AnnaHainsworth Could I make a suggestion only because Ziva was like this when wee brought her home , took her to vets and had cellotape test done incase of mites or something other puppy related and my Vet suggested she this .... Could puppy be to warm ?? I removed Ziva's vet bed and put down couple of her towels and she stopped scratching straight away and is happy lying on her towels lol Marie & Ziva
Aw Marie!! Must just be "that age". I use 'palm out' for 'Wait' so that would probably work for my situation anyway! When she had been biting before, I tried 'yipping' in a high pitched tone to let her know it hurt. Didn't work, just made her more excited....
I'm so glad I found this forum and this post. I have an 11-week-old Lab puppy and I'm ready to pull my hair out! My first Lab was NOTHING like this with the nipping, biting, pulling on the lead, trying to eat everything she finds outside, but the worst part is how she will NOT stop trying to chase and jump on the cats. My cats loved my other Lab and she loved them. As a pup she never bothered them like this. I lost her at the age of 12-1/2 in January and love the breed so much that I decided to get another one. "Easy peasy" I thought. My first Lab was a gem. I can count only two things she ever did wrong -- Seriously! I've had this new pup for 3 weeks and am going insane! It's encouraging to hear she'll grow out of this because I am "this close" to returning her to the breeder. It's that bad. Some things are going well like housebreaking and crate training, but these behavior issues have to stop. There is nothing enjoyable about having this puppy right now. I'm almost in tears thinking it will never get better. She only behaves when she's exhausted or sleeping. I'm working hard on correction and training but I'm seeing little progress at all. Anyhow, I'm just venting. That and crying.
Hi CatThief and welcome to the forum. Puppies can be very, very trying and some are a lot more of a challenge than others, that's for sure. Just keep on with the mantra "This will pass. This will pass!". For now, can you keep the puppy and cats separate? Do the cats have a safe place they can get to that the puppy can't? You want to make sure they're happy in their own home. Do you clicker train? You can use that to teach the behaviours you want when the cats are around - treating her for calm behaviour. The "behaviour issues" are just normal puppy exuberance; she's not misbehaving, just doing what comes naturally to her. Here's a guide that may help you with the biting phase: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/your-labrador-puppy-biting/ And for pulling on the lead: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-stop-your-labrador-pulling-on-the-lead/ Pulling is rewarding for your puppy and you need to be really consistent in order to break the habit. This means never moving forward when she's pulling. So don't ever have her on a lead with you when you need to get somewhere. Look on being on the lead as only training - not walking. You may only move twenty metres in half an hour. That's fine - she's learning. Until she walks nicely to heel on lead, drive her to her off-lead walks and let her out of the car off her lead. It is tough (I know, I had to do it with two puppies at the same time!) but you will get there if you are completely consistent and never allow her to get anywhere by pulling. Good luck, I hope you take plenty of reassurance that most of us have been there and it does get better - a lot, lot, LOT better! You're not the only one to shed a tear of frustration over the puppy phase. We think it's going to be a fabulous time, but the reality is often a shock.
She really is a very normal Lab puppy CatThief! Your first Lab was the unusual one I meet Lab and Lab x puppies every week and hardly any are as easy as your first dog - I would go as far as to say none of them are! snowbunny has linked to some excellent articles and there are plenty more on the main site. Also - none of the things you describe are behaviour issues, just a normal part of puppy development. Try to change your perception as she's not being naughty - just learning! And it's up to you to teach her the right lessons. Be sure you do lots and lots of socialisation too. Enjoy you pup - this phase is so soon over. What is her name?
It's so hard when we lose a dog isn't it? I waited a whole year after my lovely chocolate Lab died, aged over 14, before I got a new puppy, and in those first few weeks I just missed my old boy so much. My new pup, Molly, seemed much worse with biting - but perhaps I'd just forgotten what Rolo was like. Anyway, she did grow out of biting at around 14 - 16 weeks and has gradually become my gorgeous girl who I love to bits. As you get to know your puppy and you spend time playing together, she will become the dog you want and work for. Good luck!
