled with plain, non-fat yogurt (good for tummies) and doggie peanut butter every day. Sometimes I add a little piece of banana or some blueberries. He has an amazing coat that everyone compliments (he also gets fed very good kibble). Just make sure to consider it as part of his caloric intake so you don't overfeed.
Hello from 20 Month old Molly and me. When Molly was little I couldn't wear a dressing gown because she would grab it with her teeth and hang on. I spent months in jeans and jumpers because anything remotely loose seemed to beg her to grab it and hold on. She grew out of it and so will your little bundle of joy. I have never been afraid of dogs but when you have a little monster snapping and biting at you with those nasty sharp little teeth it is frightening. You think "What nasty snarling, biting monster have I bought in to my home". Again They grow out of it. I think that with your history you are very brave to take on a dog, so give yourself a pat on the back for that. Within weeks most of these problems will be history.
Welcome to the forum, my husband like yourself was very unsure of puppies. Previously we had a two year old rescue dog but this time I wanted a puppy. They do grow out of it. Mabel is 6 months now and has completely stopped the croc o dog stage. I still live in jeans and tops, no jewellery as she tried to nibble my pandora charms. I've no chance of wearing maxi dresses this summer and have a supply of shorts and t-shirts for the summer. For me it's a small price to pay and now she has stopped all the biting puppy behaviour my husband absolutely loves her. I find the forum a great source of information and comfort. Enjoy your puppy. Xx
Hi and welcome! I think most of us can sympathise with this stage of puppy monster! Frozen Kongs are great to keep them distracted. If you are feeding kibble, soak some in water until soft and then stuff the kong and freeze it overnight. Good luck. You will get through this!
Oh yes, frozen kongs are MAGIC, we do one with around 30g of kibble soaked and frozen and it keeps Lola completely absorbed for around an hour. We worked up to it, starting with just dry kibble in them, then soaked and mashed but not frozen so that she got the idea.
