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Original poster

Right, new puppy question number 456 - mouthing

21 replies

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 12:38

So the divine cocker spaniel puppy - who we all adore, and who is very jolly and even-tempered - KEEPS on mouthing us all the time.

When I put his lead on he tries to bite my fingers - I mean play bite, you know. He jumps up on the sofa and eats my shirt. He chews my trousers. If any dc are on the floor, he jumps on top of them and tries to chew their ears, he chews dd's hair.

He barks sometimes - not at me, at them - because he wants them to play but he is NIPPY.

Vet shrugged and said 'he's a puppy'.

And I don't mind that - I actually don't care about him chewing the kitchen table leg. I don't. I do mind about dd sitting down to stroke him and him chewing her fingers though. I mean it isn't HARD proper biting, it is puppy playing biting, but it's still biting right?

Help!

Tips?

OP posts:

Twinkie1 · 05/03/2008 12:40

Think it is something to do with teething that they will grow out of - buy him some chews or a toy and get DCs to handle those and get him to bite those instead.

MamaG · 05/03/2008 12:41

my dog did this.

He stopped when he was 3 (years, not months) but he only ever did it to DH (odd)

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 12:42

Oh he has lots of them! And a box of cardboard boxes to shred. And I'm not fussed about the table legs and chairs etc.

Someone in the park said we were to say 'Ow' every time and turn away from him, and then bring him something else to chew. Does that sound right?

OP posts:

throckenholt · 05/03/2008 12:42

I was told to remove attention from the dog for any mouth contact -even accidental - so if you are playing with him and he mouths then you stop playing - apparently soon he realises that he doesn't get to play if he does that.

It is difficult because puppies naturally play bite with each other - but they have thicker skin and lots of fur to protect them. As they grow their adult teeth it becomes even more of a problem.

If it is really more biting then you can gently hold the mouth together and say no biting.

throckenholt · 05/03/2008 12:44

oh - that reminds me - you are also supposed to yelp whenever they touch you with their teeth, and then stop playing - because that is what a dog would do. Try it - they really do react to it.

Just like growling is more effective than shouting when trying to stop some behaviour (but usually I forget to do it !)

WiiMii · 05/03/2008 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 12:46

Oh okay, yelping? LOL. I like that.

I have to work out a strategy and tell the dcs it so we ALL do it I think. He is very pro-active in trying to make them play though - and me, actually - so he tends to start it when they come home from school because he's so pleased to see them.

OP posts:

ingles2 · 05/03/2008 12:49

Hello,...here you are...
it is just a puppy thing, cs ime experience are not big chewers and after the 1st year it stopped completely. however my friends cs chews when it is left on its own, but thats's not the case at yours if I remember right.
other posters are correct, make sure he has specific chew toys, hard ones, cos they go through them quick and if he chews you or the kids walk away and totally ignore him.
barking is much more of a problem for cs's. try and teach him early when it's ok to bark and when not.

foxinsocks · 05/03/2008 12:49

lol at you talking to dog people in the park. First, you do that, then you'll get the 'dog' clothes and NOW you're going to start yelping and growling lol.

It's very all encompassing this dog lark isn't it.

My pup used to do this but grew out of it when I reacted looking like I was hurt but it did take a while I seem to remember (but I was crap with him tbh).

Wisteria · 05/03/2008 12:50

We say "OW" very loudly, then "NO" then ignore our 6month old puppy for a while.

She has almost stopped now but will still do it to DP and when she's over excited...... she doesn't appear to do it to the kids bizarrely.

hippipotami · 05/03/2008 12:50

Hi 100

Spaniels will mouthe more than other dogs. They are gun dogs and mouthing is the way a pup would learn to be 'soft mouthed' that is retrieving and carrying shot birds without biting it too hard and damaging the flesh.

The only thing to do is to yelp, as you have been told. Because that is what pup's mum would do, it is the language pup understands.

I have been where you are now, the whole family had pinprick marks in hands, feet and ankles.

