Help! Puppy is a bitter, now what?

[2angelsinheaven]

Gosh that sounded harsh, I am not upset at the little guy but I'm posting to see if anyone has had experience with a puppy who bites ALOT! Whenever he is awake he is bitting (my hands are the proof), he is 8 weeks old and I know he should be teething but this is biting... anyone have any deterants other than toys (he is not too interested).

 

[cynsaun]

When we got our puppy, we were told that when he bites to say NO, very firmly and then put a chew toy in his mouth and praise him for biting that. BUT, that worked as well as trying to get him to use the toilet instead of the floor! We are still dealing with it, although he is so small that his bite doesn't hurt...I've had mosquitoes bite me harder!

Good luck! I will be looking for what anyone else has to say as well!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Thats exactly what I am trying as well. When he bites I stick the stuffed toy in his mouth and "good boy", etc. His teeth do hurt... very sharp... not enough to draw blood but OUCH! I've got red marks all over me.

 

[JayCT]

We used a product thats called Bitter Apple when our dog was a pup. It stopped him from biting us (put a little on your hand and let him bite you) and from chewing the furniture. He learned quickly what to chew/bite and what not to. In addition we did what cynsaun says to do. Good luck.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I think I'm going to pick some of that up. Thanks!

 

[mad4themouse]

I second the use of Bitter Apple! They really hate the taste and learn very quickly what they should and should not be placing their mouths on.

Another trick that a trainer taught me was to hold their tongue down with your thumb when they attempt to use your hand as a chew toy. Don't apply too much pressure and don't do it for more than a couple of seconds (about as long as it takes to say "don't bite"). They learn.

Good luck! I'm sure the little guy will get the message quickly.

 

[skuttle]

This is probably just a phase...puppies bite and chew...that's just what they do. I'm sure your puppy will outgrow it with time. I know ours did.

 

[snuggles]

I'm so glad you asked this question. Our puppy has started chewing on us too and boy does it hurt! We have tried the toy too... I guess I'll go out looking for some bitter apple tomorrow. Any idea where to get that?

 

[Duchie]

Our "puppy" is 4 months old now and we've got him in a training class. Here's what she told us to use: Get a spray bottle (the kind that has a stream). Fill it with water, and add about 20 drops of Jasmine oil. When he starts biting things, spray him and say "ick". The jasmine doesn't burn their eyes, and it doesn't taste bad, but the smell is overpowering for dogs and they don't like it.

This trainer is against using common words like "No". She says that you could just be having a conversation with someone, and when the dog hears you say no (for example, "Do you like this show?" "No.") then he thinks you're talking to him and he's doing something wrong. So she has us using other key words to discipline him. It's working well for us so far.

 

[Val]

The spray bottle trick works well- also a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar added to the spray bottle can work. In a pinch (pun intended), when he bites roll his gum over his little teeth and apply a LITTLE pressure so he bites himself, then QUICKLY reward him for good behavior (supply a chew toy, or distract him to another task). Using a word like "ick" or "ouch" works well- but the tone of the voice is really the strongest cue- make it low and gravely and sharp and mean it- and be consistent with the word.

This IS just a phase he's going through, and its kinda cute and not too painful at this point- won't be so funny as he grows older and he learns you ARE a chew toy! Be consistent and loving in your discipline- kinda like with kids.

By the way, he will outgrow this latest teething phase, but will have another at about a year- be aware of this or you think he's all trained and then he starts again. This is NORMAL....use the same techniques you used before and he will be fine (kinda like those toddler then teen years, although thankfully or unmercifully closer together).


Good luck!!!!

 

[Octoberbeauty]

We have a 9 wk old yellow lab that is big into biting right now too. I've been telling her "No bite! No bite!" and turning her face away. Today I noticed that she is picking up on that so I hope it's working.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Another recommendation for Bitter Apple here. That stuff works miracles!

Spray it on your wooden furniture and you'll never have a problem with the dog wanting to chew that. Likewise any woodwork in your house (cabinets and moldings, e.g.).

It is very normal for an 8 week old dog to want to chew; frankly they are teething. Surely you've noticed how a human baby puts everything in her mouth while she's teething Same thing with a baby dog.

Some breeds are worse than others. My mutt's mom was a labrador retriever--dogs which were bred to put things in their mouths.

You have to train him/her to chew what is acceptable to chew, whether it's a squeaky toy, rawhide bone, boiled marrow bones, pig or cow ears (for some reason, our dog loves cow ears, but not pig ears--go figure), Dingo bones. Whatever your dog likes. You have to experiment with your dog to see what his tastes are, but regardless--he has to be taught what is O.K. to chew and what isn't. He won't know the difference by instinct.

