Puppy biting harder!

[cansleepanywhere]

I know they bite and we've been working on it since the day she came home (nearly 6 weeks ago). We give a firm 'no bite' and then time out behind the baby gate if she continues. I did think it was getting better........

Today I tried to get her off the couch (for the hundredth time) and she bit me, but this time she bit down and HARD. She's never done that before, she mainly just bites to initiate play. My arm now has a bloody hole in it and I must admit it took me by surprise.

Is because I was getting her off the couch? Is she testing me? Is it because she's teething and may arm was just there?

She's 14 weeks old today and aside from the biting is the perfect dog. Great training progress, great recall, great traveller, great sleeper and haven't had a housetraining accident for weeks.

My pup is 15 weeks old and I have several puncture wounds. I think teething is kicking off in earnest, so I'm giving him lots of hard chews he can really bite down on. If he bites, I yelp and say 'no biting' in a firm tone. If he does it again, he gets a few minutes time out. I think perseverence is the key

You tried to remove her when she was comfy and she was annoyed! To get her off the sofa you should offer her something better. To teach her a 'off' cue, hold a very tasty treat in from of her nose, move it so she follows and when all four paws are on the floor give her the treat and praise her.

Oh, and 'yelping' at some pups can just excite them more and make matters worse.

What Lilcamper said - the yelping method doesn't always work. Also, with a lot of puppies rather than punish bad behaviour with a 'no bite' it's better to reward good behaviour.

Kikopup (on youtube) has a good video with a dalmatian puppy. Basically you condition the good behaviour; being on the floor and not biting, with treats, (she uses clicker training, but I'm sure it could work without) and you get her used to rewards coming if she's doing the behaviour you want. If she bites then she gets no treat. Likewise you can use this positive reinforcement training to get her comfortable with lying in her bed/at your feet rather than on the sofa.