Hello!
I've not posted here before - I've been searching and searching for this problem on the internet all night but have had little success finding an answer (unless i'm just being impatient!).
Basically, i have a St. Bernard puppy who is 9 weeks old (had her for only a week) - she's a clever thing and has already learnt to sit, stay, come and lie.
I know she is very young and consistancy is the key - however she is getting worse and worse with growling. I dont mind the biting so much as i know this is something that puppies go through. Whenever she bites, i yelp and turn my back. However this doesnt deter her at all, she continues to bite my legs, and if i walk away she often runs behind me biting me!! I've tried being firm, but she starts to growl even more. To the point she growls even when she's not biting me (only when she's hyperactive already!) I've always made it clear its not acceptable, but i'm worried this wont pass as it seems to be getting worse.
I'm worried she's trying to gain a place as top dog... There is no way i'll allow this, so want to nip this in the bud before she becomes a giant dog out of control!!
As i said, she seems very clever, so i'm sure i can sort this - but i dont know the best way to manage this behaviour from such a young pup!
I'd so appreciate any replies. Just let me know if i've not explained anything well enough.
Thanks so much for reading this!
Regards,
Michelle

sounds like classic play growling

enrol in training classes

its not a dominance issue, its a puppy acting according to nature, until taught otherwise.

early days yet.

http://www.apdt.co.uk/local_dog_trainers.asp

read this article, "the bite stops here" - classic article on puppy mouthing by Ian Dunbar:
http://en.uniteddogs.com/forum/24/fl/71/t/34186

Thanks for the reasurance!
I've been reading about bite inhibition - but my pup doesn't ever bite my skin that hard anyway - unless she has her teeth into my clothes and is pulling! but by the time she's doing that i have to tell her off to get her to let go (which makes her growl even more!) and walking away becomes pointless and difficult!
I guess i just have to grin and bear this stage. I'll deffinatly be enrolling her into puppy classes as soon as she's fully vaccinated.
i just dont want this problem to get any worse by my (possible) poor handling.
Thanks again for your reply
-Michelle

if walking away doesn't work then either try time out and put her to bed for a few minutes ot better still always have other toys with you and distract her into biting them when she starts on you, so your not saying don't play bite but this is what you bits not me and she'll soon pickup on this. it also means you don't have to be cross with her.

> but by the time she's doing that i have to tell her off

The telling off, if you have got annoyed, will only excite her, and she will continue.  Ignore things you don't want, praise the things you do want.  In all fairness, if she has grasped all those commands in only a week! I would think that training sessions are far too long.  Play sessions should be far, far longer than training, and she is only a baby.

Do you not think that you are expecting too much, too soon?  Instead of telling her off for getting over excited, put her in time out for a short time.  Then, when you have calmed down enough not to give her a telling off, calmly bring her out in a matter of fact manner.

She has only been with you for a week, and I am sure that training classes will help you realise that her behaviour is absolutely normal.  It will all be clear when you meet other folk at class, with worries like your own.

you've been given some very good advice there :)

Just wanted to add,

I've noticed with most pups, they get more active when they are tired - just like babies who don't want to give in to sleep in case they miss something ;)   are you sure that she is getting enough sleep ? 

Usually a young pup who is getting a bit 'hyper' is actually ready for a nap ;)

If she has learned those things in a week, I would try carrying treats & asking her to sit or lie & reward her. Distraction works very well, you could also try carrying a favourite toy around with you & when she starts growling etc. again ask her to sit, or down & give her the toy. She should soon learn that it's more rewarding to do as you ask than to carry on growling.

Thanks for all the replies.
I have been trying to give her one of her toys in stead when she gets like this, but often she completly ignores me!
She has learnt all of those commands in a week, but my training sessions with her are kept very short, no longer than 5 minutes at a time.
I guess i just have to keep up with what i'm doing... it's been reasuring to know that this is normal puppy behaviour and not her being dominant, which is what i was getting concerned about.
Thanks a lot again!