Ripped to shreds

[rippedtoshreds]

Puppy advice please.
We have a springer. Got her at 8 weeks and now she’s 13 weeks.
She’s settled in pretty well, sleeping midnight til 6.30, has had someone home with her pretty much solid since we got her. She’ll settle in her crate in the day time.
She’s eating fine, playing fine etc.
The problem is the bloody biting. It’s horrific. From 6.30am until bed at midnight she just bites, pounces, attacks.
She jumps up for affection and as soon as you pick her up she’s ripping your hair out, or puncturing your hands and arms, even biting noses and faces.
You only have to walk from one side of the room to the other and she’s hanging off your trousers growling or off my shoe laces or slippers.
Every single person who’s come to visit her has puncture wounds in their hands.
The kids are covered in scratches, little bite marks, their clothes are ripped and this is literally happening when walking from the lounge to the toilet. They are separated by stairs gates the entire rest of the time.
If I want the kids to come in the kitchen for lunch then I have to pick them up over the stair gate and carry them to their chairs or they get attacked and bitten on their legs. The whole time the dog is hanging off my jeans biting me while I’m carrying the kids.
We put her in her crate for a minute to calm down, but as soon as she comes out she’s attacking again.
My parents are desperately worried that we’ve got an aggressive dog around the kids, even though she’s only 13 weeks old.

She’s from a registered breeder and is pedigree.
She can’t go out yet as hasn’t had all of her jabs, but I play with her in the garden chucking a ball for 15 minute spells. If anything this ramps up the aggression and she’ll come in all wound up and attack even more.
We take her for car rides and to meet friends dogs which wears her out slightly.
Evenings are the worst. She almost goes into a frenzied attack and we will be sat on the sofa and she’ll just fly through the air at you and basically attack you.
If something has scared her then she’ll attack too.
My LO bought a balloon home from a party. The dog saw it on the other side of the room, started barking manically and then just ran around in a frenzy biting everyone.
I’ve had experience of puppies before, but have never experienced such a bitey aggressive puppy.
Please tell me this is normal for springers and she’ll grow out of it?
I’m so worried that she’ll be an aggressive dog.

In fact my younger child is going through a throwing stage and has clunked his sister round the head with die cast trains twice this week.
Shall I get rid of him because he’s hurting his sister?

OP, why are you keeping an animal that is behaving exactly like it should for its age and experience? It's almost like you did your research and understood dogs don't come fully trained!

Next up, why people put up with babies crying and cows shitting in fields...

Why are you keeping an animal that is hurting your children? I really don't get this.

I guess if you have never owned a puppy then I might understand this but given all the responses from us dog owners I guess you haven't bothered to read that's it normal.

OP you will get there eventually. I thought mine would never stop. Roll on the summer when things will have calmed down.

But lots of people on this thread have said this doesn't sound normal for a puppy. Your poor children.

And of course it's not the same as suggesting getting rid of a baby when it starts biting. What a stupid suggestion.

But lots of people on this thread have said this doesn't sound normal for a puppy. Your poor children.

But most of us have experienced it and if you look on the puppy survival threads this is very common. Some puppies are 'easy' but lots aren't and in a household where there is excitement e.g. young children then it can make it ten times worse.

OPs puppy is still very young and young puppies have needle like teeth. What would you suggest she did? Rehome it for being simply a young untrained puppy? That's why lots of puppies end up in kennels because people take them on and don't understand how hard this period is.

Op if you go back to the Dog Training home page and search for puppy biting children you'll see loads of advice ( because it's so common) or you could make your own post. Good luck

Re the children- she just loves them loads and loads and can't contain her excitement! Don't get them to feed her or she'll love them even more!
Keep her on a house lead tied to you so she goes everywhere with you and can't sneak off anywhere. Sit there feeding her her dinner one kibble piece at a time as the children walk past one at a time being as boring as they are able. As she starts to concentrate on the food, let them be a bit rowdier, or come by two at a time, etc.

