Hi Lisa, Ugh, at 10 weeks I was about to lose my mind, but I can say now that with much persistence and repetition I'm already seeing an improvement as Birdie approaches 13 weeks old. The biting is much gentler now. Hang in there. It seems like it takes forever, but things do slowly get better. There will be setbacks along the way, but don't lose hope. The corrections do begin to sink in as they grow. I'm even seeing improvement with the other things I described in my previous posts, all of the things that were literally bringing me to tears. I'm actually enjoying this little cutie after 4-1/2 weeks of tears, frustration, and regrets.
CatThief, that is so good to hear , just goes to show there is light at the end of the tunnel it's just that sometimes it's a long tunnel Lisa, welcome to the forum. as you've already read the biting is a phase puppies go through, not just Labradors. I guess it's something that takes all by surprise that a cute cuddly pup is a bitey little fiend - but so cute when asleep. hang in there and be consistent and it will pass and your pups bite inhibition is so important. Don't forget to introduce yourself through the Introductions forum and tell us more about your puppy - name, colour, photos - definitely photos
Hi everyone. I've just found this wonderful site and am desperate for some advice please!! We have a beautiful fox red male lab called Dexter who for the last 9 years has given us so much fun and love. He's always been so gentle and relaxed, until we decided to bring a puppy home. Now I'm feeling super guilty as he was terrified of her. She is a now 11 week old female golden lab. My problem is her nipping him. He's getting better at being in her company and will occasionally play with her but she keeps jumping up and biting his neck and chest. He yelps and runs away. We have tried telling her no but its early days and the message isn't really getting through to her. I know he needs to tell her off but he won't.. Any advice please?? X
Hi and welcome to the forum! I have no personal experience of having a pup with an older dog, but I think it is important to give them both their own space. Are you using a crate or pen for Jazz? Can you keep a separate area for Dexter to have peace and quiet away from the bitey monster?! Maybe a babygate to keep her in one room, or prevent her from going upstairs or wherever his usual relaxing place is. Have short play times with them together when you can supervise and distract Jazz if she looks like she is going to pester him too much. Make sure Dexter gets his usual walks and playtimes so he doesn't feel left out. It's the nature of having a puppy that they need a lot of attention, so he may feel a bit left out and jealous. I'm sure they will learn to get on and become best of friends so I hope you can find a good way to manage this tricky stage. Oh and we would love to see photos
Thank you. Yes Jazz has a crate but we only use it if we need to go out. Dexter has always slept on our bed in the daytime and she has decided that underneath the bed is hers. We have a baby gate and when she gets too excited then we seperste them. She calms quickly but us so unpredictable, one minute shes fine and then she just nips for no reason. I know this is usual puppy play but just wondered when the nipping may stop. Never had two dogs before so its a massive learning curve. X
Hi everyone, I have just joined today - I collect my new Lab puppy next week. I am a first time dog owner and have thought about getting a puppy for over 2 years now my son is older he can help look after it properly. Any advice on when she first arrives in my home on how I can make her feel safe/welcome?? Thanks K
Hi Kadine and welcome to the forum from me and my two 11-month-olds, Willow and Shadow. There is a page on the main site with loads of great information which will help you out: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/your-new-labrador-puppy/ I would also highly recommend getting a copy of The Happy Puppy Handbook, which is available from Amazon. Loads of us here have used it - I read it twice before bringing the puppy home and again since! Tell us a bit more about your puppy; what colour, and do you have a name for her yet?
Hi Kadine,welcome to the Forum...we were the same,we waited for a long time to get Dexter who is a yellow boy and nearly 3.... Enjoy your puppy preparations ...I didn't find my way to the Labrador Site until well after Dexter had arrived home ,I wish I'd found it before Best Wishes Angela x
Hi and welcome from me and Juno. Best advice and preparation is to invest in a copy of The Happy Puppy Handbook. It really helped me in preparing for Juno's arrival in the house and the first few days/weeks when all seems so strange. I would also say to get partners etc. to read the book as well - it helps to have everyone working to the same rules and saves any arguments
Hello and welcome! Looking forward to hearing all about your new family member! Be prepared to have the puppy sleep in your room (or you on the couch) for the first night or two. It's a terrible shock for a puppy, being away from her siblings, mother and home for the first time... Investing in a crate and/or puppy playpen may save your sanity and your furnishings, but introduce the pup to it gently and slowly, to make it feel like a safe and secure spot. Good luck - we are here to answer questions and understand all the excitements brought about by a new pup in the house!
Hi there, I got my Poppy when my other dog was already 13 years old. He did suffer from her nipping, chewing and barging, and was far too good natured to tell her off. I had to protect him quite a bit by making sure he could get away from the puppy and found the playpen was invaluable when she got overtired and wild. The awful biting stopped when her big teeth came in (4-5 months old), and they were good friends after that.
My pup is currently 15 weeks, my only concern with her right now is her lack of interest in being/ coming with me.
I just registered to the forum and this is the first thread I read because I'm a first time lab owner and getting really nervous about his biting behavior. We got Caesar (yes, that's his name) about 3 weeks back when he was 8 weeks old. He's been great all this time and some nipping happened initially, which stopped when I said 'Ouch'. But lately, in the last couple of days, he's becoming over-excited suddenly and charges to bite me or my 8 year old son. I'm not able to understand how to stop this. I've read here that it gradually does stop, but what do I do right now? I mostly fear for my son. And the fear he's developing for Caesar. Please help.
