Bitey puppy

[Canyouanswermyquestion]

Hi all need some advice re my 12 week old labrador puppy

His biting is ridiculous, I get he's a puppy and they do bite ( playfully) but this is wearing me down and nothing is helping, we have tried ignoring and tucking in arms etc when he bites or giving him a chew toy ( he has plenty) when he starts but neither is helping.

He bit my 5 year old on the nose tonight, resulted in blood and tears! and keeps ripping holes on our clothes etc. Does anyone have any tips on how to stop this? Total nightmare when we have guests in and he's biting them!

@Canyouanswermyquestion
I was surprised how mant toys you end up with as they really do like 'new' toys - they get bored of them (& destroy them!)

@Yamyam13 oh wow i will try the tea towel thing tomorrow. He has a few toys where he has to use is nose etc to find treats etc, he basically has every kind of toy imaginable because I know labs are known for destruction, i had 1 years ago that chewed my kitchen cupboards when left alone, hence why I have a crate this time so i bought loads to keep him occupied. I do keep telling myself its just a phase but I read a thread on here the other day and someones older lab was still mouthing and it put the wind right up me

Puppy’s do “mouth/ bite a lot” new teeth coming in.. and sensory.
tug toys and dog chew toys are good.

anything you don’t want them to bite/ smear a little Vicks capo rub on the furniture.. deters pups interest.

alternatively Try putting a fine smear off peanut butter or marmite inside a dog Kong.. they will learn to lick a bit more than chew to get the treat.

also learn commands more now.. training and consistency now is worth it in a 12-18 mths time when pup is 30kgs

@MrsHGWells to be fair to him he hasn't ever tried to chew furniture it's just the biting of humans and ripping clothes thats the issue, as soon as anyone walks into the livingroom they are fair game to him

*vicks vapo rub.

this is not toxic to the pup.. and was recommended by dog trainer who worked with guide dog puppy’s.. .. we used it as our pup loved eating wood.

put the Vicks on your children for a while.. 👍
small children are sadly at a height disadvantage for bouncy playful pups. The reaction only excites the play factor.

Labs are bred to retrieve so they like to have something in their mouths.

Replace your hand/foot/top with a chew and repeat, repeat, repeat.

I would also keep all the damaged clothes and have your DC only wear those in the house and then you won't have to constantly replace stuff.

@MrsHGWells Interesting re the Vicks tip! Will defo be trying that out as our main issue is now chewing, we have some wickers chairs which I fear may no longer exist very soon!
We have a spray called 'Chew Stopper' which worked too but I think pup may have become immune 😂 Vicks here I come.

@Canyouanswermyquestion The cloths ripping and general bitey ness really does pass, esp as the razor sharp puppy teeth start to fall out. Don't despair x

Vicks IS toxic to dogs - Camphor is the main ingredient and that is toxic to dogs. Also pretty horrid for the dogs to constantly be smelling such a strong smell in their home 24/7. Remember how much stronger their sense of smell is to us and how strong we find the vicks smell

Toys are great for distraction but a lot of puppy mouthing is over excitment so if you start waving toys around and shoving them at the puppy you will increase the excitment.

Calm is the way to go so quiet toy delivery into the dogs mouth, then calm gentle stroking of the puppy not full on tuggy.

The reason the puppy bites you at the moment and not the furniture is the movement so as you walk past, as the children move around the house etc it excites the puppy.

Agree about having puppy clothes to wear for the next few weeks, keep things calm, the bitey the puppy gets the calmer the environment gets

Vicks is toxic to dogs - the main ingredient is camphor which is toxic to dogs.

Also pretty horrid for the dog to be breathing in all day - it is strong smell to us and dogs sense of smell is so much stronger so 1,000 worse for them.

Your puppy needs about 18 hours of sleep a day,
Probably a bit more

When he bites he needs to sleep. Think of him as an over tired toddler. Put him in the crate when he gets a bit ott and I guarantee he will sleep.

He can have chews, put them in the freezer

Vicks is toxic to dogs - the main ingredient is camphor which is toxic to dogs.

Also pretty horrid for the dog to be breathing in all day - it is strong smell to us and dogs sense of smell is so much stronger so 1,000 worse for them.

blooming heck all those posts happened when the sever was down - sorry

but just in case you didnt get the message vicks is toxic

I feel your pain! I have an exceptionally bitey 12 week old puppy here who seems to explore everything with his teeth first! I have 2 crates (well, 3 actually as ones in the car), and have one in the kitchen for sleeping but then another in the living room where all his toys live, and which is also used for time outs when he gets too over-excited. It seems to work pretty well. Not had a puppy for 14 years and I’d forgotten how nippy they are! Although I’m fairly sure he’s worse than my previous ones to be fair! Pic just because he’s super cute 😍

I have just tried the tea towel thing, cut it into 3 strips, tied it in a plait and hidden some kibble in there, oh my he's been entertained for ages!

Gorgeous pup.

Labs are the worst for biting, so cute and yet so lethal.

We just rode it out (after consulting a behaviourist and generally freaking out for a few weeks). It will stop.

Never play with their mouths, squealing is pointless imo as ours thoroughly enjoyed it. We didn’t crate either. Just ignored the little swine, no reaction. Get up, walk away, fun stops. Get lots of chew toys.

My work colleague has some success with Tobasco sauce- pup quickly tired of biteyness.

@PollyRoulllson its not to put on the dog or up the pups nose I just a little smudge on the furniture... you simply smear a little on the furniture you want the puppy to avoid.

If he's definitely getting enough sleep, then definitely try the tug toy.

It works wonders for us. When she nips we instantly say 'no bite, do you want to play tuggy' and grab her tug, she rushes outside and we have a really good play. Then all is well! 😊

I see other posts say no tug, but it really does depend on the dog. It works like magic for us and calms her down no end, now she really tries to restrain herself and the nipping is much, much less.

So glad it's been helpful - our trainer told me about it, bloody genius!

It actually comes from a book she also recommended called 'Brain Games For Dogs' - it's reallt good 👍