Let me start by saying that I have read your Happy Puppy Handbook and absolutely love it. I have an 8 week old lab that we have had for about a week. The crate training is going well and we are establishing a good recall response off lead (without a command). We have a minor problem with biting, especially with my two young girls. Here is what we currently are doing: if we are down on the floor playing with the pup and she bites too hard, we say "ouch" abruptly stand up for a few seconds and then hand her a chew toy. See also seems to get pretty worked up going after our feet/shoe laces; almost into a frenzy. No matter how many times i say ouch and stop her, she immediately lunges back at my feet. In these instances, I scoop her up and hold her until she settles down and then I put her down, and that seems to temporarily stop that behavior. Is there anything else I can do, or modifications that I need to make to what I am doing? Part of the problem may be that she does not LOVE her chew toys. I have a puppy Kong and a nylabone. She plays with each one, but not for long. I may just need to be patient, she is just a puppy. Who knows...not me.
Welcome to the forum from me and my 14 month old choccie girl. Oh bless your little puppy she is still a tiny baby. You are definitely doing the right thing in removing your attention while your puppy bites too hard. The crocopup stage is certainly painful but doesn't last forever. I'd fill her kongs with some of her kibble from her daily allowance and top it up with something yummy. My girl likes sardines or babana and peanut butter. I'd then freeze them this will add extra interest. If you can stand the mess put a small treat in an empty cardboard box and let her rip in to shreds looking for the food. Make sure she doesn't get over excited as this can whip puppies into a frenzy. Also I would do small training sessions with her, have you though of clicker training? it's such fun. Get your two girls to train your puppy as well it will keep everyone calm and build a bond too. Good luck
Hi and welcome to the forum. Biting, as you know from reading 'The Handbook' is very common. Saying 'ouch' can help ad does the standing up and disengaging with your puppy. If you puppy isn't keen on chew toys try some soft squeaky toys, they are all different and have different likes and dislikes. Kong do a good range and their Tugger Knots see usually quite popular - soft material, strong cord to chew, and squeaky. Always have a toy to hand ready for when the bitey attack begins. For the shoe laces is it possible to just dispense with them while your puppy is small. Sometimes it's easier to remove things that attract rather than have a battle it's rather like having a baby crawling around -remove things out of reach keeps everyone happier. If your puppy is getting over excited you can pop them into the crate for a quick time-out to calm down but we're talking only a very short period as it is to calm not punish. Please tell us more about your puppy. What colour, what have you called her. We love puppy photos as well
Thank you for the quick replys. Delta is a yellow British lab. Unfortunately, I have not yet figured out how to post a pic. We have had American labs before, but this will be our first experience with a British lab. I have been doing a lot of reading up on positive gun dog training and this will be new to me. Looks like I will try filling the Kong and may try a different chew toy. I definitely want to do clicker training. I already have the clickers. I just did not know when to start using one. In fact, my 7 year old daughter asked just last night when we were going to start the clickers. She is now sitting for her meals by raising the bowl. I am also getting her to sit before the door with a piece of kibble. Also walking away from her when she is not paying attention and then letting her discover I am gone and run to me. Just this morning, I added a few pieces of kibble for recall. I took her in a new field yesterday and walked around off lead, she did great at heel even though that was not really my intention for the outing. Should I load the clicker and start using it?
Hi there, and welcome! Glad you enjoyed the book and congratulations on your new puppy. There is some more info on biting here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/ Hang on in there, it gets better
Hi and welcome from me and my 8 month old ex-crocopup, Dexter. That bitey stage is painful but they do grow out of it. I found putting Dexter calmly into his crate for a few seconds worked (once my arm was out of a sling following surgery ). Those 8 weeks were the hardest most painful of times, I was his preferred tug toy and couldn't get him off my left sleeve as I couldn't use my right arm at all, but thankfully it's a distant memory now
Photos need to be hosted on a site like Flickr, Imgur, Photobucket etc. and guidance as to how to upload can be found here http://thelabradorforum.com/forums/technical-help.18/ P.S. Love the name
In that case, I can heartily recommend the sister site to The Labrador Site, http://totallygundogs.com/ Also, the book Clicker Gundog by Helen Phillips is great.
Hi @braden and welcome! I am afraid you need to upload your photos to a host such as Imgur Photobucket or Flickr to post on the site. Although we do have a new facility set up just today that you can post direct if you subscribe to the site as a "forum supporter"
I tried photobucket, but there is obviously some operator error goin on right now. I will play around with it later!
I have read through some of the suggested reading. Rope toy is ordered and on the way. I also saw an extra wrinkle that i could add to the say ouch and stand up routine...actually hopping over the baby gate and leaving the room. I like that idea.
Finally figured out the pic thing! Just wanted to give y'all a quick update on the biting. We are still working on the "ouch" and either standing up or leaving the room, but we had a big break through yesterday. I gave her a tug rope, and she loves it. She will actually chew on it instead of us. The biting has not completely gone away, but it is MUCH improved. I can lay on the floor and pet her without being chewed on. My youngest child (who was previously terrified of our vampire pup) stayed in the kitchen with Delta and me, and played with her for quite awhile last night. Thanks!
Delta is gorgeous, the photos were worth the wait . Sounds as if the tug toy is making a real difference and the consistent approach does start to make a difference. I'm sure your youngest and Delta will soon be best friends and he "vampire pup" phase does end (eventually ), sooner with some pups than others.
Some people will take a wet dish-towel or thin towel, wet it, then wring it into a rope shape and freeze it to chew on - helps relieve some of the teething pains.
lovely to hear your youngest is feeling better around Delta, hopefully the start of a beautiful friendship.
Tried the Kong stuffed with frozen soaked dog food today. Worked really well. Got another one in the freezer for tomorrow. Thanks!
