Aggressive puppy is this normal?

[mummyeme]

Hello,
We collected a 16 week old puppy just over a week ago. She's done lots of mouthing (which I expected) but has also bitten quite hard. I've been using a squeaky toy as distraction when she tries to tug at clothes and socks and if that fails when I have told her "off" twice and she ignores it I've been putting her in another room. This seemed to work but she's now twice bitten down hard on my mums hand and tugged at it without stopping (drawing blood too) which is scary. This afternoon we'd been for a short walk, came in and she was excitable so used toys as distraction, she lay on the floor in front of me chewing the toy and from nowhere jumped up and bit my hand (which was nowhere near her or the toy so seemed deliberate
Please advise, I'm worried this is more than just playful puppy behaviour and is now becoming aggression.
Thanks

Where has she been up till now? Has she been in a family environment, socialised with lots of people and other animals?
All puppies mouth a lot and will sometimes bite down quite hard as they are learning what is acceptable. Its sounds like she is learning her boundaries and trying to involve you in the games/keep your attention but but hurting you in the process. My puppy certainly behaved like this to start with but she settled after three to four weeks and rarely nips now. She will still nip if she is excited and as she is getting bigger (20 weeks) this can be sore! One week is not long for her to get settled, at 16 weeks it will take her a few weeks to learn her boundaries and calm down.

Um, i don't know what you're considering mouthing and not biting...they're the same thing really.

And yes, puppies do bite hard and draw blood as well sometimes.

I wouldn't be playing with her if she's over excited after a walk - what she really needs when she's like that is a rest.

Thankyou, I was thinking mouthing as when she'll chew and try to chew on your hand. But biting as deliberately jumping up at you with her mouth open and then immediately clenching. She was with a previous owner who got her from a breeder but could no longer keep her

Thanks for your replies, they're very helpful

Have a look at Dog Training Advice and Support.
We were also advised to get massive fluffy toys. (Blue or yellow are good as dogs see them!) At least one in each room where dog is allowed. BUT toys are out of dog's reach. When dog has mad biting session grab toy, wave it down near the ground in a figure of eight in front of dog and toss it away from you once you have dog's attention. Dog exerts biting on toy. Once dog is finished remove toy and put up high again. That way toy is for biting and they don't get bored.
Plus teething. Frozen carrot. Ice cube. Soak dried food, stuff Kong and freeze. Nylabone chews are good. Their mouths hurt!

We have discovered carrot wrapped in frozen flannel, pup loves them plus frozen chicken feet (a bit boak but I have a dog now so need to get over such squeamishness).
She will bite down fast as she really doesn't want you to take your hand away, she most likely isn't being naughty or aggressive she just doesn't know. very helpful Facebook group Wolfie mentioned. They have files on pretty much everything and a lot on bitey puppies.

I found my puppy bit down hard when over tired so whenever he seemed to get more bitey he got an enforced sleep in his crate. When he woke up he went back to his softer mouthing behaviour.

Mine bites when excited, tired, hungry or bored!
It hurts. It isn't aggressive though. They just don't know any better yet.

Agree that pups often do this when overtired.
They are like toddlers - there's a very fine line between "I am so excited and having so much fun " and " I am so tired I don't know what I'm doing". Like toddlers ,given the chance they can go from this state to a sound sleep very quickly. If you had just been out for a walk she probably needed a snooze :)

Thankyou all its much appreciated :)

Well, a quick update (and I'm touching wood in case) but she's so much better :). It was real perseverance with saying "off" twice and then removing her to another room if she hadn't listened, its like having a different dog now. If you're going through the puppy stage it does improve :). So many brilliant suggestions and reassurance on here really helped. Huge thanks to everyone. I'm sure I'll be back but the support and ideas I got here have helped so much.

Glad things have improved for you :) sometimes we mistake the puppy biting for aggressiveness because of how much it can bloody hurt!

They soon learn though.

Excellent news. It's a difficult stage but it does pass.