Daft Dill also became very proficient at pulling the socks of our feet to then give our toes a good chomping

It will pass, it seems like forever, but it passes, honest

FloriaTosca · 05/03/2008 12:54

The text book response is that when puppy bites/nips you 1; yelp, loud and high pitched just like another pup. 2; growl "you horrible dog" or some such phrase loud and low like the pups mum would do when telling it off and 3; turn your back on the pup with drawing you affection for a few minutes...treat clothes as if they are part of you ie do the same.

Personally, my dogs never responded teribly well to the text book. My Dobes found that if I put their flews (loose lip at corner of the mouth) round my finger they found chewing on it uncomfortable so started to leave my fingers alone. My Bouvier had no flews but found (after text book method failed)that if he put his mouth on my hand my hand went down his throat, he didnt like it much and never did it again.
You are teaching bite inhibition ie human flesh/clothing is not to be touched with teeth ...EVER...He'll learn soon enough if you are consistant.

Dont let him on the sofa in the first place...our dogs only came into the living room on a lead/under control for the first 6 months...they had freedom to destroy the rest of the house (fortunately didn't)but the living room was sacrosact...play was outdoors...indoors was for peace. Get him to puppy classes, teach him some basic obedience that the children can teach him too eg sit,down, stand, come, give paw and trust (ie leave a treat on the floor until given the release command to eat it)so their play is controlled on both sides.

Enjoy. This stage is just Soooo short.

ingles2 · 05/03/2008 12:55

Hi Hippi...does dill bark a lot? pippa is driving me nuts at the minute...

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 12:56

Right. Yelping it is.

LOL Foxy, yes, I have made MANY new friends in the park.

So, say I reach down to stroke him and he grabs my sleeve - which he does - do I yelp then? Yes? Is it all chewing, not just skin contact? Will he get that?

OP posts:

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 12:58

Oh thank you everyone.

X-post Floria. Okay, I'll treat sleeves as skin.

The text book thing sounds good, and I'll talk to the dcs tonight to make sure we ALL do it.

OP posts:

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 13:03

Oooh he just came in and jumped up and chewed me. And I went 'Yelp' and he carried on and then I went 'Yelp' and then 'Grrr' and he sat back down on his bottom, looking alarmed.

I'm not surprised. I'm alarmed.

OP posts:

WiiMii · 05/03/2008 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CountryGirl2007 · 05/03/2008 14:45

Keep that up, every time he tries to nibble you yelp loudly and high-pitched like a puppy and then ignore him for a while and continue to do this until he get's the picture. also, if you catch him chewing something you don't wish to be chewed i.e. you're shoes, tell him "no" firmly and offer him something of his own to chew on instead (i.e. a toy)

Also, some people give their pups Rawhides to chew on but if I were you I'd steer clear of these from the very start, they can be dangerous. I only give my dogs those little rawhide shoes very occasionally and then take them away when there is only a small piece left.

hippipotami · 05/03/2008 15:55

Hi Ingles

No, luckily Dill is not too barky. He barks when there is someone at the door, but that is fine by us.
He gives two or three barks/yelps first thing in the morning and last thing at night when we open the back door to let him out for a wee. But we have foxes at the top of the garden so am not sure it is related to that.
He will bark when the dog two doors down barks when they are both in their respective gardens. But he never instigates the barking contest luckily.

What dill does to is 'talk' (No am not mad honest)
He does this low level 'grumbeling' when you ask him to do something - sit or stay etc., or when you brush and cuddle him.
Sometimes when you ask him something he will wriggle his eyebrows at you. Honestly, that dog thinks he is a human

Has Pippa's barking increased recently?

Whooosh · 05/03/2008 16:12

Some really useful advice here-DD is getting sick of the puncture marks on her hands.
Not sure I fancy "yelping" in public if he chews my sleeve though....

ingles2 · 05/03/2008 21:19

Pippa talks too! All the time actually!
Yes, in the last few weeks she's started barking like mad if anyone comes near the house or drive.
or
if there's a fox in the garden, or a pheasant or one of the chickens, or a rabbit...
it definitely is becoming a problem. my friends cs barks all the time! God forbid she gets like that! What shall I do?
(btw I've been away working a lot recently... and she's a mummys dog )

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