We have t shirts with holes in the hem from him nipping, and he was in the very naughty habit of nipping the 8 yr old on the bum! Puppies are terrors!

I’ve searched for past posts on puppies biting kids which has been really helpful.
I’m going to get some long toys and get them to put them in her mouth as she runs towards them so she’s grabbing the toy and not the child.
She has her kibble soaked in water so not sure how easy it would be to give her piece by piece.

Children often need more training as to how to behave with a puppy than the puppy does.

Firstly - they need to know that puppy will be bitey. So no high pitched screaming, yelling or running around when it happens. They need to fully understand your point that this is all normal, nothing to worry about and pup isn't looking yo just you.

I used to explain to my younger children that pup doesn't have hands, so is using mouth to "feel" you. Not to bit you.

It also helps youngsters understand the difference between biting and mouthing by actually showing them. Allow pup to mouth your hand, show that pup isn't biting down but instead is feeling you with their mouth. Whilst encouraging mouthing long term isn't a good idea, in the short term it is a direct way to teach toddlers and youngsters that mouthing isn't anything to get hysterical about. Allow pup to mouth their hands so they can see this happening.

Removing the childs fear of biting calms every one down. Once there is no fear of biting hurting, teach the children to ignore (properly ignore so turn away and don't engage). There is no need to be picking up the children when near the dog.

I know you've said it somewhere @ripped but when is pup allowed out.

With regards to the kids, (I'll qualify this by saying mine are way older so I have no experience with bitey pups and little ones,) I agree that they shouldn't have to be carried. Try when they need to go through popping pup on the lead, get her to sit (which won't work for very long yet) then the kids walk through as calmly and boringly as they can. Fatedestiny's post is very good although I would only allow the demo on me until I was very confident.

The problem at the moment is whenever pup and DC's are in the same room the DC's are by far the most exciting thing in that room. hopefully when you get to go outside presumably DC's will go too, they will then no longer be the most exciting thing in pups world.

With the kibble feeding piece by piece is a good training technique, Billypup actually preferred it when I stopped adding water, I use canagan which is very small and manageable. You can adjust the meal food levels accordingly if you're using lots to train with.

picklemebaubles
I have had both puppies, kittens, and young children. I know all about biting and mouthing .

But I have never had an animal in the vicinity of my children that would cause me to start a thread called
“ ripped to shreds “

Op , good luck with your new pet

She’s got her second jabs early next week I believe. I’ll check calendar.
And then is it 1 or 2 weeks later they can go out?
Have been practising tonight every time pup runs near the kids they hand her a toy. Seemed to work really well.
I’ve got some old bed sheets so may cut them up and knot them!

I think its 2, I remember being gutted as I had 1 in my head and was thinking something along the lines of ARGGGGHHHHH she needs to get outside. Then it was another 3 or 4 before allowed in water, but that ones much easier.

Personally I would be taking her out as soon as she has her 2nd vaccinations unless there is an outbreak of parvovirus in your area. The benefits of socialisation far outweigh the minimal risks of infection (mothers immunity + 1st vacs = pretty comprehensive cover).

We've had reported cases of Pavo near us within the last month or so, so it is around, I wouldn't risk it, but I'm the paranoid type.

Op what’s the best way you have found of dealing with the hanging off trouser legs please!? Tia

I wore multiple pairs of thick socks and tucked trousers into them.

@Eloisedublin123 I am definitely no expert! But we just remove her from trousers and walk away and ignore her without saying a word.
If she’s doing it in the garden then we walk inside and leave her out there.
I would say she’s hanging off maybe twice a day now instead of 20 times a day!

Thanks!

best way you have found of dealing with the hanging off trouser legs please!?

Leggings or other tight trousers where possible.

We took our puppy out a few days after 2nd vaccination. I was worried, but I think her need to be out outweighed the risks.

Only you can decide what to do, but being able to go out and about does make everyone calmer!