Hello Donna, Dexter sounds like a completely normal puppy, and don't worry this biting stage won't last long. To be honest, it doesn't sound as bad as many people on here have had to deal with, but I understand it is very disturbing while it is going on! Nobody will judge you about grabbing him by his scruff, though obviously it is better if you can avoid that, and it sounds like you are finding ways to stop him getting so hyped up, so well done. The biting will calm down and one day you will suddenly realize he hasn't done it at all and that he is becoming gentle with his mouth. So glad you are finding the forum a help, don't hesitate to come on here and ask any questions. I have never used a kong myself, but lots of others seem to use mushed up banana,peanut butter, kibble mashed up with water etc to stuff them, and then freeze them. Do keep us up to date with what is going on with your little chap!
Thank you Lucy, I'll check that link out. Thank you Karen, Dexter is one very happy puppy right now, he's chewing away on a bone from the butchers. He was use to having a bone before we got him so thought it time for probably the biggest treat I could offer him. His tail is going to wiggle off, was a little growly when I approached him but wagging his tail and let me stroke him. Have chicken cooking ready for tomorrow and his first walk. Will take him for a short walk up our road first then come back for breakfast. Then get hubby to drive to a safe area for a walk on and off lead. I must get and learn how to put up a photo, he's a real beauty (I'm biased of course). My son and his girlfriend have a black lab who is about 16 months old. They have been introduced and all went well, mad but good. I'm hoping that once my shoulder heals, Bella can come round to me a couple of days a week. Will be great fun. Very different from having cats, lost my last rescue cat in January, still hurts but I have this little munchkin now and will have a reason to get my wellies on and get out in the fresh air. Yes, I agree from reading all the threads, Dexter is normal and not as much to cope with as some others. It makes me laugh now to think I'd have the nipping and biting nipped in the bud in four weeks, lol. Very unrealistic. I just got his attention from eating his bone, said leave it and he sat up looking for his treat. Gave him a kibble, now back to bone chomping. It's a puppies life!
I am waiting for the day when Remi stops eating acorns! And biting the toddler, and chewing on sticks...
Dexter is beautiful. And Reminds will stop biting your toddler, and eating sticks. Good luck with the acorns - Bones ate them every autumn, even though he KNEW they gave him gurgle gut; never learnt any better even in his old age!
Thank you, Karen, I agree Dexter is beautiful. Azure259, Dexter hasn't eaten acorns but only because he hasn't come across them yet, lol. He does chew sticks and anything else he can get hold of. Must be difficult for you with Remi biting your toddler. After reading every post on this thread, it looks as if it's normal puppy behaviour, thank goodness they grow out of it in time.
Hi everyone, my husband and I are first time lab puppy owners. I had a lab when I was young but really had no part in training him. We chose a lab because of my experience and the fact that we'll be starting a family with young children sometime soon. Anyway, I got him at 8 weeks, he's now 10 weeks. He's doing well with house training, crate training.... but the biting/attacking is completely out of control. I know he's just playing, but my husband and I are absolutely exhausted and out of ideas. Ive actually become frustrated to the point of tears I hate to admit several times! At first he'd spend his time equally trying to eat our couches and chairs and then hands/feet/legs but now it seems 80% of his biting/chewing is solely focused on our bodies! We constantly replace with chew toys which he sometimes likes, try to ignore or put in his crate if it's getting crazy, bitter spray, etc. I've spent the last 2 weeks of my life researching bite inhibition methods but I just feel hopeless!! He had a couple of good days over the weekend but now yesterday and today it's been worse than ever! We love him and he's been such a great addition to our life, but I'm feeling like it's difficult to enjoy him when he acts so crazy and hurts! He's also not very cuddly at all he's either attacking, playing with a toy, or sleeping. Hell sometimes lay by my feet but overall he doesn't seem to want to cuddle/lay with us when he's finally calm and sleepy and sweet. I'm open to any advice. At what age is there typically improvement? I'm not looking for a miracle, but I'll take even slight improvements at this point, I'm desperate!!
Newlabpup Hi and welcome! There is so much great advice on this forum, and especially on this thread. If you scan through the posts here you will find several people that are experiencing the same thing with their new pups. It sounds like your puppy is in his "crocopup" phase. The good news is that it is completely normal and very typical for the age of your puppy. And the other good news is that it is a temporary thing and he should grow out of it, but you'll have to endure it for a bit. I did not personally go through a biting phase so others will have better advice, but I believe you can expect several more weeks of it. My friend went through it with her pup (who she also got at 8wks) and they just had to pop her in her crate quite a bit when it got out of control. Their puppy's name was Lucy and her family started calling her Lucifer and Lucigator during this time . So it is common, and it will pass. Others have suggested having toys on hand at all times to shove in his mouth, repeat, repeat, repeat. And don't be too discouraged if it feels like nothing is working, again much of it is just a phase with labrador puppies. So scroll through these posts and at least know you are not alone. I also don't think puppies are all that interested in cuddling, even though as humans we just want to snuggle with their cute selves! The cuddles come as they get a but older Hang in there and feel free to vent or share your frustrations here. And being frustrated to the point of tears is also common for lab owners, so you're not alone there either!
