New pup - biting/nipping/mouthing
Discussion
Mrs S decided that now the kids are a bit older we had far too much money and spare time, so it was clearly the perfect opportunity to get a puppy...we got a 10 week old cockerpoo from a respected breeder, and he's settling in really well. Very nearly house trained, sleeps all night without much fuss, generally really good natured. The only problem we have is that when he's excited or pleased to see you (i.e. pretty much all the time, he's a puppy) he shows it by biting, nibbling and chewing your hands, clothes, hair, anything he can get to. He hasn't learnt 'no' yet, and tapping his nose and pushing him away only seems to encourage him. Is this just a phase? Is there anything else we can do to discourage this? Most of the time it's just annoying, but he managed to draw blood when he nipped me this morning, I really don't want him to bite one of the kids' friends.
He also loves to 'kill' poo bags when we try to clear up after him in the garden, so need to figure out a way to discourage that too, or taking him for walks could be tricky.
Any other new pup advice greatly received as well.
He also loves to 'kill' poo bags when we try to clear up after him in the garden, so need to figure out a way to discourage that too, or taking him for walks could be tricky.
Any other new pup advice greatly received as well.
Biting is normal, it's a puppy's way of interacting with you (any lots of other things...). Like you we found that our Springer did it even more if we pushed her away so we just ignored it which did the trick to a degree, however I don't think there's a lot else you can do and you just have to let them grow out of it.
Giving the pup toys to chew can help as can ice cubes but they still want to bite and mouth you whenever possible. Some people reckon that yelping when the teeth touch you helps but it didn't work with ours.
Giving the pup toys to chew can help as can ice cubes but they still want to bite and mouth you whenever possible. Some people reckon that yelping when the teeth touch you helps but it didn't work with ours.
Good luck with cockapoo, they are mad (in a very good way!).
It's more than likely just a phase, main way to teach them to stop it is to A) yelp loudly like you have been hurt and B) immediately stop play when it happens.... simulates what happens with littermates and ultimately 99% of their desire at that stage is play/fun! As always with pups positively rewarding the good behaviour (i.e. when they are playing nice, gentle etc.) also very important.
We've got a 14 month old Golden Retriever and a 4.5 year old daughter so had to monitor those early exchanges carefully to ensure it didn't make our daughter fearful.... very very likely its just over-boisterous play and not a shred of aggression in there though so the pup will grow out of it over time especially if you follow the tips above (not from me, just what i read and worked for us).
Worth noting they'll often be different with different people, Skye was great with my daughter from a very young age, generally great with me and there was a phase where she pushed the boundaries with my wife, sure it was finding her place "in the pack" but often the yelping / turning back resulted in her getting more hyper when it was my wife! While at 14 months she's still a bit crazy, all of that side has completely calmed down and she is the most docile, gentle dog in the world.. fully expect a cockapoo will be the same!
Have fun!
It's more than likely just a phase, main way to teach them to stop it is to A) yelp loudly like you have been hurt and B) immediately stop play when it happens.... simulates what happens with littermates and ultimately 99% of their desire at that stage is play/fun! As always with pups positively rewarding the good behaviour (i.e. when they are playing nice, gentle etc.) also very important.
We've got a 14 month old Golden Retriever and a 4.5 year old daughter so had to monitor those early exchanges carefully to ensure it didn't make our daughter fearful.... very very likely its just over-boisterous play and not a shred of aggression in there though so the pup will grow out of it over time especially if you follow the tips above (not from me, just what i read and worked for us).
Worth noting they'll often be different with different people, Skye was great with my daughter from a very young age, generally great with me and there was a phase where she pushed the boundaries with my wife, sure it was finding her place "in the pack" but often the yelping / turning back resulted in her getting more hyper when it was my wife! While at 14 months she's still a bit crazy, all of that side has completely calmed down and she is the most docile, gentle dog in the world.. fully expect a cockapoo will be the same!
Have fun!
Aaah, the good old landshark stage. They get over it. Always have a toy or something ready to shove in it's mouth. Treat for good behaviour, ignore bad behaviour.
With the poo bags, good luck. Teach the leave it command to stop it whilst picking up. Ours still jumps up at them at 9 months. We are now teaching him that looking is allowed by praising him when he looks but doesn't jump. Seems to be working with me and the wife, we now just need to generalise with other people.
With the poo bags, good luck. Teach the leave it command to stop it whilst picking up. Ours still jumps up at them at 9 months. We are now teaching him that looking is allowed by praising him when he looks but doesn't jump. Seems to be working with me and the wife, we now just need to generalise with other people.
As above, it's completely normal. Please don't shout or try to punish the puppy as they won't understand why you're doing it. They're trying to play and show affection. If there's a risk of them hurting a child, especially one whose face is near the dogs mouth, then it's too early to let the child loose with the puppy.
