Puppy biting...it is normal isn't it?

[tabulahrasa]

He's a teeny 8 week old Rottie, we've had him a couple of days and he's lovely, except I'm beginning to wonder if he's half shark

I'm a fairly experienced dog owner, but I've never had a brand new puppy so this biting you malarkey is a bit new on me.

I'm not doing the ow when it hurts thing because I want him to get the message that it's not ok to bite people ever, and my DC (12 and 16 not littleys) are a bit squeaky and flappy and them saying ow is just too close to playing with him, lol.

So, we're doing a firm no, redirecting the biting to a toy, praising him when he plays with that instead and giving him attention when he's nice and calm.

It's almost constant though, you can't walk the length of the living room without him attaching himself to you, within about 30 seconds of you giving him attention he starts nibbling on you, he is stopping briefly when he gets a no, enough that you can tell him he's good, but that's about it because that gets him excited enough to start trying to nibble again.

Please can you either reassure me that this is normal and he'll grow out of it or tell me if I do in fact have some sort of puppysharkthing who will have eaten away our feet before he's even old enough to go for walks.

[tennesseyhennessey]

I have an 8 week old whippet who is exactly the same. You cannot walk for him trying to nibble your toes! Im presuming it is normal!

[myermay]

our puppy is doing this too, we've been spraying him with water along with a firm no and giving a toy, it took two days and now he seems to be getting it, especially where foot chewing is concerned

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

When my dog was a pup he looked like butter wouldn't melt. But we called him Snappy, the little crocodile. And those puppy teeth are like razors Perfectly normal, but obviously not desirable.

[tabulahrasa]

I've met nibbly puppies before, so it wasn't a complete shock and I was expecting him to put everything in his mouth (which he also does, lol).

But as long as he'll definitely grow up to be a dog and not a great white, that's fine

He looks soooo sweet, like a little teddy bear, but with teeth, lol

[LST]

My collie puppy is doing this too! He yips and try's to get your nose too

[MNhoneydragonHQ]

Normal. They always seem to grasp that small people should not be chewed first. So make up for this by regularly savaging big people's feet, often unexpectedly.

[tabulahrasa]

Thanks - he's settling in really well and I've always had dogs, just older ones...usually at the awkward half grown stage where people have got rid of then for behaving like dogs :( I know that puppies are mouthy and chewy in theory, but the reality is a bit full on.

I'll just have to keep reminding myself that he's just a baby.

[Ullena]

Firm no and distract with toy is the best way, you are quite right:-) We did this with all three of our adults and they are so gentle now!

[CakeMeIAmYours]

Do you mind my asking why you have chosen not to do the 'Ow' thing when he bites? We did it for all bites (not just those which hurt) and it stopped pretty quickly. As far as I understand, that is what his littermates would have done, so you need to teach him instead.

We made the 'Ow' a high pitched squeal, rather than then usual 'Ow' we would normally do so he realised it was directed at him for the biting.

[tabulahrasa]

Mostly because of DS tbh, he has AS and a speech disorder...so he has issues with inflection and pronunciation. I wanted something we could all do consistently and DS can't do a fake ow.

Though there have been a few genuine ows, lol.

We're not shouting the no at him or anything, it's just a slightly stern, No. and then a here look have this, this is much better, bite this toy and I can stroke/play with you.

[Loveleopardprint]

My puppy was continually biting and mouthing. Reading your post I have realised that at seven months she has totally stopped this now.

[daisydotandgertie]

Google 'bite inhibition by Ian Dunbar' which will explain to you why they do it.

I avoid buggering around saying 'ow' in any way at all with puppy nipping. They need a firm 'no' and removing yourself from the situation, or offering a toy instead. It needs to be made clear from day one that nipping is not something you do to people, nor is it a game. Shrieking/squealing at them is more likely to turn it into a game than anything I can think of, it often makes puppies even more excited than they were in the first place.

[topknob]

It's teething and they do grow out of it.. a loud ouch is usually enough to stop them if it gets painful.

[BlackCatsAndPurpleDogs]

My puppy was like ypours at 8 weeks. Biting almost constantly to be honest. Now 4 months old and hardly ever biting.

Sorry but you DO need to be doing the 'ow's . You need to teach her bite inhibition. Dogs not allowed to learn bite inhibition by mouthing hands are more like to be bniters when older.

Follow this excellent advice, there is loads more about puppy socialisation too :

www.dogstardaily.com/training/teaching-bite-inhibition