Hi and welcome to the forum. Labrador puppies to discover the world and play through their mouths and don't understand that they hurt us. So it's not something to worry about. But, it does hurt, and the puppy needs to learn the lesson of bite inhibition. There are some articles on the main website that deal with this, here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/your-labrador-puppy-biting/ The upshot is stopping the game, removing all attention and all eye contact the second that Caesar bites too hard. Stand up, stock-still, with arms crossed and look away from him for thirty seconds. Then, re-initiate play and, as soon as he bites too hard, repeat. If you have a puppy that continues to bite your clothes when you stand up, you need to remove yourself from the puppy - use a baby gate, a crate or even the bathroom to get away from him for those few seconds. As far as your son goes, you're best to make sure they only have supervised play time and only when the puppy is calm. Teach your son to stand tall and still, like a tree, and to ensure that he isn't exciting the puppy. Calm, gentle stroking of the body is good. Jerky, excitable movements, especially around the head, or picking up / pulling the puppy around are to be avoided. All of us who have had puppies have been through this and can sympathise. It's not a nice time. If you're absolutely consistent, you should see an improvement soon. But consistency is the key. Every time he gets any attention for biting, you're reinforcing the behaviour and it will take longer to resolve. One day, you'll suddenly realise that your hands aren't covered in bite marks and scratches, and that the worst has passed. Your puppy does need to chew things, so make sure he has plenty of options for this. Frozen kongs, filled with tasty treats, are perfect. Good luck!
Thank you Snowbunny! Your advice is very helpful. And something I realise is the most important lesson for me - 'being consistent'. I'll try and do that myself and also help my son to learn to stand like a tree as you said when Caesar starts biting. Thanks a lot for the link as well. I'm learning so much here!
It is a big relief to see others going through similar problems. My Cornelia is 21 weeks old and we have her since she was a few days shy of 8 weeks. We got her from a reputable breeder. About the third day she was home with us she started on the normal puppy teething and biting on our hands and arms. Having had a lab/rott mix 11 years ago that did this and going through the frustrations of how to stop it, I thought this was going to be a breeze. But the usual "yip-yip" or "ouch" and giving her something appropriate to chew on just doesn't work. Turning around and ignoring her when she jumps and starts nipping, she doesn't work either. A month ago I thought she was doing better, then it started in again. The chewing and biting was softer, though and I realize her big teeth were coming in and she is definitely learning to be more soft mouthed...but she is just a constant "bite and chew" on Mommy and Daddy's hands and arms...probably due to the big teeth coming in. She has gotten more unruly about running up and butting against us, growling, and then nipping. We had an animal behaviorist come in and evaluate and advise us. Basically she said we are doing everything right, we just have to continue to be persistent and consistent and keep her busy with appropriate things, and make sure she has plenty of exercise and good appropriate playtime, incorporating training with her normal activities. She said we have a loving, strong willed typical lab. After the behaviorist left our home, we tried the techniques for no biting which were similar to what we have been doing all along and Cornelia was perfect. The next day she was perfect also. Then the next day no matter what we did, she was chewy and bitey. I feel like we have a biting chewing machine sometimes LOL I will say that she does not chew much on the furniture or items she shouldn't...we "nipped" that problem with tabasco sauce...and she seems to understand now what she should and shouldn't be chewing other than us. Bitter apple was a joke for her, she liked it. She has all manner of toys, soft furry toys, and appropriate chew toys, and she knows which one's she can eat and which one's she has to treat softly...so I guess we are ahead of the game there. Now if she'd just learn to sit with us and not chew on us, life would be good. She is socialized with other people and other dogs, and does well. I can only think that this teething and adolescence is such a strain on her, that she can't help herself sometimes. It really helps to see that others are going through similar problems, and while it may take a lot longer than we want to, they do get over it. Been 11 years since I've had a puppy, I'm sure I have forgotten a lot of the behavior, and it was easier because I had older dogs with the last one which entertained, exercised, and trained her.
Hi everyone, do you remember me? I posted here four weeks ago about my puppy, Birdie, and the behavior issues that were driving me absolutely nuts. What a difference a month makes! So far we've completed 4 weeks of basic puppy training classes and wow is this little girl ever smart! She learns commands like a champ, always by the third or fourth try, and daily training sessions have been such a joy and lots of fun for us both. It truly has helped us create a strong bond. We have also been working on her behavior issues daily, all through the day, and there is a lot of progress. She is over the crocopup phase (now beginning the teething phase) and has virtually stopped her relentless tormenting of the cats. They can lie side by side without even the slightest nip, and today Birdie chewed on her Nylabone while one of my cats, Isabel, snuggled beside her. It was quite a sight! Outdoors she is becoming more interested in playing with her toys and she discovered how much she loves to retrieve! We still have a long way to go, but day by day, with persistent praise and reward for everything she does right, she really does "get it", and her willingness to please is amazing. That cute little face with those beautiful brown eyes focused on me and my every move melts my heart. As she is entering month 5 of puppyhood I do expect her to become a defiant little adolescent, but I am so glad I stuck with it during the time when proper training/bonding through month 4 lays the solid foundation for all of the months to come. It really does get better, and I absolutely LOVE and ADORE my little Birdie!
Hi Cornelia's Mummy and welcome to the forum It does sound like you are doing a good job and that it's just a matter of patiently outlasting this rather tiring phase! It sounds like you're approaching it in a calm kind of way and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can't see the light just yet CatThief, I do remember you and it's fantastic to hear that things are going so well with Birdie She sounds absolutely adorable.
