Hello, we recently got a Norwegian Buhund puppy - she is very loving and affectionate but she has just started nipping us and visitors quite badly. She nips our hands and pulls on our clothes sometimes making holes in them. We tell her no but it doesn't stop her. We push her away but she thinks its a game!

She also keeps jumping up at us when we are sitting on the sofa. Again we tell her no and push her away but she keeps doing it as she thinks it's fun!

She has plenty of toys esp chewing / teething toys but these only hold her interest for a few minutes and then she is back to nipping us and jumping up at the sofa. It won't betoo long before she is a bit bigger and can get on the sofa which we don't want!

Has anyone got any tips on how to help deal with these problems!

Go through the old posts on SEARCH and all your questions will be answered.....plus you will have your mind put at rest (or not ).
Good luck and don't worry.
Karen

Many dogs love the physical act of being pushed (most of mine do) and so see it as a reward so first thing to do is stop pushing her off. :)

Thanks - i will do a search and see what i can find!

Puppies need a lot of interaction, and this unfortunately is just how puppies like to play, if she was with a litter mate they would be dragging one another around by the ear and having heavy playfighting sessions. If she bites you or your clothes I would make a cry of pain and a big ow so that she realises it hurts to bite a human, if she gets too heavy after your cry of pain, put her in her crate or another room for a few minutes and then let her back in, everytime she does it, do the same, she will eventually get the message.

When she first starts to look for attention in this way, have a tug rope ready to play a nice tug game with her, hopefully distratcing her from chewing into yourself or your vistitors also.

Whatever she does though do not get cross and scold her, this is normal puppy behaviour and how pups play.

Thanks.

I would try putting her in the crate but that's where she sleeps at night and she might grow to hate it if we keep shutting her in there. Could put her in another room though so might try that.

We have a tug of war rope which she loves but she soon gets bored of it and thinks biting us is more fun!!!

The best message to get across to a bitey puppy is that nobody wants to play with one!

We've all been there and there are some very useful tips if you do a search - especially on bite inhibition. But for sure, the more attention that the pup gets by being pushed away, the more exciting the game becomes. Hands are an irresistible target which is another reason to avoid pushing. You'll often find that pups are at their daftest and bitiest in the evening when they are over-tired and quiet time-outs can work wonders since it's quite usual for the pup to drop off to sleep almost immediately they've been removed from the source of their exciting game.  Everyone in the family needs to be consistent though since if one person allows rougher play it's unfair on the pup who will get mixed messages about what is acceptable.

Thanks for your reply. I have tried moving her away for time out and seeing if she goes to sleep but she just pounces on me and nips as though it's a game - so i think i will try putting her in another room until she calms down.

It does take a bit of time (ie weeks rather than days) and also may get worse before it gets better! :D

You'll get there.

Lindsay
x

Thanks Lindsay!

I think she's crying out for interaction with you. Toys are all very well but it's not the same as playing with you and your family. When you bring a puppy into your home, you become it's pack. In the wild, she would be playing with the other pack members at this stage as part of learning to integrate and become a fully paid up pack member. You need to play with her yourselves but when you want to stop playing you must make it clear that playtime has ended. She is desperate for attention from you and if the only way she can get it is by nipping and pulling at your clothes then this is what she will do.

With respect, I don't think she's crying out for anything! She is, however, behaving like a normal puppy!