How do you stop a puppy from constantly nipping??

[MrsMertle]

She is 4 months old. She always jumps up and nips the kids, think she is playing really but it upset the DC. She also has a thing for feet!

I mentioned it to the vet and she suggested using a water spray that we squirt at her when she does it but this just made her really hyper. Instead of scaring her I think she liked it and thought it was a game.

when my late dog was a puupy, I got on all fours and barked at him and then stared him out when he nipped my niece, he never did it again!!

My puppy is 4 months and 1 week and the nipping has got considerably less in the last week.

We yelp really loudly if she nips and turn away to nurse our wounds ignoring her for a little while. At first, she looked confused now she either rolls over submissively or goes into her bed and looks sheepish.

I think that it is just perververance really. She stopped nipping Dh and I a long time ago but still nips the DDs when playing, I think she knows they are lower down in the pack order. We try and get the Dds to yelp loudly and I nurse their 'wound' making a big fuss in front of the puppy. Once when, she got really over enthusiastic I did boom at her. Good Luck

You could try the plastic bottle with stones in (like dog borstal).

Whatever you find that sppoks/distracts/frightens the dog you will have to be hyper consistent with for a couple to three weeks. And reward her for doing as she is told at the instant she does the good thing (not in 5minutes when you get to the treat cupboard - it must be immediate)

Say NO! very loudly when ever he does it and remove her. Also if you really want to make the point gently pinch the skin on his cheek when you say NO! This might sound harsh but all mother dogs do this to their young to keep them in line. always use no every time you want them to stop doing something. I did this with my two dogs now if I say no they both stop and look at me. So do the kids!

we say no loudly and gen he stops

guess its just playful

playful can get a bit much tho sometimes. What breed is she? If she is a big dog she will be knocking kids over left right and centre.
Knock it on the head entirely i reckon. Find a something that works and stick to it like glue!

Try wearing a pair of old socks for a day to get your scent and when the pup nips , give him the sock. In time puppy will just go get the sock for you when he get excited and wants tomouth you. (Well it should...!)

It's very tiresome but it does stop eventually with most dogs it's usually when their adult teeth come in.

so are you allowed/can you/should you

wallop them with slipper

well tap gently

I've found the most effective way is to say 'no!' sharply while scruffing them (grabbing the scruff of their neck) quite firmly, as their mother would do to them if they got too boisterous.

I did this with my boy from day one and he's now 5 months and hasn't nipped at all from about 2 months old.

He does have other faults, though....

Well, actually, I'm struggling to think of them now [smitten with my puppy emoticon]

Bella you old softie

I'm not sure what breed you have but if you look at the forum for cockersonline they have a section on how to stop this www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=2016.0

we're not too sure what she is as we got ehr from the rescue centre. looks a bit like a lab cross.

thanks for all the advice guys. Have soem wonderful images of misi down on all fours barking like a dog!!!

Please don't use water sprays/rattle bottles on little puppies. Would you do this to stop a toddler whingeing?

The advice to ignore the bite and walk away is great - puppies mouth and bite as part of normal behaviour, and it's an important process whereby they learn "bite inhibition" ie how far to go. However, in households with children puppies get a great response to the biting because kids inevitably squeal, wriggle, run away or put their hands to the dog to push it away. All of these things will encourage the puppy because they read these signs as play. If they know they get an exciting response then the behaviour will continue and is reinforced each time someone responds by pushing/yelling etc.

If you make sure every single person the pup comes into contact with responds in the same way and you are strictly consistent you can sort this in a day or two. But it has to be consistent - not easy with kids.

As soon as the teeth make contact the person should turn their back and walk away for a moment. This instantly cuts the play short and removes any inadvertant reinforcement of the biting. When the puppy learns that biting = no more fun they give up really quickly.

Shakers and squirters will only make a dog frightened and could actually cause you problems. As mentioned on dog borstal techniques like these should only be used under professional supervision. IMO they're completely inappropriate for a puppy.

iatedavina - very tempting to squirt wingy child with water

friends cat gets squirted when starts clawing furniture

Can I squirt DH when he leaves all the washing up in the sink if I've been out for the evening?!

dont see why not bella

Nah,..push a pair of your worn socks in his chops !

You need to scream loudly when she nips. Dogs don't want to hurt, but don't really appreciate the difference between nipping flesh and, say, a cushion. So, you need to let her know that nipping flesh hurts.

I was telling my niece this (she has a 4 months pup) and screamed when the pup nipped me. Poor niece wasn't expecting it and nearly fell off her chair.

A rifle.

What bella said about the scruffing - it definately works.

I did this for my puppy, he is a jack russel so quite willfull, he went through a stage of growling. I mentioned it to a friend and she said scruff him, then put him down and walk away. I only had to do this two or three times. You need to ignore the dog too - this means either physically turning your back or if not possible, definately no eye contact. We had a rescue rottie once, who at about 18months still hadn't got out of play biting - that was definately not acceptable, couldn't scruff him for obvious reason, but we just did the whole, ignore, fold arms, look away from dog, pretend its not there - it took longer, but it worked in the end.

FWIW - most of them grow out of the play biting all by themselves.

You weren't up for scruffing a rottie?! No, me neither [big girly blousy wooss face emoticon]

Tried the socks, pushka - washing up all done!!!