Wonderful puppy...horrible shark teeth!

[Bauer421]

Hey everyone,

I've been looking at many sites on the internet looking for information on puppy biting. While I had found some things, I would like to hear from people with unique stories. So, here's mine. Please, reassure me if you can

I currently have a 14 week old American Pit Bull Terrier/Black Lab Mix (at least, that is popular opinion). Bauer is a wonderful dog! He is lovable, hasn't met a person he doesn't like, almost house trained, but bites me to ribbons! Everything will be fine with Bauer, then it is like he snaps and he just latches his teeth onto my pants, my arm, my finger, etc. and won't let go. He starts to get really excited and begins pulling. When it's my pants or shoelaces, it's a pain, but no blood. When it's my arm, whole different story. What can be done?

The trainer says to say "ow ow ow". I have been doing this and the bite strength has come down a little (so it looks like he is learning bite inhibition), but the frequency definitely has not. And when I say he is learning bite inhibition, I say that loosely. He still leaves some decent size flesh wounds. I try to put him on timeout, take him for walks, give him plenty of things to chew on, everything...but the biting continues.

Please tell me someone out there knows what I speak of? Does this stop? I am a first time puppy owner and I am beginning to look more like a junkie with all my cuts on my arms

Anyways, it's nice to meet you all. I'm looking for a cool little forum to share Bauer and I's journey from puppyhood to adulthood.

I look forward to your responses. Thanks!

[trainingrixie]

I agree that the Yelping when they bite is a good idea. With a "no bite" and give him something he's allowed to chomp on. also...if you leave all his toys out all the time, he might be getting bored of them. I like to leave like 4 or 5 toys of different textures out for my 7 mo. old lab/bc/aussie mix. then I switch them around once a week or so. The different textures are key (like rope, stuffies, unstuffed stuffies, rubber, etc) Also, stuffed kongs are amazing!!! and ice cubes (i make chicken stock ice cubes sometimes too, but only let her eat them on the linoleum) are great too. But please don't do the tug thing, as hard as it is to resist, its not good for a puppies developing teeth and jaw bone. It's just a phase, a very annoying phase as I was there not long ago, but i htink combining these tactics will help you through it. Good luck with the toddler stage and keep us posted!!!

ETA: Also...remember that puppies explore with their mouths, so this is a tough phase because they are becoming more familir with their environment and it requires a lot of patience, so hang in there!!

[IceyBlueSibes]

Ah, wonderful puppy hood

The technique that worked best for me...

If Kelso (who's now 1 year) became to riled up and started to bite skin, I'd say "AH-ah!!" and then put a toy right into his mouth. I consistantly did this, even when he chewed on other things (shoes, pens, etc). I interupted his bad chewing with the "Ah-ah!", and replaced it with a toy. Once he had his mouth on the toy, I praised him and we had a nice play with that toy.

Another technique you can try is to yelp just like a puppy would if he were biting them too hard. However, sometimes this can just get the puppy even more excited. You can try "Ouch!" and get up and leave the room. But I have a feeling he seems to be the type to just get up and chase you. hahaha But it's worth a try.

I really would suggest the replacing your arm with a toy method. It has worked for me, as well as many others who I've suggested it to. Someone else might have another plan

[Bauer421]

Originally Posted by IceyBlueSibes

You can try "Ouch!" and get up and leave the room. But I have a feeling he seems to be the type to just get up and chase you. hahaha But it's worth a try.

haha, yes, you are correct. I get up to leave and it's like..."Hey! Where ya going?! I'm not done yet!!" But I understand what you both are saying. We do have a lot of toys sitting out and I really need to get a container for them. I am definitely going to try phasing different tows in and out of rotation and see how that works.

Replacing with the toy in the mouth is kind of what I do. I usually use a bully stick (I think that's what it's called). It's the only bone that he will sit for an hour and just chew on to help his gums.

Thanks for the quick response! It is appreciated!!!

[IceyBlueSibes]

Not a problem!

Bully sticks are wonderful. My one husky won't chew any other bones besides that and a raw marrow bone. So we make sure we get those every so often.

Maybe try a squeaky toy to replace it with? So the squeak grabs his attention and he can romp and chew. Then once he's playing with that, praise him and give him a bully stick to chew on.

[Jillianb04]

I have a 7 month old min pin. He has some pretty sharp teeth, what my boyfriend and i did when he would bite would say, "no bite" or "ouch". They eventually just grow out of it because, when they are puppys they are teething. What we noticed that jack (the puppy) would bite and destroy our sandles, so we went to the pet store and found a dog toy that was made of out of similar material and gave it to him. Another thing you can try and it worked for us, is when your puppy bites say "no bite" and stick a toy in his mouth. Try it! Let me know!
Jack + Jill

[Bauer421]

Thanks guys for all the tips. I really needed to hear this. Sometimes, even though you are doing the right thing, it takes time for results to be seen. And in the meantime, the patience level dwindles due to bites, cuts, etc. I am going to keep doing what I have been doing (a lot of you mentioned exactly that, so it is great to know others have seen results) and just stick with it.

Thanks so much for the advice!

[Sophie45]

I had great success with a shaker can (take an empty tin can, fill it with seven pennies and SCOTCH tape the top of it) when Sophie was being incredibly persistent.

I think it's first most important to yelp, so they learn that it hurts, because this is what other dogs would do, and THEN storm off in a huff out of the room if she keeps going (other dogs would walk away because they, but if she is going for pant legs (Sophie ruined four flippin' pairs of my pants!) I would IMMEDIATELY use the shaker can-they hate the sound of them!

Don't overuse it though, because the dog can become desensitized to the noise. I had to use it a total of 5 times, and the behavior stopped completely, but maybe I was just lucky....

[linnie]

I hear your pain lol
Although Annie is a lot smaller dog those teeth are dang painful
She has zillions of toys but her favourite teething thing is our feet
We have been saying NO and clapping out hands but hey she thinks thats ok lol so I am just hoping these rotten little teeth fall out soon

[dogs_rox]

yup, puppies do have very sharp teeth and are especially eager to use (misuse!) it. they'll use it on u, your slippers, anything he can lay his teeth on. my god actally shredded my washing machine drain pipe one fine day. give your puppy lots of chewable toys that'll keep her busy. she'll then spare u.

[Cherokee]

Although not very popular in the day in age, for me...especially with a puppy the most fool proof method is. When the dog goes to bite you grab the top part of their muzzle, fold their upper lip onto their teeth and pinch them a bit, then in a firm voice say "No".

[Razack]

I have two puppies, so two times the teeth! I do the yelping thing or just stop petting them. I also redirect them with chew toys. I understand how you feel about not seeing results... I also remind myself that they are still babies.

[MissFitz]

Welcome Razack! This topic is old, but just wanted to say I too will have two puppies soon from different litters though....so we can share in problems and commiserate!
Yours look to be from the same litter?

[Razack]

Thanks MissFitz!
Mine are from the same litter, they are brothers that do everything together!! I would love to share and commiserate, I don't live with the puppies during the week (they are at the bf's and I work out of town) I miss them so much today... Oddly enough when I see them on the weekend they remember me and are always excited to see me