Olli

[Willo]

It would seem that I spoke too soon with Olli's behaviour. He's gone from mouthing to snapping/nipping quite hard very quickly with my hands, feet, ankles and clothing taking the brunt of it.

So far I've tried yelping and moving away from him, and being silent and moving away from him. My house is open plan and the only room I have to separate him from the main room is the porch so tonight, every time his teeth have made contact with my person, I've put him straight in the porch.

It's not ideal but I dont want to use his crate to discipline him as that's not the purpose of him using the crate!

He's definitely teething as when I checked his mouth earlier on I can see teeth just breaking through so I've got lots of toys for him to chew on and give him frozen kongs, ice cubes and a frozen rope toy at regular intervals to help give him some relief.

With regards to toys I'm not engaging in any rough housing or pulling toys in an attempt to discourage the nipping/ Mouthing/biting whatever you want to call it.

He's only doing this to me, no one else so for as much as he's teething I also think he's trying to make a bid for dominance over me (needs to get up a bit earlier than that though!)

We're at puppy class once per week but continue on the training on a nightly basis so I'm hopefully mentally tiring him out as well as physically, I'm also teaching him additional things such as touch (getting him to touch my hand wherever it is with his nose) and watch me. He's slowly learning his name and we're meeting lots of dogs and people when we're out walking where he's a delight to be with!

Olli will be 18weeks old on Friday so classic teenager stage happening, he knows when he shouldnt be doing something because he looks at me with a glint in his eye and slowly does whatever it is he shouldnt be! I'm sure his hearing is selective too!


So anyone got any other techniques that may help with the nipping/ mouthing/ biting?

I would also be interested in replies. Shea is only 10 weeks, but constantly biting our ankles/feet and playing tug a war with our trousers. It is pretty much all in play.

So far, we've tried the yelping or ignoring, growling a firm 'no' and placing hand over her nozle, saying no and exchanging what part of us she is biting for a toy (not always possible if she catches us out away from her toys!), using a newspaper/shoe etc to make a loud noise while firming saying no (last resort, really not keen on this for number of reasons).

For us, I have to say none of these are being particularly effective so far, but the purpose of Shea's bring is very different from yours. Even the more aversive strategy of making loud noise she finds playful!

[Mazz]

At this tender age, although bitind is NOT permited, you also have to remember that they are still very young.
Puppies learn so much through biting and play. jmo
Just keep ending play, when they become to rough, when tired my pup used to be moody and grumpy ( like a tired child).
Firm, fair and patient is what you have to be.
Biting seem's to go on forever, then one day, you will see the difference.
Good luck with your puppies and enjoy.
Mazz

[zetstaff]

I personally don't agree with swapping a nip for a toy as then he'll think to himself 'oooooh if I nip I'll get a treat'. Boris was a nightmare when he was a puppy for mouthing, when he was mouthing we would either grab what little scruff he had + shake gently, or nip him gently, he soon stopped

Willo, I would carry on as you are doing. Intercepting the undesired behaviour - any biting from him and contact with you STOPS immediately. Agree about putting him in porch for time out, and not his crate.

He will soon associate nipping = no interaction with his person if you do this consistently and say 'No' or 'Ah ah' when he starts it. Another one is to turn away and fold your arms - and just hope he doesn't bite your legs or bum! If he does then straight in the porch again.

And I think we're overdue a pic of Olli with his attitude!

[sami]

I am sorry to put a downer on it but whilst everything you are doing seems fine he will probably still do it for a while yet. Mouthing/nipping at that age is notoriously difficult to stop. In fact I think next to "why is my dog eating poo?" it is probably the next most common question!

You just have to put up with the bruises until they drow out of it I am afraid.

[Su-C]

I sympathise with both of you.....its not a nice period to go through, and seems to last forever. But it does end - Mason has stopped now and it was almost exactly the same time as he cut his last teeth. One day soon, it will all be a distant memory........then the teenage phase begins!

Hang on in there, be consistent and soon it will be over!

Sue
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[Willo]

Originally Posted by Su-C

One day soon, it will all be a distant memory...

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One day eh?!

After spending 20 minutes of my lunch break with Olli having time out he seems to have got the picture that teeth on skin/clothes means time away from me. How long for I don't know but at least we're starting as we mean to go on :-)

Think we'll try to beat the weather after dinner and go out for a hopefully drier walk than this mornings!

Thanks for the advice. I am also concerned that trying to distract with a toy is rewarding, but at same time, I'm trying to teach her what's appropriate to bite, pros and cons to most strategies I think! As you say, it's all natural and she'll grow out of it. Sometimes it's hard not to laugh when she's doing it (until she bites you sore that is!)

[Stuart]

The thing is here, is that the two words mouthing/nipping have been brought together, and are being trained not to be done together,... which I believe is wrong, there is a great difference between biteing/nipping and mouthing,... many people dont allow either, but that is like removing the tongue of your dog

Dogs do so much communicating with their mouths, watch other dogs interact,.. to stop mouthing in my opiniom is wrong, its one of the ways in which they want to comunicate with you,..also if you do not allow mouthing, you will end up with a dog with a `hard mouth`, so when it meets other dogs you may have a problem,..pups when together learn to `soft mouth` with other siblings by mouthing during play, they learn what pressure to apply without hurting.. we take them away at a young age, so they dont get the chance to learn this,..and its important

Nipping and biteing of course are different, and need to be dealt with fast,..I agree with whats been suggested already,... allow the mouthing untill too much pressure is put on you, then snatch the hand away and stop play, dont put the pup into the crate, but do it instantly,... the pup will learn