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Original poster

12 week old GR constantly biting DD - help!

13 replies

Babypuppyshark · 28/12/2023 15:04

Pup is almost 12 weeks and has been with us for 2 weeks now. DD is 18 and has been really involved with him - sleeping near him to settle him at night, training him, feeding him etc. He gets really excited to see her when she comes into the room. However he won’t stop biting her and her arms are turning to mince!

He is NOT like this with me at all - there is (soft) playful mouthing, but he is easily redirected with a toy. He just isn’t interested with her though - and will literally follow her around biting her if she tries to take herself out of the situation. She can’t pick him up to physically put him in the time out spot as he just bites her hard!

We probably spend (me)60/40(DD) time with him or thereabouts.

Any tips for handling this? I can see its
starting to make her want to avoid him.

OP posts:

Original poster

Babypuppyshark · 28/12/2023 15:06

Just to add, today we did 2x timeouts, which made no difference at all. He just went back to biting the second he was let out (we have a timeout gate that’s miles away from his sleeping/downtime area).

After that I put him in his downtime spot and he went straight to sleep so he’s probably worse when tired.

OP posts:

HappyHamsters · 28/12/2023 15:06

Poor girl, how close does he get to be biting her arms .

OldTinHat · 28/12/2023 15:06

He's teething/mouthing. Typical puppy behaviour. Distract with a toy or a chew.

I assume pup is going to weekly puppy classes? Ask for more advice there.

YouRatBastard · 28/12/2023 15:08

You have a dog time out ‘spot’?

Original poster

Babypuppyshark · 28/12/2023 15:15

OldTinHat · 28/12/2023 15:06

He's teething/mouthing. Typical puppy behaviour. Distract with a toy or a chew.

I assume pup is going to weekly puppy classes? Ask for more advice there.

He doesn’t start classes until mid January. Another trainer I spoke to said “don’t waste your money, they’re easily trainable”… but happy I went against that advice!!

OP posts:

kwetu · 28/12/2023 15:15

When pup does this tell your daughter to yelp quickly and loudly as soon as any mouthing turns into something inappropriate, then turn away and leave pup alone for a few minutes. Do this every single time! This is what stopped our golden from using inappropriate behaviour. Good luck.

Original poster

Babypuppyshark · 28/12/2023 15:18

kwetu · 28/12/2023 15:15

Thank you - I wish this worked! It just seems to excite him more 🤦‍♀️

If she turns away he just bites her hair if she is on the floor or her legs if she stands up. If she moves herself, he follows and carries on biting her feet and legs.

Hence why putting him in time out was suggested! But that hasn’t worked either 🤦‍♀️

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ItsVeryHyacinthBucket · 28/12/2023 15:19

So he’s doing this to her not you because she’s currently his favourite “toy”, and his way of showing this is via this increasingly hard biting.

It’s a mistake to think it’s “normal” for puppies to mouth/bite humans. Bite and mouth a toy yes, but humans no. So always have your DD approach him with a chew toy (nothing rawhide or yak milk - these are too high protein for pups and will only increase his energy - look for nyla bone, rice bone or grain based chews). See if he will take/play with the bone instead of her!

Every time his teeth touch her, even gently, she should shout/cry “oowwww” (the more dramatic the better) and turn away from him, stand still, cross her arms over her chest and totally ignore him. We call this playing “statues”. As soon as he quits mouthing/biting, turn back and reengage. Every time biting occurs, “owwwch” turn away and ignore. If it escalates, put him in the puppy pen/close into another room for a count of 15. Let him out and begin again.

Basically you have to teach him that biting means getting ignored/excluded.

Make sure your daughter spends enough time occupying/training him (sit, heel etc) and well as letting him have time where he’s just chilling and she’s getting on with something else. Basically don’t have her in his face/engaging with him all the time she is present, because this is going to be “too much” for him and will exacerbate the behaviour.

Good luck!

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 17:06

Dont yelp or make loud noises!

As you have already experienced making any kind of yelp or oww noise when they dog is already excited will makes things way worse and just over excite the puppy. There is a reason dog toys have squeakers in them to excite the dogs!

It is extremely normal for puppies to bite everything it is how the learn and explore. However it can hurt like hell!

We will never know why your DD is gettting more biting but usually it is because of excitement from the dog or being over threshold when around a certain person or that person is higher energy, has higher voice or moves quicker than other family members. No deep rooted reason and it will pass.

You did mention your DD was on the floor and had long hair - that is enough to excite a 12 week old puppy!

Make sure the puppy has lots and lots and lots of sleep. They should be getting about 18 hours of sleep at day and if they dont they do go a bit feral and bitey.

Interact with the puppy with a toy to direct the biting onto , if they touch skin just remove yourself, say nothing just walk away or leave the room. You may find that door gates and stair gates can help with this as your DD can remove herself without the puppy following her and without the puppy getting shut out..

Do make sure the puppy has lots of safe chew toys, their gums will be hurting from the teeth coming through and this also encourages them to bite. Frozen t towels to chew on or if safe frozen carrots (do not leave unsupervised)

Cheeesus · 28/12/2023 17:08

GR being a golden retriever? I googled.

margotrose · 28/12/2023 17:19

Instead of putting the puppy in time out, I would get your daughter to leave the room instead.

I would also avoid picking the puppy up when it's in full on "bitey" mode because it just increases the risk of an injury. Picking them up increases their arousal and excitement levels and also puts their mouth and paws closer to your skin!

Mintgreenpeppermint · 28/12/2023 17:27

When our puppy we did this we would pick him up and put in the crate for however long it took to calm down. Sometimes he would come back out seem ok and do it again so straight back In. We weren’t using the crate as a safe space or long term so we’re able to do this as transitioned him to the utility room as a safe space / sleeping space when he was older the crate was literally for time out as a puppy and he needed a lot. Was always worse if tired / overtired

Original poster

Babypuppyshark · 28/12/2023 18:23

Thank you all, some great advice here ❤️ yes he’s a golden retriever (notorious for being baby sharks!)

I bit the bullet and spoke to a trainer tonight who also suggested chews, and making sure we settle him for more naps. Also apparently his food is quite protein heavy which can exacerbate his hyperactivity… she also said remove the person rather than the dog so that makes sense too.

He has a frozen kong which he really likes.

And yep - DDs hair is apparently very exciting to a puppy!

She is quite happy to know he’s her favourite toy and not most hated person though 😂

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