@estrogone I really do feel for you. Merry was a real nightmare with the biting, honestly there were times I felt like I hated her. She would get up high, like on the back of the sofa and then launch herself at my face, it was quite scary sometimes. She seemed to get this manic, evil look in her eyes…
Do you think she is getting enough sleep? Mine definitely wasn’t. I only realised that when I read that puppies need 18-20 hours sleep a day. So I stared looking up ways to reach a dog to settle, and that really helped, though it was very restricting because she would only nap with me close by, or even on my lap so I spent a lot of those early weeks glued to the sofa. Tethering is a good way of getting them to settle, I found some good videos on YouTube, in particular from a lady who trains service dogs.
Sorry, I don’t remember exactly when it got better, it’s all a bit of a traumatic blur. But it was definitely better once she was having more naps, and loads better once her big teeth were through. None of the tips that people advise worked with her, like frozen carrots, frozen towels etc. She did love crunching ice cubs, and she still does.
(Bad story coming up…. One time I was trying ‘redirect to a toy’, it was a hollow rubber stick thing. She went for my arm instead and I instinctively whacked her on the head with it. I felt really bad about it, and I am definitely NOT recommending violence, but in that moment it stopped her in her tracks…)
A really useful trick to teach was about learning self control. I think I saw it on the DTAAS website. You hold a handful of treats in front of their nose. If she goes for the treats, close your hand. If they stop and look at you, give a treat with your other hand. I thought I would end up loosing my fingers, but mine twigged really quickly, surprisingly. It’s about teaching the dog to make their own choices (you don’t use a verbal command). It comes in useful later as a way of teaching the ‘leave’ and to look to you before doing something.