Hi Cathief and all other readers, So my wife and I have been following this thread for the past several months. We got our first puppy lab, Brody, at the start of the year, which makes him about 5 months of age today. So many times I've gone to this thread for reassurance that Brody would get past all the biting, nipping, jumping, potty accidents, etc. a few crazy things he used to do: - Pee and poop on himself and in his crate, despite all that we've read about pups not soiling their bedding - Bite at my wife's ankles as she walked around the house - jump up and bite our arms when we took him for walks. Bite as in clamp down on our sleeves and not let go. Like a trained attack dog. - Bite all our house guests and chase them endlessly Biting was the worst problem. My wife had breakdowns several times and cried multiple times. I kept going to this thread to convince myself that it was just puppy behavior and that it would pass, but there was always that thought of "what if my puppy is the exception and doesn't get past the biting." We tried everything to stop the biting... - yelp when being nipped. Didn't work - shake a can full of coins to startle Brody. Only worked for a couple days. - use bitter apple spray. Would only work if whatever he bit was soaked in the stuff. In other words, wasn't practical. - wife would put wasabi paste on her ankles to prevent the biting. This actually worked, but isn't the cleanest and most elegant way to live life at home. Then just recently between 4.5 to 5 months of age, Brody has gotten miraculously better. He nips softly sometimes, but after saying "leave it", Brody lays off of the biting. It really is a feeling of Euphoria when we see him being peaceful without biting us. And we thank this thread for getting us through the past 3 months. Every day has been a struggle, but everyone is right when they say that pups grow out of the behavior. I understand all dogs are different and some may take longer or shorter to get past puppy biting, but it will past. The best you can do is be consistent with training and keep telling yourself that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, around when they hit 6 months I'd say. Brody still has his puppy issues: steals shoes and slippers, goes after boxes/paper/plastic to destroy them, pulls on lead when seeing other pups walk by. But overall he has improved significantly at this 5 month mark, that were confident he'll get even better with time. Our trainer has also expressed that he's just going through normal puppy behavior. Hope this is helpful. My wife and I want to thank everyone here for sharing their stories, so we want to return the favor to all those going through the Labrador puppy phase.
That's a lovely post, McBrody...and a very warm welcome to the forum. Got any photos of you (reformed) crocopup? We'd love to see them, and chat to you on the boards.
Hi McBrody, and welcome to the forum. I was so pleased to read your post and to hear that Brody has emerged from the "crocopup" stage. As you say all pups are different and take different lengths of time to get through this stage but they get there in the end - consistency is the key to you through. I would work on his "leave it" as it is such a useful command both indoors and out on walks. So for the important questions, what colour is Brody? We love to see photos of puppies.........
So lovely to hear you have successfully manouevered the dreaded 'crocopup' phase! Welcome to the forum
Please tell me it really will get better. I love Labs and this is my 3rd one. I raised the other two from pups and never had any issues at all that I would describe as anything uncontrollable. I got this new puppy at 8 weeks old and she's 12 weeks old now. She will not stop nipping on hands, pulling on clothing, grabbing the lead and yanking on it, pulling grass out by the roots, trying to eat stones, leaves, twigs and more, and the absolutely worst thing is how she relentlessly goes after the cats. The only thing that stops her is distracting her with a treat. She knows "let go", "leave it", and "no", but obeys them on her own terms which is for about 2 seconds. My poor cats approach her gently. They all were raised with dogs. But this puppy jumps, nips, barks, and chases. Even when a cat gives her a good hard smack on the head, and one cat bit her on the muzzle enough to make her yelp, she continues to bother them. Seriously I'm " this close" to returning her the breeder. I'm literally in tears! I'm supposed to be enjoying this stage in her life but instead I'm hating every moment of it, except for when she's asleep. Taking her outside is no fun. She has no interest in chasing a ball or chewing a nylabone. Inside she will play with toys, but I can't play WITH her - all of my fingers are covered in bandaids and all of my sleeves are torn - she's faster than lightning. I keep reading how she'll grow out of this. Lord knows I'm persistent with corrections. Will it really ever end?
