I HAVE AN EIGHT WEEK OLD LAB/BOXER PUPPY. I HAVE TRIED ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT THE BOOKS SAY TO DO TO HELP HIM NOT BITE. I HAVE THREE YOUNG KIDS . I KNOW I NEED TO BE PATIENT BUT HE WAS ATTACKED BY A ST. BERNARD LAST WEEK WHEN IT JUMPED OUR FENCE. EVER SINCE THEN IT SEEMS AS THOUGH HE GETS MORE AGGRESIVE IF I TELL HIM NO BITE OR YELP AND IGNORE HIM. HE USED TO NOT BE AGGRESSIVE BEFORE THE ATTACK (JUST NORMAL NIPPING FROM A PUPPY), BUT NOW HE GROWLS AND SEEMS TO BE ATTACKING. WHAT MIGHT HELP HIM, OR IS HE SCARRED FROM THE ATTACK AND HE'LL ALWAYS BE AN AGGRESSIVE DOG. PLEASE HELP, ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I HAVE YOUNG KIDS HELP!!!

All the best methods to stop a puppy biting will take some time to be effective - how long have you had him?  I wonder if he was too young when you got him and hasn't spent the valuable time with his mother and litter mates who would have taught him that play biting means the end of the fun???

Think you may be right Digger, the aggressive type of play does not start till about 5 weeks and is normal stopped in the nest, if this pup did leave the nest at say 5 or 6 weeks it will not have to be taught the lessons that it's mother and litter mates would have taught it. I know sometimes it has to leave that young but it does put extra training on the new owner.

To the owner I would say chose one method and persevere, it may well take a few weeks but you will get there.

The attack you talk of would have scared the pup at the time but at 8 weeks it is unlikely to have caused a lasting effect. Did the pup roll on it's back at the time, if so that would be the correct response, if it stood it's ground and confronted the adult dog then it has not learned it's manners, another thing learned in the nest, and the "attack" may have done the pup a favour in teaching it how to approach another dog.

It's probably best to stick to just one thing as opposed to trying everything.  You need to be consistent.  Did you get him checked by the vet after he was attacked by the other dog?  If you think he is getting worse and as you say he is growling then maybe he is bruised and in pain.  A puppy crate is a good idea to give him a break from the kids and vica versa.  He can have a nice chew toy or his meal stuffed into a Kong so that he is happy in there for short periods.  I've always found it useful to give a pup something else to bite or occupy him BEFORE he starts on me or the children.  So you could scatter feed some of his daily food ration if he has a dry kibble and the children could do that when they walk into the room so that he starts to look for food on the floor instead of hands to bite.  Use his toys in the same way.  Instead of leaving them all over the floor for him, keep them up out of his reach so that when he is likely to bite he can have a new and novel toy instead.  The children need to stay calm around him as exited, shreeking and fast moving children will encourage him to use his teeth in play.

Sally

If he is only 8 weeks old, he may be nipping until he is about 18 - 20 weeks old so it does take time and patience and sometimes it can seem as if you are getting nowhere fast! ;)

It sounds a little to me, as if he may just be getting very excitable and playing - pups often do this, and it just takes time and patience. You may want to also put him out the room for a couple of minutes, or go out yourselves, as this can help when he bites. If you yelp, make sure it is slightly scary or as if you are really inpain, or he may think you are just a new squeaky toy LOL!

How about getting a copy of "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey? Its very good.

Lindsay