Puppy biting

[garlicandsapphires]

Have had a 9 week old Bedlington Whippet for a week now, she is keeping us on our feet with toilet training and general business, but I’m getting concerned about her biting. It’s not just ‘mouthing’, she’ll lunge for ankles, toes and arms. We’ve been working on instructions to sit and come but can anyone direct me to a guide on nipping bad behaviour in the bud?

A loud no and ignore her, be really boring. If she continues, put her in another room.
Have a toy to put in her mouth if she’s mouthing you.

We also have a 10 week Bedlington/whippet, she is very mouthy but will listen to a firm 'Ah' sound, if that makes sense! She is very clever and despite chewing everything in sight also listens to being told not to chew flex/wires.

A high pitched "ouch" and then ignore and/or walk away. Repeat over and over again. Puppy's bite when they play with each other and if one is bitten too hard it'll let out a cry and retreat away from the rough and tumble. The biting puppy will soon learn that biting too hard leads to the play session being ended and will learn accordingly.

Get the easy peazy puppy squeezy book

and redirect to other chew toys, olive branches/ yak bars/coffee sticks/ nyla bones/ split antlers etc

That’s what puppies do btw, it’s totally normal. Redirect her on to toys, if she’s very persistent remove her or yourself for 30 seconds or so and repeat. If she does it more at certain times of day she’s probably overtired or over stimulated.

Absoslutely normal puppy behaviour although some puppies are better at it than others!

Do not do a loud yell or yelp (there is a reason dog toys have squeakers in them to excite the dog). Do not do aah etc as all it does is excite the puppy and the reason the puppy is biting is often because they are in high arousal.

Make sure you puppy has loads of sleep , give them some quiet time, let them chill out and you will have less biting.

Walking away is much better than making noises and to distract scatter treats on the floor and ask them to go sniff.

This phase will pass

Normal puppy behaviour. When I went to view pups I wore flip flops, they’ve got teeth like razor blades- I came out bleeding.

Just a warning my Lab loved the high pitched squeal- great fun.

We said no bite and got up and moved away from him- ignored him for about ten mins after and he didn’t like it. A work colleague used Tobasco sauce, which also worked.

Lots of puppies get like this when they're overtired. Enforce the naps.

If pup is not tired and nippy remove it for a 30 seconds: use a pen or leave the room or go behind a stairgate.

It's a good job they're cute!

It's not bad behaviour - it's being a puppy.

How much sleep is the puppy getting? Around 18-20 hours a day is the ideal, or they become over-tired and silly - a bit like a toddler who's refusing their nap!