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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Puppies and Nipping

117 replies

SarahJinx · 24/09/2016 21:36

Evening ladies

Our Chocolate Lab Leah is 13 week. We've not had the best start with her, I was hospitalised for a week just after getting her so all of our early plans went out the window. Anyway, she's been a nipper since day one which we expected. The kids have reacted pretty badly though so for now we're keeping her separate from them in order to build their confidence with her and to try to avoid getting her over excited. However, her nipping is constant now, when petting her or if she's following me, or jumping up and nipping at the kids. Its getting worse not better and I am getting to the end of my tether because it bloody hurts and its so stressful. Can anyone offer any advice? We're going to start training in the next few weeks.

OP posts:

RaveclawZia13 · 25/09/2016 10:27

While she's at the other end of the house how often do you go through and spend time with her? How long do you play with her for? Does she go out for walks at all? It will be worse if she's not spending much time with anyone because she's excited to see you. Puppy's biting will take weeks to fully train out of generally you just need to be consistent. Also get her proper teething bones as dogs need to chew to get their adult teeth through properly and align the teeth.

RaveclawZia13 · 25/09/2016 10:31

Also **Costa is right a puppy is a huge responsibility and you are responsible for their every need including emotional/training. Labs are also known for being eaters and eat everything in sight some are trained out of it and some can't be. Training also doesn't stop at a few months old you'll have to reinforce training at various points throughout her life.

stonecircle · 25/09/2016 10:41

At the other end of the house!!! My goodness. We have a 9 month old lab cross - she's a rescue and we've had her 2 months. She's never left on her own. She was - and still can be - an enthusiastic nipper but she's getting better. All the advice about letting her mouth but shouting LOUDLY when she oversteps the mark is correct.

You need to invest time and attention with a puppy. I know the hospital stay was unforeseen but you can't just leave her at the end of the house to amuse herself. She should be part of and with the family as much as possible.

We got our older Lab when she was 8 weeks. We did have a crate for her but we only closed the door once. It was there for her to retreat to when she wanted. She had accidents in doors for a couple of weeks but after that was fine. Toilet training requires a big time commitment. I'm not sure I would have attempted it with such young kids around.

You need to start doing some proper research op into how to look after your girl properly.

FATEdestiny · 25/09/2016 11:32

I've never had a Labrador, but from dog owners I know with labs, they all talk about the dog being their shadow. Following the primary carer around and always being close by.

Is that right (fellow lab owners)?

I'm thankful my cocker spaniel likes to relax in her own space and will clear off to a quiet corner to sleep. I'm not a fan of being followed around. One of the reasons a lab wouldn't suit us, although we did consider one when buying latest puppy.

stonecircle · 25/09/2016 11:41

FATE - yes it is! Until they get older and just want to sleep all day! Our old Lab likes to tuck herself away somewhere comfy and quiet to sleep. DH is the dog God in our house and the other two follow him everywhere. If he's out then the puppy follows me everywhere, from room to room, to the toilet, into the garden etc. Nose touching the back of my legs as we go upstairs/downstairs etc.

We're fortunate to never have to leave them alone now DH is retired, but even when he was working full time I would never have left a dog alone for more than 4 hours and that was only very rarely.

They also have the option to sleep on dog beds in our bedroom - which the younger two do.

I think all dogs are sociable but labs particularly so.

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 12:38

I'm with her a lot at the moment because I'm still off work. She's walked around four times a day and I spend probably ten minutes in the hour on average with her. She certainly isn't left alone for hours on end. What do you all do about work? I've been off for seven weeks because of the surgery I had so I've been with her a lot. The kids and I play with her a lot because as I said, I'm trying to build their confidence, they throw balls and play tug and we do little training bits with treats. We just do it in a managed way because it got so intolerable.

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Pippin8 · 25/09/2016 12:52

I'm no expert, but I think 4 walks a day is a lot. She's probably over stimulated & can't wind down, hence the nipping.

RaveclawZia13 · 25/09/2016 12:55

My dog goes to daycare twice a week. When we got her it was just after we moved cities and I didn't work which was actually to our benefit as I did the training and getting up with her in the night and she needed surgery on her front legs and I basically spent 10 weeks sleeping downstairs with her and being with her constantly. She's only been left 3 times whilst I'm at work for 5 hours and that was only because her daycare was on holiday and we don't have any friends or family nearby.

You have to be prepared that the nipping will continue for a while since she's so young. My in laws have a springer puppy who nipped CONSTANTLY and at 6 months it's finally dying down as he's becoming more in control of his emotions.

