Is It Just Puppy Behaviour?

[BiteyOrMore]

I'd like some advice/input from seasoned dog owners. I have a 4 month old puppy. I was expecting biting, but lots of the articles I read talk about biting when playing, i.e. when getting overexcited with a toy. Our puppy does this, but some of the biting happens when he we are trying to redirect inappropriate behaviour, for example chewing furniture. If I had to describe it in human terms (I know, I know), like he's pissed off we're stopping him doing what he wants. It is worse when he is tired. He'll also occasionally just bite at us, usually legs. I'd say this doesn't come out of the blue, he might be excited to see someone for example. I'd say his body language isn't aggressive, there's no baring of teeth for example, but as someone who is relatively inexperienced with dogs, how do I know what is beyond just being a puppy?
He's due to start puppy training - unfortunately classes had to be delayed as they are outdoors and the field was flooded - so should we just wait and see whether he improves overall?

Try ice cubes or a wet flannel that's been in the freezer a few hours.

Just don't leave the puppy alone with it!

It DOES get better. But something cold to sooth their gums is your best bet

Thanks @Devilshands I tried a frozen carrot. He just looked at me like I'd gone mad 😂

@BiteyOrMore
Solidarity - I've had a shocker of a day and my pup is only 9.5 weeks old!

Bitey McBiteface doesn't even begin to cover it. And our pup flat out refused to nap this afternoon. Granted we've only had him 4 days, but a cuddle with a blanket and transfer to bed/crate would normally suffice. But not today, and today I considered handing him back! (I won't)

So, just a 👊 of solidarity for a shit day.

You have my total sympathy. We have a 4 months old and going through the exact same. It’s particularly bad with our 6yo DC, who is full of energy, so puppy thinks he’s a big toy and bites and jumps at him. So DS gets scared, screams and runs, puppy gets worse. I thought we were making headway, DS was dealing with puppy more calmly. Easier to distract puppy with toys. But tonight he has been terrible. Chair and table legs. Our hands every time we try to stroke him. Luckily he has finally given in and is fast asleep!

I think you may have the puppy blues too, it will pass. Have you tried latchropes?
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/4-puppy-biting-survival-strategies/

I know some people don't like them but what the heck , I spent a fortune on tasty things to chew like cooked bones , trachias and pressed rawhide anything that was flavoured and smelled good . It's fine if you are there to watch pup .We really did spend a fortune on tasty chews .

@Devilshands

I used a frozen carrot this morning and he loved it! I actually had a shower in peace for once

Don't worry, it all sounds pretty normal (the biting, and the tears!)
When my pup waas around 5 month old, I realise that I was finally able to do my nails. Before that, it was just useless, my hands were like a warzone, because of the biting. It all stopped almost overnight once he had started to lose his baby teeth.

I can't say that it's training, I don't remember putting that much effort in redirecting. It just stopped.

Absolute hysteria from mine today because I stopped her from pouncing on the cat, meanie that I am.

The idiot cat doesn't help matters by picking the exact moment I'm distracted (by, say, a puddle on the floor) to flounce through waving her very fluffy tail under the puppy's nose.

My cat jumped off the stairgate and landed on the puppy. Idiot cat

@BiteyOrMore How are you doing now? Your posts sound exactly like our situation with our 11-week-old. I'm in tears about it. Did things improve? Do you still have the dog?! Hope to hear from you and anyone else - it would be great to know if things got better or not. Thanks

Hi,
It's normal puppy behaviour and they do grow out of it.
Head over here if you want more reassurance.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/5180942-puppy-survival-thread-for-new-and-old-pups-here-comes-winter-2024

I'm just rereading this 9 months on and I can assure you that the sharky phase is pretty much over.

(We've entered the gleefully running-off-instead-of-recalling phase instead.)

Hi. I do still have the dog. He is still occasionally mouthy, but it is much more under control. I have learnt many things since I originally posted.

1. he was hand reared (abandoned as a 2 week old) which can make dogs more prone to be mouthy anyway
2. sleep is very important. I thought I got that but I didn't really. Proper undisturbed sleep, enforced if necessary. I crate trained and he went to the crate at set times which got him into the habit of longer sleeping
3. the 3/3/3 guide for rescues is a guide. I don't think he truly settled for about 6 months.
4. does he have a stomach ache? Mine had food sensitivities. Changed his food, improved his behaviour
5. trust people when they say it is normal. I didn't really believe it until I went away with someone with lots of experience of dogs. She reassured me that he was 'just being a dog'
6. that said, don't let him get away with it because 'that's what dogs do'. The trainer I use is a behaviourist so had lots of useful advice. The dog has to learn that putting teeth on a person is never OK. Mine would be hyper aroused so it was a case of removing him into time out to calm down. The removal has to be calm. My dog got quite big and muscly so it could be a case of leaving his harness on and leading him out. If he 'argued' you wait until he is ready to go. (I have also learnt that if you want to go down positive training/force free you need hella lot of patience)
7. be consistent.
8. dogs are ace. He can still be, I believe the technical term is, 'a dick', but he's great

My friend is convinced that one of the biggest things puppies & kids have in common is that people are reluctant to tell you what it is really like, so you convince yourself that you have the worst behaved ones in the world. You probably don't