Biting and lunging puppy

[bigtimefood]

Hi Mumsnetters

I have an 11 week old lab and he's in the the stage where they think biting is playtime, does anybody have any tips to get them out of this stage and how to react successfully? I understand that puppies nip and play, however he's so strong and he's clamping his jaw around any limb he can and is now drawing blood! I've tried a yelp, a firm no/naughty and walking away as much as to say play time is over but he doesn't care! I cannot just stand still and wait for him to stop as these are serious bites and he's relentless! For an 11 week old he's very strong! Any words of wisdom please?

Thank you!

@Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel

So many people that seem to know nothing about Puppies, get them and then moan about them being puppies, doing totally normally puppy type things 🙄

I am a complete amateur and bow to many other mns but what did help us a bit was putting vicks vapour rub on our legs and arms and most bitten places like tops of slippers

PLEASE don't do this!!!! It's toxic to dogs!

I totally get what you’re saying but with all due respect it’s not until you’re in the thick of it and actually experience and own a puppy do new dog owners like myself “get it” as you say. I know puppy’s nip, teethe and bite but I did not know that he would terrorise my children and draw blood. If you have kids did you know everything about them before you had them or did you do like the rest of us and learned on the fly? I think the same applies to puppies I am happy to read and learn from everyone’s experience and am glad that you have said that vaporub was toxic to dogs as that was something I was going to consider doing so thank you for educating me on that as now I won’t

I second Facebook group Dog Training Advice and Support @bigtimefood. Really good and detail advice from qualified dog behaviourists who happily answer individual questions and have loads of written information.

We did a couple of things when in the thick of the bitey phase. Firstly removed her from where we were if she got too bitey. So put her in her pen or outside to calm down. She could still see us but not get to us.

Then also we sprayed anything we didn’t want bitten with Grannicks Bitter Apple spray. Including all our shoes and ankles! You can get it from Amazon and it’s not toxic for dogs. Apparently it doesn’t always work as some dogs don’t mind the taste. Luckily our puppy hated it so it did work for us.

Good luck and hang in there.

Just wondered how you were getting on OP, any improvement?