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 12:57

Ah ok Pippin, I'm probably over compensating because she isn't with us. Three?

OP posts:

RaveclawZia13 · 25/09/2016 12:57

Also puppies should be sleeping between 18-22 hours a day on average so when my dog used to fight her sleep and become hyper because she was over tired we'd put her in her cage so she'd lay down and sleep. We didn't have to do it much as we don't have kids and didn't have to worry about eithers safety in that sense.

RaveclawZia13 · 25/09/2016 12:58

For every month of age dogs need 5 minutes of walks so she probably needs two 10 minute walks a day

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:02

Thanks Rave. We have a huge outdoor run built by the previous owner who has two massive Alsatians. Leah will be there when we go to work with DP coming back to feed and walk her midday. Well that was what I had planned and I've been gradually getting her used to it. After reading the link I have seen that most of her biting when we're playing is actually mouthing and there are some great tips there that I'll try straight away.

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Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:05

Cross post. She sleeps in a crate, I haven't shut the door ever but its worth a go, I definitely don't think she's sleeping that much but she isn't going to with me going to her all the time I guess. Ok I'm going to reintegrate her and see how we go. Seems that my efforts to make things easier for her and the kids are probably making it all worse.

OP posts:

RaveclawZia13 · 25/09/2016 13:06

I recommend any puppy classes that your vets do or a local dog trainer. I went to one that our vets held and she LOVES the vets despite all she's been through (and in her two short years she's been through a lot ). Any training you do really strengthens the bond between you and at a training class you can ask for advice and it will help her socialise with other dogs whilst she's so young.

stonecircle · 25/09/2016 13:15

So..... You're going to go back to work and leave her on her own through the day, unsupervised and alone with your DH popping back at lunchtime? PLEASE tell me I've misunderstood?

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:24

Like I said, that was what we had planned to do. I have discussed this with the breeders and our vet by the way, even before we got her because I wanted to be sure we could look after her with both of us being at work. I know plenty of people that have dogs and go to work, it can't just be us? It's three days a week, morning walk and in the run, dp back after three hours and then back in the run and then four hours until we all get back.

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Costacoffeeplease · 25/09/2016 13:25

At what age is she going to be left in an outside run all day with just one visit midday? A dog should be left a MAXIMUM of 4 hours a day, not 4 hours, a quick break and another 4 hours

Was the breeder aware of all this when you got her? I'm really surprised they sold you a pup tbh

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:25

Rave we have a local trainer and classes in our village but again, plans were poleaxed because of my op, I'm not currently able to drive but will be in the next fortnight

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Costacoffeeplease · 25/09/2016 13:27

Cross post

I can't quite believe what I'm reading here, and I'm getting quite angry now. On what planet did a vet and breeder think this set up was ok?

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:28

Yes, as I said and I discussed our thoughts with a few other dog people before we even decided to get a dog. Crikey, we have 1.5 acres of wood and grassland, a purpose built luxury dog run people go to work and have dogs with a lot less facility than we do.

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Costacoffeeplease · 25/09/2016 13:32

None of that makes up for human contact - she's a dog, a young pup, going to be on her own all that time? I'm sorry but on this and previous info, I think she should go back to the breeder asap

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:36

Yes, and we only got her because I was assured that it would be ok with us working, again by people that I know, her breeders and our vet. Previous info? Her being separated from my kids? Right.

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 25/09/2016 13:37

I'm a bit surprised that a breeder was ok with you leaving a puppy for that length of time...and in fact that they didn't offer to keep the puppy until you were well TBH.

Even with an adult dog that's a long time to be alone, it'd be okish with a fully grown dog getting a proper walk in the middle...but you shouldn't even be walking a lab puppy properly until their growth plates have closed, until then you should really be roughly timing their walks.

what do you mean btw by training will start in a couple of weeks? You mean classes hopefully not that you've not started doing any training with her?

Costacoffeeplease · 25/09/2016 13:40

Everything that you've said, just about

I find it incredible that anyone who knows anything about dogs would have agreed that this was a good idea. I feel so sorry for the poor girl

She needs socialisation, training, interaction - you all need to build a bond of trust with her, which you can't do in these circumstances. That will be a hideous life for her

Original poster

SarahJinx · 25/09/2016 13:41

Yes tab training classes, I'm not able to drive at the moment so we can't go. We got her at 8 weeks, I was hospitalised for a week after having her for a week (it wasn't planned surgery), breeders have been very very supportive.

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