Very mouthy puppy...need help, advice, anything!

[MollyMoo]

So my DDB is almost 3.5 months old. She is by far the mouthiest puppy I have ever owned. I have been saying no in a firm, confident voice, I have ignored her, give her toys or bones instead...nothing seems to work with her! Sometimes when I say no, she will come back at me fiercely! It's hard to tell with her if it's play or not. I think it's play because her hair is not up not does she snarl. But Jesus she hurts! I am really hoping she stops as she matures, but I have her enrolled in puppy school, and the trainer will be coming to my house this week.

My sister says to hold her snoot shut when she does it to make her yelp, but I'm not sure if that's a good training tactic or not.

Any one else experience this? Thanks in advance!

I like her when she's like this lol

 

[anw6943]

Having a very similar experience with Bronco my bulldogge, I know what your going through. I like you tried all positive techniques, talked to a few different trainers, kept him on a leash inside until he was just over five months. It's good that your enrolling her in puppy school! Have you tried yelping or a loud ow, does she respond? I found with Bronco tone is important, if I'm too excited he gets more amped up, so it's a calm and quieter "good boy"! I tried turning my back to him, he would then bite at my legs. A trainer recommended leaving the room, which for me was going upstairs (basically walk up and right back down). Boy did I get a work out almost continually walking up and down lol. The first two times he sat at the gate waiting, after that when I went up he would just go eat the paint off the window sill and pay no attention when I came back down. Have you tried shaking a can of pennies or bottle filled with rocks! I tried the pennies with Bronco but when he's in that mode (for lack of better word, somebody knows what's it's called) he would just get more excited. Also tried a mini air horn, didn't work to well. I took him to petsmart and tested the various no chew sprays on my hands, he didn't like the bitter Apple. So bitter Apple became my best tool, as well as I taught kisses instead of bites and it did work. He still gets amped up in that play mode sometimes at 10 months now, a firm no works much better now as well as running him through all the commands he knows. You must be consistent whatever method you use, everytime and there is no overnight fix but you will see improvement over a week possibly or a couple weeks. I also had a trainer recommend rolling him, it worked for her if I attempt I would and have gotten bit. So that's not a method I use. Do praise when she doesn't bite but watch her body language, she may get excited like Bronco if your too loud or excited. I wouldn't personally hold Bronco's muzzle shut BC I know it would make him want to bite. I'm sure you'll get other recommendations from others, just sharing my story. Best of luck to you and your girl, she's beautiful!

 

[MollyMoo]

Having a very similar experience with Bronco my bulldogge, I know what your going through. I like you tried all positive techniques, talked to a few different trainers, kept him on a leash inside until he was just over five months. It's good that your enrolling her in puppy school! Have you tried yelping or a loud ow, does she respond? I found with Bronco tone is important, if I'm too excited he gets more amped up, so it's a calm and quieter "good boy"! I tried turning my back to him, he would then bite at my legs. A trainer recommended leaving the room, which for me was going upstairs (basically walk up and right back down). Boy did I get a work out almost continually walking up and down lol. The first two times he sat at the gate waiting, after that when I went up he would just go eat the paint off the window sill and pay no attention when I came back down. Have you tried shaking a can of pennies or bottle filled with rocks! I tried the pennies with Bronco but when he's in that mode (for lack of better word, somebody knows what's it's called) he would just get more excited. Also tried a mini air horn, didn't work to well. I took him to petsmart and tested the various no chew sprays on my hands, he didn't like the bitter Apple. So bitter Apple became my best tool, as well as I taught kisses instead of bites and it did work. He still gets amped up in that play mode sometimes at 10 months now, a firm no works much better now as well as running him through all the commands he knows. You must be consistent whatever method you use, everytime and there is no overnight fix but you will see improvement over a week possibly or a couple weeks. I also had a trainer recommend rolling him, it worked for her if I attempt I would and have gotten bit. So that's not a method I use. Do praise when she doesn't bite but watch her body language, she may get excited like Bronco if your too loud or excited. I wouldn't personally hold Bronco's muzzle shut BC I know it would make him want to bite. I'm sure you'll get other recommendations from others, just sharing my story. Best of luck to you and your girl, she's beautiful!

Thanks for your feedback and story! I really appreciate it. And, yes, I do yelp when she bites me. She just looks at me and then continues to play bite, it's like she doesn't care about my feelings lol. I haven't tried a can filled with rocks. I should give that a whirl. But I do praise her a lot when she's not mouthing me and when she's biting toys.

