Apologies in advance for the rather wimpish nature of this post. (It may be another good one for people unsure of how much hard work puppies can be though 
)
Our puppy is a 17 week old terrier who for the majority of the day is a loveable bundle of fur.
However, between the hours of 7pm and 9pm (and often another hour either side - depending on how much fun he's having tormenting us) he turns into a little crocodile. This is a newish development (maybe the last two weeks) and I'm sad to see this morning he now seems bitey from 7-8am too - hence my desperate post.
I've obsessively researched how to tackle this on the internet, but there seems to be some conflicting advice, even amongst the positive rewarders (which I most definitely am).
I just feel so beaten by it and this morning I must confess I shed a couple of silent tears as yet again he'd latched onto my pyjama bottoms with that famous terrier tenacity and my efforts of 'off' fell on deaf, furry ears.
I'm gathering quite an impressive collection of clothes with holes in them now, but it's the skin scrapings that worry (scare) me the most. He's only a little thing - it sounds ridiculous to be scared of him, but scared I am (when he's in this mood) and I'll bet he can smell the fear too!
Nothing beats personal experience so please can wise Doghouse visitors tell me what worked for you to stop their puppy biting, or what you know to work. I've read Ian Dunbar but when he latches on, it's hard to ignore and leave the room with him attached to your legs!
I'm yelping and distracting with a you too. The toy works intermittently. (I've read that given how much terriers love squeaky toys, the yelp though may not be much of a deterrent.)
Yours in desperation - Armchair
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Depressed about puppy biting/nipping...what worked for you?
ArmchairActivist · 13/06/2016 10:06
My mum has a Border Terrier. As a pup she was a nippy nightmare. We removed ourselves and gave her a toy. Every time.
Now when she is overexcited she will go and get a toy and being it with her!
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Yep, he's tired. If you know roughly what time it's likely to start, put him to bed in his crate first. In the morning get him up a little later. Hopefully he will get out of the habit.
You could always try what I accidentally did. I was holding a heavy metal baking tray when Monty suddenly made a grab for my slipper. He made me jump and I nearly lost my balance and I dropped the big heavy tray I was holding. It crashed to the floor with an almighty bang and he scarpered off into his crate like he'd been shot. I didn't mean to do it but it did frighten him away from my slippers.
Thanks all. I keep reading conflicting advice though about whether it's tiredness or the opposite (too much energy to burn off). He actually slept almost the whole day the other day and was exactly the same come the evening.
I wish it was just hands too, but it's the grabbing of the trouser legs that is most difficult to cope with. I must confess, when he was at it again just now (has destroyed another pair of trousers this evening already), I cried again. It's just very... stressful. I'm normally very resilient, but the combination of my husband being out, the puppy literally not letting go of my leg, and me having felt so much better after the reassurances above, just made me feel a bit hopeless again. I will toughen up though (and maybe wear wellies/accidently drop a baking tray! )
Hopping - hearing that it starts to tail off at 5 months is a godsend.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.