I'm so sorry I posted again. I looked for my original post and didn't see it so I posted again without checking again. I apologize for doing that. Thank you EVERYONE for your helpful replies. About the cats, yes they have places in the house where the puppy does not go, set up with cat trees, feeding stations, windows, litter boxes, but they want to be where the puppy is. I'm also afraid if I isolate them completely then there will be no opportunity for training. Their time together is limited, but during that time it feels like all hell breaks loose. Yes, I'm realizing my first two Labs were exceptions. I sure do miss what I thought I knew about the breed.
It definitely, definitely, definitely will get better I think that the puppy stage is really the hardest by far (apart from the 1 puppy in 1000 that miraculously isn't a biting machine). It is the hardest because our expectations are so high, because puppies are so boisterous and bitey, because we get no sleep, and because the puppy hasn't learned a lot so we don't really feel we have a common language. It's a really challenging time and so many puppy owners will be able to relate to your posts, CatThief (just have another read of McBrody's post ). At this stage the important thing is just to remember that it's a temporary stage and that the biting really will reduce in the not too distant future. With all the behaviours that are challenging (like grabbing the lead) a good approach is to provide rewards for an alternative behaviour. So, for jumping up, reward for sitting instead. At first you have to train the behaviour when the pup is not in an excited mood, and start with only small expectations and reward the slightest attempt. Luring is a good way to initially show your pup what you want but after a few tries with luring switch to a reward, which is where you give the treat after the behaviour has happened, rather than using the treat to distract the puppy or to move her about. Does that make sense? If not, please say and I or someone else will explain it With lead walking it can be effective to first get her to follow you, without a lead. After all, the lead is just a safety device. The behaviour you actually want is her moving with you when you move, so have a try of doing that (with plenty of treats and in a safe place) before worrying about the lead Tug games can be good to play, using something that keeps your hand at a distance (like a toy on a rope). Also, hiding food treats while she waits in another room and, when she's quiet, letting her out and encouraging her to find them. Anytime at all that she is quiet and still (even for 5 seconds) praise and reward with a treat. Basically, you get more of what you reward so, anything you like, reward it It is also fine to use the crate (give her some tasty treats or filled Kongs to occupy her) while you have a rest and a mental break Most of all, don't lose hope. It really will improve.
Hi CatThief, I can only second what Rachael has written above and would say to read McBrody's post. Sometimes it is hard to see the end of this "crocopup" stage but it will get better it's just that some puppies go through the stage quicker than others. I often think of these early weeks with our puppiest are like the early weeks with our newborn babies crying and not understanding their needs and then babies start exploring their world and put everything in their mouths . Try not to despair, it will get better
Thank you so much for all of the encouragement and hope, and for all of your helpful suggestions! Birdie is indeed much better when she isn't excited. That will be step one to anything I do with her. Excitement will result in me folding my arms and turning away until she calms down so we can begin again. Thank goodness crate training is going well. I keep trying to look at the things she is doing RIGHT. There actually are some of those, yet it's easy to let my frustration take me to a place where all I see is no hope. Everyone here has been so supportive! Wow, I really needed this to stay focused.
Hi there, I've just read through a few posts on this forum and am quite relieved! We have just welcomed a beautiful black girl to our family. She will be 10 weeks old tomorrow. The biting/mouthing has started in earnest we have the chew toys, we have the time out and we have been yelping when she bites too hard. It is very frustrating! We chose a labrador as they are a family orientated dog who is good with children etc I was beginning to think we had done the wrong thing. But to know it is just a phase I'm relieved.