My husband is very frustrated with Molly. He's never grown up with dogs so he doesn't understand puppy behavior. He mostly just reprimands her and never gives her positive attention. I yell at him all the time to praise Molly. It's hard for me to get through his stubborn head! I've got my hands full with training both my husband and puppy! Haha lol

 

[anw6943]

It was the same with Bronco, it took a while for us to really bond. He wasn't the puppy that would follow me around, want cuddles, come to get petted. He just ignored me unless treats were involved, very independent. Once I finally figured him out and ways to work with him, gain leadership he became the pup that followed me, wants to be loved on and loves attention Plus hugs an kisses. It's hard but don't get too discouraged with consistency it will happen over time. I had the nature's miracle no chew didn't bother Bronco but the bitter Apple he hates, as well as straight lemon juice. I feel for you, with a stubborn puppy and a stubborn hubby! Here's a pic of a bite from Bronco.

 

[MollyMoo]

It was the same with Bronco, it took a while for us to really bond. He wasn't the puppy that would follow me around, want cuddles, come to get petted. He just ignored me unless treats were involved, very independent. Once I finally figured him out and ways to work with him, gain leadership he became the pup that followed me, wants to be loved on and loves attention Plus hugs an kisses. It's hard but don't get too discouraged with consistency it will happen over time. I had the nature's miracle no chew didn't bother Bronco but the bitter Apple he hates, as well as straight lemon juice. I feel for you, with a stubborn puppy and a stubborn hubby! Here's a pic of a bite from Bronco.View attachment 48131

Ouch! Tonight, Molly was play biting as I was trying to hug her, and she got my nostril: sliced it pretty bad. Glad to hear Bronco finally bonded with you! Molly is pretty bonded with me. She goes for rides with me and follows me every where. Even if she's in a deep sleep, if I move she usually follows.

 

[Smokeycat]

My Irish Setter x was horrible about play biting and while smaller than a giant puppy it still hurt. What eventually worked with him was I had to teach him that biting hurt as he left his litter too young and his siblings hadn't had time to teach that lesson. Anytime he bit he would either get a nail lightly pushed into his tongue or roof of mouth if my hand was in his mouth or a light pinch on the skin between the front of his hind leg and his belly. You don't want to hurt them just make it uncomfortable. After several months of trying to stop his biting by redirecting and ignoring him it only took a couple of weeks for him to finally realize that biting hurts. He now will immediately stop playing and sit if he ever gets skin into his mouth and waits for me to pick the toy back up to continue the game.

 

[musicdeb]

This puppy stage will pass and causing a pup pain to teach them not to do something is not a good tactic in my book. Just saying...

Have you tried re-directing to a chew toy when she bites you? Give her a firm, stern "No! No bite!" when she bites showing no emotion, just a firm, stern "No! No bite!" and then redirect to a chew toy. It takes consistency, LOTS of patience and a box of bandaids to teach no bite but it will pass.

Screaming, hitting or causing harm to a puppy can possibly lead to fear aggression which his a behavior you do not want to try to correct. Titan had fear aggression when I first got him and he still has a small degree of fear aggression because his past owner would hit him when he did not obey a command. Titan now dislikes men and deals with fear aggression.

I know the biting is very painful with those puppy teeth but show her what you want her to do.

 

[glen]

Gandalf was trying this what we do is tell him no push his bum dwn gently to sit then give him something he can chew,i make rattly soft chew out of old pair of thick socks,put old wrappers in that make noise then tie it with old shoe lace he loves them.hes 8 weeks now and has learned.
I wouldnt hold her snout,be calm,never hit or shout,say no or leave it use what command you gonna use to get her to leave.Be patient and you and the pup will get there.

 

[danielleconn]

Yeah my puppy was just the same as yours. I hope for your sanity you are crate training her. There were many times both mommy and Zoe needed a time out. The crate was our savior for an hour or two so she could nap and I could go get Zen in my bedroom and take a break. She was our piranha puppy for sure. She got hype with the yelping, after two days the pennies stopped working and we had holes in our clothes & puncture wounds everywhere. Zoe was then banned to the kitchen with baby gates. If she bit we gave our no correction and left the room for a minute or two. Sometimes in 10 minutes we would do this 5-6 times so fair warning it takes time & patience. She eventually got it. Then she graduated to the living room but dragging a leash at all times. Mind you she had total freedom & slept at night in our bedroom by 7 months and by 10 months we could trust her home alone outside of her crate. So very consistent helps quickly. You can even start training now. Look at you tube on how to "lure" her into different positions like sit, down, stay, etc. Works her mind and can wear her out more than playing...i.e. less biting. Well in Zoe's case it was insane biting and then I knew it was crate time for a nap!

 

[Smokeycat]

This puppy stage will pass and causing a pup pain to teach them not to do something is not a good tactic in my book. Just saying...

