Jumping up and biting

[FernieB]

Puppy is 19 weeks and is doing well with training except that he is still jumping up and biting at us/clothes etc. He's a big breed so can jump high. DH is fed up and would like him muzzled/in a kennel/gone.

I'm working on the jumping but please tell me it gets better. I'm exhausted and stressed out. I just need to know it'll improve.

It gets soooo much better. My youngest wolfhound was a shit for doing this. Not out on walks but in the house and garden.
She’s grown out of it.
Look at teaching four on the floor.
And always have something in reach that puppy CAN bite. Offer that and move away.
Can also be worse when tired or over stimulated. So avoid that. Have you crate or pen trained?
Hang on in there! Puppies are bloody hard.

It does get better, but it’s so frustrating waiting. My border collie nipped my ankles and hands. I sprayed deodorant on them and this seemed to put him off biting me as he didn’t like the smell.

My golden retriever was a twat at that age and frequently knocked me over and left massive bruises all up my arm. It did get better, but not fit ages. Halti head collar worked for us on walks, gave us more control over the jumping up.

Is it happening at home or on walks ?

Mainly at home. I know he's generally either tired or wants to play.

You need to reward calmness, four on the floor, downs etc. Jumping up and mouthing is excitement- he wants to play. It’s just inappropriate so you need to teach him how to behave appropriately when he sees people, which is sitting, down remaining calm.

Fill your pockets with treats. Nice stuff- cheese, Chicken bits. I use a little cup in my hoodie pocket. Saves the smelly pocket. Every time pup is relaxed, lying, sitting calmly- you treat and give calm praise. Do this constantly. Very quickly your pup will twig on that calm = treats and will transfer this to meeting people. You can get the family to help practice. Put pup on a lead and ask DH/DC to enter the room stand further from dog than he can reach, pup will be excited. Everyone ignore him. He will calm, as soon as he does a sit or down you reward and praise. Keep practicing it. Good luck.

How are you responding? We have recently been through all this so tried various methods. I found it fairly easy in the end to manage at home cos you can say “off” firmly then leave the room (everyone leave the room so he is on his own). For about 20 seconds then calmly go back in. Repeat til he gets the message. We found this the most effective method and she started to catch on that jumping and biting meant no attention from anyone.
On walks is harder. I stand on her lead and ignore her til she calms down. Which takes ages sometimes.

Mine was a nightmare for this! 99% of the time, it happened due to overstimulation and the fact that he needed a nap.

We ignored him. Fold your arms, turn your body and face away and ignore him. No eye contact, no verbal correction, nothing. When he stops jumping and has all four paws on the floor, then give lots of praise/treats. If he jumps up, go back to ignoring him.

He'll get it - he just needs to learn that jumping and nipping is boring because it doesn't get him any attention. Remember - things like shouting, shoving him off and saying "ow!" is still giving him attention :)

Thank you everyone. It's just good to know it does improve. I am a bit on my own with training. DH does not want to be involved and just contradicts or distracts. I've been ignoring and Ddog does seem to respond to that. I've looked up four on the floor and will try that too.

It does improve, it just requires consistent work. If your DH isn’t on board, yet, then might be better just to keep her with you while you’re doing this training and once you’re seeing results he might be more inclined to get in on the very rewarding action. Fwiw- pups are hard work. It’s understandable that he’s struggling but I’m assuming it was a joint decision to get a pup so he doesn’t really get to opt out of the training. It’s not just your job!

Dont ignore,

Reward the behaviour you want instead. So if he is jumping up to you lure into a sit (to start with) reward the sit.

Then only reward a sit in front of you. Tell your dog what behaviour you want and the jumping up will go away quicker.

Re biting and niping only interact through a toy so distract with a toy and if he bites your clothes or hand drop the toy and remove yourself from the situation. Your dog will soon learn interact only with the toy and not bite and nip you.

Do understand that your dog will be in discomfort from teething so do make sure they have loads of things they can chew to help them through this stage.

@FernieB

Thank you everyone. It's just good to know it does improve. I am a bit on my own with training. DH does not want to be involved and just contradicts or distracts. I've been ignoring and Ddog does seem to respond to that. I've looked up four on the floor and will try that too.

Sadly it will be harder if DH isn't on the same page. Pup needs to receive the same message from everyone.

My DH was awful for playing with ours when he was in "bitey" mode and even now as an adult he plays roughly with him and ends up on the receiving end of poor behaviour. He doesn't even try that behaviour with me but will constantly pester DH who inevitably gives in

My DH was awful for playing with ours when he was in "bitey" mode and even now as an adult he plays roughly with him and ends up on the receiving end of poor behaviour.

I have the same issue with teen DS. I’m trying to teach him how to behave with her but he just sees her as fun. It’s undoing a lot of my work. Very frustrating.

@UhtredRagnarson

My DH was awful for playing with ours when he was in "bitey" mode and even now as an adult he plays roughly with him and ends up on the receiving end of poor behaviour.

I have the same issue with teen DS. I’m trying to teach him how to behave with her but he just sees her as fun. It’s undoing a lot of my work. Very frustrating.

Tell me about it!

Thankfully the dog seems to have learnt that he can only get away with that behaviour with DH and nobody else. DH then complains that he's been bruised or that the dog has been to rough

Stop playing with him roughly then!

Exactly!!

Like when my DC did play fighting and then were surprised when they got hurt.

@UhtredRagnarson

Exactly!!

Like when my DC did play fighting and then were surprised when they got hurt.

Yep

I just say "How many times do I have to tell you not to play with him like that?!" and then I realise I'm turning into my mother!

It comes to us all eventually!

Rub something minty on your arms and hands. Won't bite again.

Something minty? What kind of minty? Mint leads?

*mint leafs

We taught our dog the "off" cue. It works for all sorts of situations as the essential behaviour it trains is to let go/stop mouthing/drop and sit at once.

We did it by holding a treat tightly in the hand and letting the puppy sniff and mouth at the closed hand, then saying a strong "off!". The response you want is for the dog to step back and stop mouthing, then you open the hand and give the treat. So, the reward is associated with backing off and letting go. Very useful for jumping up too once learned in relation to the biting/mouthing.

Thank you everyone. He's our first dog (and much wanted) and all advice is welcomed. I've found Mumsnet advice to be much more useful than websites and trainers.

@FernieB if you’re on FB dog training advice and support is ace.

FernieB I am the same the advice on here has been so invaluable to me not sure I would have managed otherwise

@Turquoisesol

Something minty? What kind of minty? Mint leads?

Vicks vapo rub isn't good for dogs btw. I just used a bit of menthol oil mixed in moisturiser. Worked a treat. Helps if you don't mind the cold tingly feeling 😂