One of the most effective things you can do is reciprocate appropriate behaviour and ignore "bad" behaviour:
Puppy picks up toy = you actively play with them - lots of fun!
Puppy bites = you ignore them, or if they're persistent then put them in their crate or a safe space separate from you.
They want to play with you and they'll quickly learn how to get your attention.
The biting issue peaks at teething time - the teething pain makes them want to bite more, and being a bit bigger/older they're strong enough to properly hurt you with those sharp puppy fangs. Once their adult teeth comes in, it calms down hugely (and playful nips will not hurt as much with big rounded adult teeth).
I did find yelping was effective. You have to do a proper loud high pitched squeal just like a puppy does when they're hurt, and pull your hand away acting like you've been hurt. But "recover" within a few seconds, as a puppy would, don't draw it out too long.
The puppy doesn't want to hurt you, and this is how its siblings would let it know when it gets too strong for those games to be appropriate.
I did this with two puppies, one stopped biting within days while the other would still wrap his teeth around me but not put any pressure on my skin at all.
The other thing that's effective is teaching them more appropriate games. When they're in the mood for biting, try introducing tugging toys, etc.
You and puppy are still learning about each other... give it time, don't get angry, within a few months you'll have formed a bond and you'll both know a lot more about how to interact with each other.
One of the most effective things you can do is reciprocate appropriate behaviour and ignore "bad" behaviour:
Puppy picks up toy = you actively play with them - lots of fun!
Puppy bites = you ignore them, or if they're persistent then put them in their crate or a safe space separate from you.
They want to play with you and they'll quickly learn how to get your attention.
The biting issue peaks at teething time - the teething pain makes them want to bite more, and being a bit bigger/older they're strong enough to properly hurt you with those sharp puppy fangs. Once their adult teeth comes in, it calms down hugely (and playful nips will not hurt as much with big rounded adult teeth).
I did find yelping was effective. You have to do a proper loud high pitched squeal just like a puppy does when they're hurt, and pull your hand away acting like you've been hurt. But "recover" within a few seconds, as a puppy would, don't draw it out too long.
The puppy doesn't want to hurt you, and this is how its siblings would let it know when it gets too strong for those games to be appropriate.
I did this with two puppies, one stopped biting within days while the other would still wrap his teeth around me but not put any pressure on my skin at all.
The other thing that's effective is teaching them more appropriate games. When they're in the mood for biting, try introducing tugging toys, etc.
You and puppy are still learning about each other... give it time, don't get angry, within a few months you'll have formed a bond and you'll both know a lot more about how to interact with each other.
Thanks all - I guess it is a case of being consistent with the response, and shoving a chew or toy in his mouth does help. I'm sure he will grow out of it naturally anyway, it's the biting as a form of greeting we want to discourage as soon as possible. He is a total champ in all other respects though, I'll have to post some pictures up.
As the others have said totally normal and it passes after a few months. Try to divert it by using chew toys and rope etc. Don't play games with your hands always use toys. Our springer lab cross tore my kids clothes to bits and drew blood quite a bit accidentally, but with training and perseverance he's the best dog ever, now aged 2 years !
We have an 18 month old cockerpoo and his behaviour was very similar to that you described.
All advice given above is approach we used, and it did seem to help - although it did just seem to be a matter of time for us. Not sure if normal but ours seemed to lose all milk teeth in a very short space of time and biting stopped with that.
He is still very excitable but, and maybe it is as a result of the above mentioned steps/reactions to the earlier mouthing, he now occasionally mouths but bite control is excellent. If playing with a tug toy and he grabs your hand rather than toy he will immediately release and look for your permission to go again.
They are lovely dogs, but they are nutters!!! Enjoy
All advice given above is approach we used, and it did seem to help - although it did just seem to be a matter of time for us. Not sure if normal but ours seemed to lose all milk teeth in a very short space of time and biting stopped with that.
He is still very excitable but, and maybe it is as a result of the above mentioned steps/reactions to the earlier mouthing, he now occasionally mouths but bite control is excellent. If playing with a tug toy and he grabs your hand rather than toy he will immediately release and look for your permission to go again.
They are lovely dogs, but they are nutters!!! Enjoy
Think most have answered the questions. Rosie our border used to go mental and make her worse if we yelped to show we were in pain when she bit. So that didnt work. Most of the time it was just to interact with chewable toys that cured it. Then Henry the patterdale arrived and have a penchant for attacking slippers , while you walked passed him. He would clamp on and not let go. That took some sorting, especially with gremlin teeth. I have a few socks ready for the bin with holes in them. Weirdly how Rosie was into chewing wooden doorsteps and ornaments , yet Henry never showed that interest. Dont miss those times and the wifes glasses were destroyed by Henry. Almost plain sailing now. I guess its just interaction and patience !!
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