I just want to make it clear that there is a big difference between pain and discomfort. I in no way advise causing pain to any animal regardless of species. Nor is it a technique that should be done with just any dog. But not all puppies respond to the nice positive methods of training not to bite, trust me I've got the scars to prove it. When those methods don't work others might.

 

[musicdeb]

Thank you for the clarification, Smokeycat. Pain and discomfort can have different meanings to each person.

 

[MollyMoo]

Thank you everyone! I have her enrolled in a puppy preschool and a basic manners class. Today, I have been using the method where I say "ouch" in a loud voice and then walk away for 30 seconds. Then I return to where I was and continue what I was doing. Molly will follow me out of the room and back in, and she seems to back off a bit. But then sometimes she still loves to chew on me later on. I know patience and consistency are key elements! Just please, I hope someone on here with either lots of experience or professional experience will make me feel better and say this harsh mouthing will pass! I need some light at the end of the tunnel lol I also don't want my 16 month old to get hurt.

 

[musicdeb]

Hang in there, the mouthing/biting does pass.

Keep your 16 month off of the floor with the pup to prevent the pup from seeing the child as a playmate. Instead have the child hand feed the pup and help with training the pup with simple commands.

 

[DennasMom]

Keep at it!
Denna was a bitey puppy too... more than I remember from the other puppies we've had (my memory may be biased, tho).
She was a good 8-10 months old before she gave up biting for good. It got progressively better, but still took a long time.

We used a "yipe" anytime teeth hit skin. As soon as she hesitated, we'd grab a toy and entice her to chew on that, instead. If she did grab the toy, lots of praise, and a quick game of tug (very soft tug), just to make sure the toy was always more exciting than biting the human.

 

[joepro]

I'm goin through the EXACT same thing with a 3 month old Boerboel once he turns up there is no going back can't stop him at all. I've tried the yelp which unless I act like he just took my pinky off he ignores. I've tried redirecting to another toy but he always thinks my hand arm or pants leg are better choices. What I find usually works SOME of the time is before I redirect his attention to the toy is I make him sit down for a second and be calm maybe for 5 seconds then it's off to the toy. Sometimes I'll put him in his crate or puppy jail which is just closing him off in the foyer then either leaving the room or going where he can barely see me. But that has no effect when I come back he's just as hyper. I was told by the breeder only give him attention and or pet him when he's calm. But I can't figure out how to play games with him because he's never calm for that I figure it's just a puppy being excited

 

[Dreadz]

I have tried all the redirection, yelping, ignoring with Lexi but none of it made any difference. She's not a big biter but she does get carried away when she's having a "funny five minutes" so I've had to resort to pressing her tongue down to the bottom of her mouth and holding it there for a few seconds. It doesn't hurt, it does however stop her and is certainly making her less inclined to nibble.

 

[musicdeb]

joepro, an excited puppy is very normal especially when they love to play. Is the pup on the leash while in the house? Having him leashed gives you most control to start the "calm" training.

Teach him whatever word you want to use for "calm". When he's excited and on leash, bring him to a sit. If he's too excited, give a tug on the leash and bring him to a sit. Once he is in sit, teach him "calm" and I hold my hand like a stop signal for Titan. Titan knows both the word and hand signal to calm down. Once your pup calms down, reward with motivational reward.

As with all training, requires consistency and lots of patience. This will pass but the pup does need to learn that biting/mouthing is not acceptable on a human but is ok with a toy/rope/nylabone/kong with treats/ice cubes with treats in the middle/frozen hand towel.

 

[jen9980]

My puppy is very mouthy too, I've tried alot of the things you have. I just can't wait to get through this puppy phase. I'm tired of being a human chew toy.

 

[Torgue-o]

I am going through the same thing with my puppy... I am new to owning a pup so not sure if this is good advice, just sharing my personal experience.

One day this week we took him to a friend's house for a puppy play date with her young pup (mine hasn't had all his vaccines yet so he can't go to dog parks or anything, but this was a friend's puppy that we knew was fully vaccinated). He had about an hour of play time with the other dog, a lot of which was spent mouthing/rough housing (by both puppies!) ... Well for the rest of the day my puppy had NO interest in mouthing on me and was basically a little angel lol. Made me think that maybe just getting some of that rough play out of his system helped, perhaps you can find a friend with a pup to do a play date? May help mitigate until the mouthy puppy stage is over.

 

[musicdeb]

Perfect example of an exercised pup is a good pup. Mouthing/biting is how they play with other pups and they do not know any better that it's not appropriate play with humans. That is where the training comes in to show them what you want them to do.