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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Antlers for puppy biting

40 replies

susan198130 · 26/09/2021 12:11

I have a cockapoo who is almost 19 weeks old. He's been a pretty easy pup, apart from the biting. It's starting to drive me a bit nuts. I feel like I've tried so many tactics, but none seem to work. I tried bite inhibition, he doesn't let go no matter what tone of voice I use to say "ouch", so I end up having to pull away before he bites my arm clean off, which makes him come at me harder. I then just give him a time out.

He has chew toys, he has chew bones, he has plenty of toys. I try to distract him, but when he wants to bite an arm or a leg, that's what he's going for, no toy will distract him, which is why it always ends in a timeout.

I've tried turning my back on him when he does this and walking away, which I just did, it resulted in him biting the back of my ankle which is now bleeding. His biting can be quite hard, he's made me bleed several times, and my kids and husband, so it's not just me. He jumped up at my 7 year old the other day and bit his eyebrow and made him bleed.

I keep hearing "he'll grow out of it," but you know when something feels like it's been going on for so long (I know in reality it hasn't been -it's just over 10 weeks) that it will never end, that's how I feel.

Bitter apple spray seems to work, but I've had a few people tell me antlers are great to stop the biting. Just wondering if anyone has had any success with this or maybe some other strategy that might, or if I just need to wait and hope that he grows out of this?

OP posts:

m0therofdragons · 26/09/2021 12:16

Antlers are fab.

With biting it’s best (ime) to distract or ignore and walk away. Once the baby teeth come out it does stop. Our cocker spaniel is 14 months and amazing but i don’t miss the early days. Persevere and you will have an amazing family dog. Oh and at 10 months he suddenly ignored all commands for a few weeks… look out for that, be consistent and you’ll get through that!

Original poster

susan198130 · 26/09/2021 12:24

I'll get some antlers, thanks. I just wonder I guess what's so different about them to the bones and chew sticks he has?

The walking away just results in him following to bite, so I tend to put him in a room on his own for a minute. He generally cries when I do this but not for long, and when he stops, I let him out.

I feel he does have his odd rebellious moments right now. He keeps stealing stuff and if you try to take it off him, he will growl and bite, but he can be a bit aggressive with this. The only way around that seems to be to get him to drop it by offering a treat, so hopefully he'll learn before too long that me saying 'drop it' and him doing that will result in a treat. I don't know, I hope so anyway. So many dog training tips that I read about almost make me feel like I'm rewarding the behaviour I want to stop, but I'm assuming they associate doing what they're told results in a treat, and not "I bite, I stop, I get a treat. Therefore, I must continue to bite."

The joys of having a puppy I guess.

OP posts:

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 26/09/2021 12:28

We were advised not to give antlers to our pup until she was fully grown. Not sure of the exact reason, but think the idea was it would damage her teeth? Instead, she has destroyed half the furniture...

m0therofdragons · 26/09/2021 12:30

I’ve not treated naughty behaviour but a have grabbed his scruff and scooped out various items from his mouth.

My cocker much prefers antlers to bones plus they don’t stink. When they’re teething it’s more a way to manage that than punishment but biting for attention needs total ignoring. There’s lots of approaches so whatever you do, be consistent.

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 26/09/2021 12:30

(She did bite us as well at first: we made loud 'ouch!' noises and then ignored her. She did grow out of it by about 4 months, I'd say.)

m0therofdragons · 26/09/2021 12:31

Really @MrsGhastlyCrumb who advised that? Our vet and dog trainer both advised them here but then my cocker-dile can get through a yakka in an hour.

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 26/09/2021 13:13

We have a dog treat/toy shop near us. They have a lot of opinions about things like this- and she likes

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 26/09/2021 13:14

Gah, got nudged there & posted too soon: she likes the other chewy stuff fine, so I didn't look into it. Curious about now, though!

GuyFawkesDay · 26/09/2021 13:18

Cardboard boxes. Loads of em. Mine can often be redirected to shredding a box when he's like this. The house is a tip but it's saving our limbs a little (ours is 16 weeks)

GuyFawkesDay · 26/09/2021 13:19

But ours has a split antler, yak chew and a million and one other things....still goes fur us when he's hyped up or over tired.

Wolfiefan · 26/09/2021 13:21

Puppies bite. It’s what they do. And people are so much more interesting to bite than a chew. Just keep substituting what you don’t mind being chewed. Time out of needed. And avoid pup getting overtired. Some brain games or training an also be a great distraction.

Floralnomad · 26/09/2021 13:21

An antler won’t stop the behaviour anymore than any other chew .

ThesecondLEM · 26/09/2021 13:26

We have stopped selling Antlers, they are simple too hard and result in cracked teeth.

You need to be firm. A stern agghhh and time out. Ignore the dog , don't look at him, no interaction at all until you are ready.