Newlabpup - Hi, I too found early puppyhood with Molly a real strain, and I'd had two previous dogs from puppies. BUT the biting phase will pass. With Molly I think it was around 14 weeks of age - we got her towards the end of October 2013 and by the Christmas that year she was fine. I do think Labs are worse than some other breeds for puppy biting - my cocker spaniel wasn't very nippy at all - but they grow into lovely gentle-natured dogs, eventually. One thing we used with Molly to give us some respite were cardboard boxes, big enough for her to climb into /through as well as to chew. Of course you get a mess, but it's better than bloodied hands and also used to make us laugh at her antics. Hang on in there!
I completely agree with the cardboard boxes. Myles is 9 months and I still let him go at it with a box to get out some energy. It's hilarious to watch!
I had a really hard day on Monday, with Dexter's over zealous puppy biting, my fleece is now sporting many holes in the sleeve. Only having the use of the one arm at the moment means I don't have a free hand to give him a toy etc. I was exhausted but did manage to either crate him or get him the other side of the kitchen gate, move my arm up the sleeve to safety and turn my back on him until he let go. Apart from his walk, this went on all day, even when I tried to throw a toy for him he was jumping at my arm. I'm sure he thought it was an excellent game. Yesterday, Dexter was a delight all day, he mouthed gently and when I said too hard, he left off. He enjoyed his walk and playing. Last night I mashed some kibble and water to freeze in a Kong toy, he likes ice cubes as I think his teething must be playing him up more. Today he's a right crocodile again, was thinking I'd take him out but no, he's nipping at my ankles, feet, and then got hooked onto my shortish cardigan sleeve. I could just get my hand so that he couldn't just pull on it. It's a real battle of wills. Hopefully only another 5 weeks in a sling for me but still won't have full use of my shoulder and have to make sure he can't pull on it. Now that he's calmed down in his crate, I'll try to get him out for a walk. He loved his Kong this morning, lasted him over an hour. What a jekel and hide! The joys of being a puppy mum, lol. I have to laugh as I feel I'll be crying soon. I do have a box that I've received a parcel in so will get that ready for later.
How old is Dexter? My puppy is also an extremely "bitey" puppy, I'm praying that it ends soon because I don't know how much more I can take!! We're getting a kitchen gate today for him. Does anyone think that will help? The ability to leave the room and leave him in there when he's out of control biting? I'm afraid I'll leave and he'll just eat my table instead, which won't really teach him anything!
Oh dear, sorry you've been having such an up and down time! Just you wait, things will soon be wonderful and you will have a great companion and friend in your little Dexter.
Hi newlabpup, Dexter is 14 weeks old on Saturday. Somewhere to separate your puppy from you is a good idea. I don't have a table in my kitchen but the mat takes a battering. He's getting good at leaving it alone though when I tell him. Do you have a crate, I got the second to largest one from pets at home, he has his quite large bed in it and for a time I put puppy pads in the rest of it. Dexter has had this since his 3rd day with us. My husband wasn't to keen but in the end listened to me, best decision ever. I don't like to put him in there for naughty behaviour but sometimes it's the best place for him to calm down. When I bought the crate it was priced at £95 but must have been on offer as I paid £60 with discount from pets at home card. To be honest, if I'd had to pay £200, it would have been worth it. It has 2 doors, we only use 1 but good to have the option for how it fits in given space, it's really sturdy too. Often Dexter just goes and flips the unlocked door open and goes for a nap. I've read every single thread on this section of the forum, it will get better. Don't throw the towel in yet. We can do this, together with the help from this forum. Dexter is our first puppy and the biting has been a shock, doesn't help that my surgery happend 4 weeks after getting him.
@newlabpuppy, Dexter would rather play, chew, bite than cuddle too. When we first got him, he would cuddle but as I'm with him the most he soon thought of me as more of a puppy play mate if I got down too low and would grab my pony tail and eat my hair, so I stopped doing that as difficult to get a puppy off of the back of my head, lol. He can be worse about an hour before feed time but I don't give in and vary the time between 5, 10 or 15 minutes now in the hope that this may help. Once he's really quiet and settled, I choose when he's fed not the other way around. I think he would eat the whole 11kg bag if he had his way. I weigh him weekly and adjust his food accordingly. Still on 4 feeds a day at the moment.
Sorry newlabpup, just realised you mentioned you are crate training, so apologies for waffling on. Donna
My day improved , did have some nipping and biting but managed to stop him quicker. All helped by both having an afternoon nap as I get exhausted without one. Dexter picked up a wasp in his mouth and I think it might have stung him as he was frantically trying to spit it out and shaking his head. He did manage to and I then stood on it, silly boy was still trying to get it, perhaps it was the buzzing feeling in his mouth he didn't like. He didn't yelp but did go and get a big drink of water. I calmed his mad time with finding little bits of kibble thrown in the grass, Dexter enjoys this game. I gave him a box too but not that bothered to play with it, may change his mind later. All's quiet at the moment, phew!
Good to hear that dexter had a good day! My pup had a busy day at the vet for vaccinations and is now napping, which is always nice! Tonight we have a puppy play date with a friend of ours and their 11 week old staffordshire terrier pup. I'm hoping some time with another puppy will give him some insight about biting inhibition. He's having a pretty good day, he has managed to stay more focused on his toys than on eating us, which is always nice... although he did manage to grab onto my stomach skin today which was not nice!
Ouch, yes tummy skin is a bit of a tender area. Let us know how the puppy play date went. I'm glad your day was better too.