Either keep him away from what you don't want him to chew on, or spray Bitter Apple on it. Praise him when he chews something he's supposed to chew. Remove whatever (yes, your hand too) he shouldn't be chewing. Make a trade--give me my slipper, pup, and you get a peanut butter bone.

We fill my dog's chewed-up, empty marrow bones with peanut butter and/or cream cheese, wrap them in foil, and freeze them for treats that last and distract him. (His name is Max, so we call them Max Snax. )

 

[MosMom]

We have always yelped like a dog would when hurt. When a puppy plays with a sibling, they know they are playing too hard when the sibling yelps. We yelp and then offer the pup a chew toy. It has always worked like a charm!

Bitter apple is a great product too!!!

 

[SnackyStacky]

The reason he's biting is probably because he's teething. Imagine those sharp little teeth going through your tender gums! Take an old dish towel (one you don't mind getting rid of) drench it in water, put it in a bowl, and then freeze it.

The bitter apple is also WONDERFUL!

 

[hercamore]

Bitter apple worked for our beagle when he was a pup. We even sprayed it on the underside of the cupboard doors where he liked to chew.

Good luck, he'll get thru this phase and be a real nice dog.


herc.

 

[Jockaroo]

Another vote for the frozen cloth. It will sooth the gums and allow the teeth to loosen and new ones poke through. Just don't freak if you see some blood spots on it. (Just a warning!) We also did the "no bite" thing and were recommended to gently twist the hair around the gum line when we said this. I did not do well with the twisting thing cause I thought it hurt my boy. He either got the "no bite" or grew out of it. I'm guessing he grew out of it.

In addition, Mac loved to chew ice cubes. We would leave a bowl out for him and he thought this was a grand treat and munch away.

Stay away from the nylon Nylabones. They are very dangerous. These can shred off in sharp pieces. The pieces can puncture the intestines or get twisted in shreds of fabric the dog might swallow and create a blockage that will not "pass."

 

[dancergirl]

Our new puppy LOVES ice cubes! One day I was getting some ice and I dropped a cube, she came running over and picked it up (as she does with everything) and had the best time with it! Now when ever she hears the freezer open she comes running! She is so cute playing with them!! She is laying in my lap right now asleep! She's so cute like this, I dont think that when she is biting me though!! She likes to think that my hands are toys I think. So i tell her No and have to pop her sometimes. Then I will fold my arms so she cant get to my hands, and what does she do? She goes for my toes!!!!! I'll be glad when this stage is over!!

 

[DisneyJules]

You're the one with the lab, right? Mine was a bitter too, she bit A LOT because she was SO full of energy. We resorted to holding her muzzle in both hands and saying "no bite," and would stroke her face on both sides while using one hand to hold her muzzle and alternating hands. It took a while for her just to grow out of it. Though even now at the age of 9! she still likes to grab my wrist and my sleeves in her mouth, she doesn't actually bite but she does like grab your arm or hand with your mouth, part of her personnality I suppose.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm really surprised by this chewing on the furniture thing! I've had dogs all my life (all different breeds) and I've never had a puppy chew on furniture or cupboards. Does this happen a lot? We'll be moving into a house from a townhouse this weekend and getting a new dog soon so I'll have to keep my eyes open for that, I guess. The things I learn here!

I agree with the not saying "no" thing, although it's hard to get used to. My ex is a K9 cop and we've always said "fooey" to all our dogs (even the family pets) instead of "no." One of the K9's only "spoke" Czekoslavakian so I can say Lie down and Sit in that language! Probably won't be helpful if I meet a native speaker, will it?

 

[goofy4tink]

A frozen dish cloth is terrific. Only problem is that when the pup sees any cloth lying around he might think it's okay to chew on that cloth also. Ice cubes are wonderful. As are carrots. We have had very good luck with the 'yelping' method. That's what would happen if the pup played too roughly with a littermate. so, we just yelped as if we were puppies also. That got his attention. And he did stop.

As far as Nylabones go...these are the only thing, other than marrow bones that my golden gets. Okayed by the vet, the breeder and by years of use in other dogs. They can't get tangled in the intestine. The rawhide chews are a different story all together tho. As are the Booda tuggie toys. We play tuggie with one but the dog is never allowed to have it by himself. Too great a possibility of ingesting a lot of the string.