As a "breed" I struggle to see the attraction of taking two highly strung breeds and expecting them to be family pets. By far the majority if skittish, bitey, overly nervous dogs we see at work (vets) are cocker poos .I am not sure if this reflects the "breed", the fact that many are a result of backyard breeders who see them as cash cows or the fact that for some reason which is beyond me they tend to be the dog of choice for first time dog owners with young children.

I had a lady the other day "why is my puppy nipping my dd, we are so disappointed that she can't really play with him" all the while their child is pulling on the dogs lead, getting in it's face end smothering it. I just replied - there is the reason, right there, that behaviour from your child! And also your dog is not a toy! They weren't happy with my advice

GiovanniBitMe · 26/09/2021 13:54

Just a side note, but if it's a steadfast bite, rather than play-nips and you need them off, it's always better to push your arm into their mouths rather than pulling away. Trigger the gag reflex to make them release. Less chance of skin tearing, especially when they're bigger.

Works with toddlers too

Etonmessisyum · 26/09/2021 14:05

Antlers won’t stop the biting but they can redirect. They are quite hard so maybe a yak bone? Softer for them and tasty they do smell weird I think. 15 mins chew time so if he has ‘bitey time’ save it for that. Same with toys don’t have them all lying about. I played with the pup with his toys. If he was bitey we stopped or played with a long handled toy but play stops as soon as they make any contact with your skin with mouth or teeth. If they have a super biting time (ours was evenings he was high and mouthy, still can be occasionally, he was popped in his pen to play with a kong, licky mat or some sort or enrichment toy inc yak bone. Dogs calm themselves through chewing. sniffing or licking.

We also teach ‘gentle’ when taking anything so any treats etc. Main thing I did was rewarded him when he was settled and calm. So nice quiet ‘niiiice’ when he was lying settled and a biscuit. Boundary training also works well.

Tanfastic · 26/09/2021 14:22

I found cheese sticks are better than antlers. My pup can take or leave his antler.

Original poster

susan198130 · 26/09/2021 14:39

My dog came from a 5 star rated breeder, I checked with the council, so she's definitely not just a 'back yard breeder'.

I think they're probably a popular choice for families with children because when you google their temperament, I've only ever seen good with kids and make great family pets. I've also come across a lot of adult ones and spoken with their owners who have all said they make great pets.

I also wouldn't say mine is nervous at all. He absolutely loves people, maybe a little shyer around other dogs but he's massively improved here. He never bites strangers, in fact he's too friendly with them, which is something I want to work on with him.

We've just got him some antlers, I'll see how he goes with them. I think in the meantime, I'll just stick with the timeouts and hope it stops soon. I do understand puppies will bite, it's just that he can get a bit OTT with it at times.

I do definitely think over-tiredness plays a part with my dog as well when he has days where he just doesn't want to nap. He seems to have a real fear of missing out on anything. So I think I'm going to pop him in his crate when he's starting to get tired as if he sleeps next to my feet while I'm working in my office (home office), if I leave the room for whatever reason, he will wake up and follow me.

But thanks for some of the advice, will give them a try.

OP posts:

cheeseisthebest · 26/09/2021 14:42

Got a nearly 4 month old nippy puppy here too. He mainly goes for me and he wants flesh! Its wearing this weekend because any stroke or affection turns into nipping and it hurts!! I'm guessing his teeth are hurting but I will be very glad when he grows out of it.

cheeseisthebest · 26/09/2021 14:43

Agree about over tiredness too.

Original poster

susan198130 · 26/09/2021 14:48

@cheeseisthebest

Oh god I hear you, I think it's become our catchphrase in this house, "You had to go and spoil it, didn't you" when you're stroking him and he's being all lovely, then he bites

I've actually had a few people say putting their kong in the freezer (or fridge maybe?) can help and frozen carrots to help with the teething. I need to give this a go actually.

OP posts:

TwooThirty · 26/09/2021 14:49

Mine broke a tooth on an antler

We were then told that any hard chews need to be soft enough to be able to leave an impression with your finger nail.

cheeseisthebest · 26/09/2021 15:17

Petsathome sold me an antler bone saying it was the best thing for teething. Bit worried now!

Original poster

susan198130 · 26/09/2021 15:24

I'll report back and let you know how we get on... if I remember

OP posts:

grasstreeleaf · 26/09/2021 15:42

Ha! Ha! Never had a dog so was imagining this:

Sgtmajormummy · 26/09/2021 15:45

When our dog’s baby teeth were slow to fall out my vet advised a real hambone to gnaw on. DDog loved it but it was messy and gave him digestion problems. We went back to rawhide and chunky bread crusts dried out in the oven.
I bought an antler chew but it was ignored. He was more interested in the string! They seem as hard as a rock…
A tug toy or an old towel is also good for lifting loose teeth but be sure it’s the only toy you play rough and growly with.

The very annoying bitey puppy stage stopped once his teeth were all through.

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