Hello again We have our little 12 week old Hugo who is adorable and things are going pretty well generally! Nights are a lot better and he is really enjoying his training sessions. One thing we are struggling with at the moment is I will be going through some short burst training sessions and playing with him, he then gets quite worked up and has just started in the late few days to jump up and bite and hold onto my clothing and bark at me. I try to ignore but he hangs on and then starts nipping and biting the backs of my legs while I try and walk away or just turn away. Also he seems to be whimpering/barking/whining while I am with him. I can't work this out, I thought it might have been attention seeking but I am there with him so I don't think this is it. I must add this is only happening to me and not my partner. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you
Hello Elise , firstly , please rest assured that this absolutely normal behaviour for young pups , Lab pups are often being the worst offenders , so don't worry, it will pass As you have a couple of issues here with Hugo , can I suggest that you read through one of the above sticky posts , will things ever improve . Also and highly recommended is Pippas book , The Happy Puppy Handbook , which you can order from Amazon , it covers all aspects of puppyhood and I`m sure will help you to understand why Hugo is doing these things and how best to address them , good luck and keep the faith
Hi Elise, glad you are getting some sleep now and thanks Kate Elise, you might find this guide helpful - it's quite long but has lots of information and tips for coping with little biters Good luck with little Hugo
Hugo sounds a pretty normal 12 week old puppy, particularly once he starts becoming excited/tired. Pippa's book is the best investment you could make for your puppy with lots of practical advice that does work . Just keep in mind that he is very much a baby but things will improve.
Yes - this is very, very normal Lab puppy behaviour. There are lots of things you can do to help deflect the worst of it - see Pippa's link for tons of good ideas. The main thing is that they eventually simply grow out of it at around 5/6 months old. Until then most of what we do is managing them and protecting ourselves! I wear skinny jeans and tight sleeves when the pups are youngsters - this helps a lot as they aren't nearly so inviting to snap at!
Hi Elise.....as above.....yes.....normal behavior. And, yes, he will grow out of it but not before ruining some of your clothing and that of others! So, make sure you wear things that will not break your heart if they are ripped or torn to pieces. Seriously. One pair of jeans of mine was ripped apart....two sweatshirts.....my hands...my arms....once I had to assure my doctor I was not in an abusive relationship!!! Their little teeth are like needles right now so wear long sleeves and thick slacks!! Mine now is 22 months old, has a full mouth of huge teeth...but no biting! And he is very gentle if he uses his mouth to take a treat!! So Hugo will get over this.....enjoy his puppyhood....it goes so fast!
Hi Elsie, sorry I've not had time to read all the responses but OH BOY, do I remember those days. It hurts, I was shocked by it all with our boy. I'm sure you've already been given great advice, just know it does get better and stop around the 20 week mark. The thing that worked best for me was to calmly put Dexter in his crate for time out, I wasn't able to do this until he was about 18 weeks old as I'd had shoulder surgery and could only use on arm (the one the little darling was hanging off ). Oh how I wish I'd had two usable arms sooner and not had to be a human tug toy . Good luck, your pup is quite normal.
Thanks for your advice. I already have read the happy puppy handbook but I will refresh by reading again I think! It's good to know he is a normal puppy!