Hi every one,
Day four with Abigail our new Bearded Collie puppy and all is going really well. But I have a question about her her play. She is really active and there is a lot of stalking and bouncing and play attacks. This seems to be her favourite passtime. She always gets hold of your fingers or toes in her mouth and and gives little bites and tugs. Its not too bad if you are expecting it but when she jumps on your feet and nips your toes with those pin sharp teeth just as you have a hot mug of tea to you lips - well i've had to check my language a few times when the kids are in the room. It is all playful stuff with tail wagging and there is no snapping. She also really goes to town on her cuddly toy rolling around with it and shaking it about even though it is bigger than her. My problem is we do not know how to recognise the diffence between good healthy exuberant play that should be encouraged and biting and aggression that should be discouraged. The book I have does not really give a definition of play.
I have not scolded her so far I just stop playing with her if I think she is biting a bit hard or if it has lasted too long.
Any advice would be very welcome.

it sounds very much like pup play, mine was the exact same, if it gets too much just shout ouch cross your arms and look away, when she looses interest praise her.
good luck
Gemma x

I'd treat any contact with teeth in the same way (ignoring completely - no eye contact, no physical contact (ie lifting or pushing her) - regardless of wether it hurts or not, or wether you are carrying a cup of tea or not - she can't be expected to think 'is this appropriate just now', but she should know that playing with humans with teeth is not acceptable......

The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey is a brilliant book well worth having and covers up to a year old. Even has a Beardie on the front cover :-D
Anne

She's just trying things out. If she was playing with another puppy and bit too hard, she'd get bitten back for her pains (No I don't subscribe to the owner biting he back!!!). That's why play with other puppies is very important.

'Mouthing' is also a doggy form of greeting - e.g. when you've been out and come back home, or when you get up in the morning, so don't be too tough on her!

By the way, old cardboard boxes and roll cores are cheap, handy toys for her to demolish and may help stop her getting bored when left for a while. Also not very likely to cause harm if bits are swallowed. A bit messy to clear the bits up but otherwise harmless. (Preferably not printed or coated cardboard).