Good morning everybody! I hope you all woke up to a sunny start like I did! Last monday we got a GSP puppy. He's settling in quite well but the play biting is a real pain! We do what a puppy book said and tried distracting him but it didn't work. My 5 year old brother is scared when he does it and runs off but it just excites the puppy even more. Anyone who knows any way to stop him from biting everything he sees, please reply. From Phoebe

Hi Fee-fee! Give it time! He won't stop mouthing instantly - it will gradually get less and less and by the time he is about 6 months old you'll notice he isn't doing it any more. It is a normal thing for puppies to do, because they haven't got hands to explore the world with - only their mouths. You are quite right that your brother running away excites the puppy - running and chasing is a dog game, so of course the puppy wants to play too! If everyone stays calm and quiet around the puppy, the puppy will learn to be the same. There are some excellent rearing tips in "The Perfect Puppy" by Gwen Bailey - if you are all consistent and calm, and follow her instructions, you will end up with a nice adult dog. Good luck!

Hi Fee Fee We can send you a play biting leaflet if you would like one. Contact me on jumbuck@btopenworld.com and we will send you one, either by email or by post.

think ill apply for one myself! ive got a problem with it myself tho it doesnt sound quite so bad as the GSD pup. I have kids too and they do the same it all leads to a cycle of excitemnet and chasing doesnt it? ive found the best things is to keep saying no in a firm voice and actively put a chew toy directly in the mouth. mind you even at a young age i think they know! my basset pup is 9 weeks and does it far far less to me than the kids!

Hi All
Anyone can apply for any of our leaflets that we give out to our own members. We can always send them to you by email or post. Email is easier and cheaper than post and quicker. Just let us know which problem you are having we may have one to cover it. :)

Hi jumbuck, i heard that if your puppy bites you when you are playing that your meant to squeal and not pull your hand away. Is this true?

I have found it better not to react at all when this happens

Squealing *can* work, but it can also make you into a kind of squeaky toy, unless you get the pitch just right.  Pulling you hand away can have the same effect on some dogs.

Hi Dollydaydream,
Puppies bite  because it is normal for them to try out their teeth when in the nest with their siblings, but you will find that if they bite too hard on the mum when suckling she will growl at them in a deep tone and if they don't stop she will hold them gently until they stop. In human terms they must be taught that to bite is a no no. So, if when playing, it is best to just remove the part that they are biting and get up and walk away, thus stopping the game. If you want to resume the game, use a toy that they can play with. If they get really growly with it, take it away and stop the game so that they learn to be more gentle. If they are on their own playing with a toy,  let them be noisy as this will show them that they can play on their own noisily but not when you want to play with them. If they have another older dog to play with then that dog will usually teach them how far they can go. If you have two puppies and they get over the top it is best to stop the rough play by giving them time out with something they can chew or play with, on their own until they have learnt to be more gentle with each other. Removing hand etc. and squealing is not a good idea as this might be a challenge to them. Remove hand etc. without saying anything and then when it is out of the way give a toy and say good when it has taken that. Puppies need to sometimes do something which we consider naughty to be able to be taught what is right. They don't know that somethings are wrong in human eyes. On the other hand sometimes pups don't bite because they are just naturally laid back pups or have come from a large litter where they have learnt not to bite. Putting them out of the way teaches them nothing so this is not a good thing to do.

http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm

Thanks all, I thought i better ask everyones opinions again as in 3 weeks we will have a new puppy!!! :D So i better prepare for all kinds of trouble!!

sarah xxxx

hi, i ve got a gsd puppy who goes through phases of being really nippy and getting really rough, yelping doesn't work only causes him to get more excited and get my springer ready to attack! my trainer said to try putting him in another room for 30 seconds so that he understands if he wants to be with you it has to be on your terms, it does work but you may have to do it many times! good luck

When your pup bites you, you carry him out of the room and leave him outside for 30 seconds. How does he know what he is put outside for. Puppies memories aren't that long. By the time you reach the door, he will have no idea what he has done and will just get stressed. It may even cause separation anxiety later on. Shouting "ouch" in a loud enough voice and stopping the play is a much quicker, more effective way of stopping the biting because that is a language he will already understand from his mother.

i don't carry him i just lead him to another room he is 22 weeks so not a little pup it is supported in the dog listener and seems to be the only thing that works with him, he has no separation anxiety issues thank you for your comments though

I assume by 'the dog listener' you're referring to Ms Fennell???

Maybe you'd like to think about how your actions appear to the dog?  The dog is playing with you, he makes contact with his teeth and what happens?  you pay it attention for several more seconds by taking it to another room, then, for no reason that is apparent to the dog - you leave it there!...........  All it teaches the dog is that humans are strange creatures that are probably not to be trusted 100%....

ROFLMAO Jan Fennell's ideas are based on HUMAN pyschology in which she has a degree. She is the latest flavour of the month "behaviourizt"

If you use her training techniques you will end up with one very confused dog.

A much simpler idea is to not react to the puppy nipping & reward when it stops. Dogs are fairly simple creatures & your puppy is on his learning curve. If you react that is his reward. I was taught many many years ago by a retired dog handler to reward what behaviour you want & do not react to that you do not.