The biting puppy !!

[galcoldsue]

Hi everybody,

I have read many of the posts on the forum and was wondering if anybody could offer us some advise on our chocolate Labrador puppy.

We have owned a number of labs over the years and are well used to their boisterous behavior. Our last two old boys unfortunately had to be put to sleep over the Christmas period due to failing health. We allowed ourselves a period of time to get over this and eight weeks ago brought home our new addition to the family, Baxter, a fun loving healthy, happy puppy.

He is fine in everyway and has settled in well to our family way of life. We are in the fortunate position of being out in the country and have plenty of space for him to explore and he is never left on his own.

He seems very clever and has already picked up simple commands, “Sit”, “Here” and although he is still only young was very good when we introduced him to his lead. He is very level headed and we can stroke him when he is eating and is very good when we ask him for his toys

Generally he is a great little dog other than when he gets excited he tends to snap and bite. We know that this is one of the traits of a puppy and reassure ourselves that as he gets older he will grow out of it, but we have three children who are becoming unsure of him and if the truth be known are starting to become a little afraid of him.

He is now quite a big lad and is starting to lose his puppy teeth, which hopefully will help matters. We would really be grateful for any tips that any off you could pass onto to us discourage his biting, in a gentle way, and any sort of activity we could encourage our children to do with him to try to rebuild their bond with him. We have tried ignoring his biting and being stern with him but to no avail.

It’s just that, although he is only playing we are ourselves becoming a bit concerned that through no ill intent he could snap at one of our children or somebody else for that matter.

Thanks for reading Galcoldsue

 

[Renee750il]

Hi there,

If you will, check out Dalvi Nilesh' thread about his similar problem with his German Shepherd pup (there are two - go to the one in the Introductions section). I think you'll find that the advice will work for you, too. The only thing I would add is that you have your children also learn to make your Lab give up his belly to them and share their "last bite" with him, taking turns, of course, individally and at different times. If they all did it at once it would overwhelm your pup and confuse him.

 

[galcoldsue]

Thank you for you reply,we have read and taken guidance from the gsd posting.

Once again thank you .

Galcoldsue

 

[Renee750il]

Glad to hear it. Keep us posted on how things go.

 

[galcoldsue]

Hi everybody,

Just a quick update on Baxter. He is doing fine and as responded well to training. He seems very clever and eager to learn.

At the moment he is five month old (very young I know) but he is putting on the beef and starting to weigh in as quiet a big lad. Just today we were told, “What a fine specimen of a Labrador he was†very healthy and full of life.

Unfortunately he has his “turns†whereby he seems to take the law into his own hands and becomes oblivious to all around him. We fully appreciate that he is still a pup but realistically he is quite big and still biting and has now become very boisterous, especially towards things he thinks are smaller than him.

Like I said before we have always had labs but have never introduced a lab pup into the house with the children.

I have seen all manner of dog ranging from out and out aggressive to timid and terrified and although we would like see Baxter to build on his considerable confidence I would welcome advise on where the line is drawn. Basically is there a line between confidence and dominance?

I myself like nothing more than to see a totally confidant loving dog who is totally at ease with their surrounding but in the same token I also respect and admit a non treating dog.

I know our pup is only young but I really don’t wish to be placed in a position whereby we have to become very overbearing towards him to stop his fun loving boisterous behavior for the sake of damaging his confidence.

We are not dog pamperers and certainly don’t over indulge our dogs but I would really welcome any advice on how to calm his enthusiasm without turning him into a under confidant dog who cowers at our voice.

Again many thanks for reading.

 

[Renee750il]

Baxter's getting old enough now to understand - and want to avoid - the ultimate puppy punishment . . . banishment to solitary confinement. When he gets too rambunctious and won't obey, send him to a room by himself for a few minutes. Before you let him out to play again, make him go through his paces, sit, stay, just whatever you're working on, even if it's some cute trick, the point is to make him obey you - and accept your direction - before he's allowed to join the family again.

He's also getting old enough for those nose-to-snout talks.