Puppy Biting

[critter01]

I have an 8 week toy poodle, she is amazing in so many way, but she loves to bite. I think its playful, but it hurts and no one wants to play with her. We've tried yelping, walking a way, saying "NO" firmly and NOTHING works. She stops for two seconds and comes at us to bite our toes, or fingures. Should we just ignore it and it will go away or am I dealing with an aggressive puppy who will bite people later on. HELP!

[Gail]

Puppies play by biting and some don't respond to the things you've tried - they still don't realize you aren't playing with them.
With my puppies the only thing they took seriously is when I growled at them - they stopped immediately.

[critter01]

Thanks Gail...when I tried she growled back and continued to bite. I hope she stops because eveyone who comes in contact with her is starting to reject her. It's a real shame because there are times that she's absolutely loveable and very smart.

[Sarah]

Good advice Gail. What i sense critter is that you don't completely follow through with what you are saying.

When you correct your dog, stay with that dog until you see she has calmed down gone into a submissive state of being. Then walk away from her. You can also try putting this pup on her side and holding her there firmly but gently until she calms down, then let go of her. This is what her mother and siblings would have done if she was annoying to her mother. You will also gain her respect

It takes more than one time, critter, and it's difficult to say how long it will take for her to change. Poodles are smart dogs though so it shouldn't take that long.. She will test you and try you, but you have to follow through with the NO you are telling her.

[Deaf Dogs]

She has no bite inhibition. She needs to learn it. Most pups learn bite inhibition from littermates and the mother, but if people (breeders) are always stopping puppy fights, and mother's corrections, you'll have a bity puppy. She is not being aggressive, and does not need to be punished. the best way to stop puppies from biting, is to take away the reward for biting. She is somehow being rewarded for biting. Attention, any attention (even neg. attention, like punishment) will keep her biting. Pay attention to her only when she's giving you proper behaviour, completely ignore (or remove yourself from her by going into another room). Sometimes it helps to give a yip, before walking away from her. Biting is a fun game for a pup, you need to teach her it's not a fun game by simply removing any attention, she'll stop.

[newbear]

I agree with what Deaf dogs have said. Your puppy bite not because she is aggressive, and does not need to be punished. It is normal for her to bite as she is going through the teething stage and it is normal for dogs to use their mouths to interact with their environment. What you need to do is to teach her bite inhibition like what Deaf dogs said. Here are two wonderful youtube videos by two fantastic trainers that show how to teach a puppy bite inhibition through gentle methods and setting them up for success instead of punishing them: YouTube - Bite Inhibition Puppy mouthing biting and licking YouTube - Stop puppies biting- clicker dog training Hope these videos are helpful to you. Keep us updated! Thanks!