Puppy trying to kill 5 year old

[Lau123lau]

My 17 week old pup has finally realised humans are not chew toys (for the most part anyway) but seems to think my 5 year old is still fair game. We have tried everything from shutting him in another room, yelping and distraction with toys/commands etc but he isn’t getting the message. He full on lunges at her so standing still isn’t an option as he is drawing blood on her arms and legs. They’re not left alone together but he can be asleep on the sofa one minute and she will move and within a split second he’s clamped to her leg (he’s a whippet so very quick). When we’re out walking him off lead, he will be running round the field one minute and next minute he’s after her again. We do put him back on lead as soon as this happens. I really need a solution as she’s becoming frightened of him. Is it possible he still thinks he’s above her in the ranks and if so, how do we put the little blighter back in his rightful place?

just a thought - have you checked to see if pup is teething? if there is a lot of blood after the mouthing its probably his! when my pup was teething he used to leave my arms covered in blood looking like id been savaged, but actually it was all from his poor gums and hadn't broken the skin. why don't you try a teething gel (we used VetQ) as well as the behavioural advice above?

@Wolfiefan are you a dog trainer? I only ask because I'm reading your comments and they all make sense to me.

I've struggled a little with my (VERY LARGE) now 7 month puppy and have considered a trainer, however right now we seem to be doing a lot better. I'm hoping he is starting to reach maturity.

A playing 35kg puppy can be a challenge!

What is the humping related to?

There's some really stupid/dangerous advice on here.

Can't believe a pp suggested you get you 5 year old to lean over the puppy and pin it down. Well that's going to end well isn't it?

Obviously as pps have said get a trainer for the puppy, but you also need training for you 5 year old.

She needs to understand that she can't leave her hair loose if it means the puppy is going to jump at her. She shouldn't be loud around the puppy and she shouldn't be running or jumping around it.
Get her involved in training the puppy so she can see what the puppy can do, simple things like sit, paw.

She's old enough to realise that if she's being wild the puppy will be wild.

The puppy is a baby, it's teething, it gets excited. It needs to learn some bite inhibition it isn't being spiteful, it most certainly isn't being dominant, it's being a puppy.

I also didn't want to neuter (generally at this point we might want to stud in the future).

Apart from the sensible advice here (and not the crap spouted in relation to dominance), I just wanted to say about tiredness, which others have mentioned. Ours, when a pup, became quite unreasonable when tired, and the nipping, of which there was plenty (and blood drawn) became very bad and almost tantrum like. No amount of sensible behaviour from me would make it stop, but if I put her to bed she went straight to sleep and woke up in a much more amenable mood.

Hah, I remember being marooned at the top of the garden as a child as our wicked puppy bit my shoelaces! He grew up to be a wonderful dog.

You know what the cause of this is op - your Dd is super exciting and you have a breed bred to chase things that move fast. You need to try and keep things calm and be consistent, and have gin, also. Much gin.

I would always, always recommend good training classes for puppies - they are not just for teaching dogs to sit, come, etc, they are also to teach the dog to focus around distractions, other dogs, in new places etc. They are an investment in your dog's future. We used to sometimes have children handling in our classes for all or parts of the lesson (although none as young as 5) and I think they found it beneficial. Sometimes you need someone who isn't Mum or Dad to explain things, I think.

Please ignore all the dominating, pack theory type advice as that has been shown to be a load of bollocks. It doesn't even make logical sense, never mind have any scientific validity.

Our new 14 week old puppy is also a bit like this with my DD, who is 11. He’s a terrible scary horrible... Golden Retriever. His nips can hurt and draw blood, but we understand he’s playing. Distraction with a tasty treat usually does the trick these days. Turning our back on him and leaving the room also helps.

@TheEmmaDilemma that made me laugh. Only because I was called a “cunt” on MN for giving advice.
Absolutely and completely not a dog trainer. I have a two year old and made the brave/stupid decision to take on a wolfhound as my first dog. I have worked with some excellent dog trainers and spent a lot of time reading and researching. I’ve also been really lucky to have wonderful people in the breed to turn to for advice.
We’ve had issues but she’s now a Good Citizen, behaves really well and I’m really enjoying her.
The last dog we met was very over excited and was humping out of complete over stimulation. He was also desperately trying to get my girl’s attention. (Obviously in a rude and inappropriate way. She told him off!)

"Just say No to him in a firm voice"!!!! WTF!!!!???

Get rid of the bloody thing - by whatever means you choose.

Must be lovely for your 5 year old to know that keeping this vicious animal is higher on your priorities than protecting her!

There are two options depending on your priority:
Rehome / get rid of the dog
Keep the dog and engage with social services and with luck they will rehome your child.

In my (limited) experience puppies tend to stop biting the smallest child last. Just keep at it.

Charlie don’t be stupid. Keep pup on a longline around child and do training to wear them out. The dog. Not the child.

“Keep the dog and engage with social services and with luck they will rehome your child.”

I’d love to see that report tbh.

I mean obviously it’d be a complete waste of resources, but still...

If you think puppy dogs are nippy try a kitten.

All baby animal nibble and nip. If human babies were born with a set of razor sharp teeth they'd be exactly the same and hurt just as much.

Protect your child. Get rid of the dog.

Oh good god some people. Hopefully the sensible advice on here will work for you op. This is the craziest response I have ever seen to a biting puppy thread.
Anyway OP this is a thread about a cute biting puppy let’s see a picture teeth and all. Here is my 35kg 7 month puppy

@pigsDOfly
Never mind kittens. Try two tortie kittens. Much blood was shed and both children frequently had to be rescued from having clothes, feet, fingers attacked. One has grown up. The other one is still a bit bitey.

Has anyone actually RTFT ?
This is a 17 week old puppy who is behaving like a puppy, not trying to dominate anyone.
It's normal behaviour which needs to managed.

@MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig. You have my puppies name

Ignore everything @Hairpulling said

Getting your child to pretend to eat out of his food bowl is one way to give him food aggression

And as for the dominance because he's higher up 🙄

Op if you can't manage the behaviour I'd really recommend getting a behaviourist in

A behaviourist!! - creeps off to lie down in darkened room! Is this thread for real!?

The puppy is a baby ffs... do parents get a behaviourist in for their 17wk old babies? I think not

InfiniteSheldon that’s a great name for a dog

@ Wolfiefan Two tortie kittens? You're a brave woman

We had a gorgeous little tortie when I was growing up. We got her when I was just 12 years old.

Well I remember the occasion - she would have been about 6/7 months old at the time - she did her leaping from the floor onto my shoulder trick; only she slipped backwards and slid all the way down my back.

I was wearing a light summer blouse at the time and blood was most definitely shed.

My hands were always covered in scratches and ankles were fair game.

I suspect a lot of the pp on here would have rehomed her because of her 'vicious' nature. We just accepted she was a tortie kitten and of course was as mad as a box of frogs.

Fantastic cat.

Thanks for all the useful advice. Once again, I will not rehoming my much wanted and planned for puppy and just wanted to hear from people who actually understand what darling puppies are like and can offer useful advice based on experience. Just for reassurance for the child protection club, here’s a photo of my ‘vicious dog’ with my child.