Hi All,

I have 2 problems. Firstly, 13 week old Tessie is chewing everything!  I've tried giving her a chew toy each time instead, chew deterrant spray from PAH, 'Go Away' spray which has citronella in it, vicks vapour rub and olbas oil and she still chews the same things - even when covered with these products!  Anyone got any other ideas?

Secondly, she is biting.  I know it's normal and is meant in a playful way.  I've read 'The Bite Stops Here' and we all follow the instructions and have been doing so for over a week.  The trouble is, she actually took the skin off my 9 year old's leg.  Not a big patch but never the less he was upset.  I read on the forum one Mum who told her son to stand still, look in the air and cross his arms and the dog got bored.  We've tried that too.  We isolate her for a few minutes when she's bitten but yesterday as soon as we went back to her to 'make friends' she immediately bit again!  She tugs trouser legs, socks, shoes, jumpers, dressing gowns etc. continuously!  Don't know what to do!

Helen

It takes time, so carry on doing what you're doing.

Does it happen when she's over-tired or over-excited? Keeping her environment calm (not easy with young children I know!) will help keep her calm too.

It is over-excitement usually.  I'll just keep isolating.  Although yesterday, I spent over 2 hours isolating her every 5-10 mins or so due to biting.  Just couldn't calm her down.  And I then felt awful!  However, I'm determined not to have a biting dog so I will persevere.

Any other ideas on the chewing?  I know she's teething like mad, but I'd still like to have something that resembles a kitchen left next week!

You cant stop a puppy play biting in a week :)
Its takes a while but she will get the message as long as you are consistant. a lot of pups dont know their own stregnth or the sharpness of their teeth, its all play to them and not aggression or bad behaviour.

A really good method to use is as soon as she starts to use her teeth when playing just simply drop the toy, stand up and walk away completely ignoring her 100% for a few mo's and not returning or noticing her until she is calmed down. This proved highly effetive with our girl a SBT.

Good luck with your new pup :)

Can you not isolate her when you are not available to watch her?
Our dog was very full on as a puppy, and drove us barmy, but we used to shut him in his crate when one of us was not available to watch him, so he didn't do any lasting damage (except the odd houseplant which he would pick up and parade round the house with). He was very funny with the houseplants, a bit obsessed with them, after he learnt that he was not allowed to chew them,  he would sometimes pick up a toy, put it into the pot, then take a crafty nip of the plant as he got the toy out of the pot. As to nipping us and our clothes  when playing the bite inhibition advice you are currently following will work, but takes quite a bit longer to do so.
he was always much worse when over excited or over tired, and again, five minutes time-out in the crate would result in calm dog, or more often, fast asleep dog!

Chasing a ball in the garden to use a bit of physical energy, then a bit of training to exercise her mind will often result in a tired puppy who'll settle for a nap. A short walk on the lead - just 5 minutes or so - will also tire her mentally. Puppies are very bad at bregulating their activity and can't be relied upon to have a sleep when they're tired; they  need their owner to recognise the signs of tiredness and settle them down for a nap before they become too hyper.

Re the chewing - what things does she chew? If you can't actively watch her (obviously you'll stop her when you see her start to chew!) then you need to make sure she simply can't get to the things she chews - this is where a puppy pen is invaluable to pop them into when they can't be supervised. It's less confining than a crate.

Young puppies are very much a fulltime job - but don't worry, it does get easier!

Hi Helen

it's frustrating and painful when they bite but part and parcel of puppyhood.  Stick with the bite stop guidelines as much as is practical.  Limit the access she has to the kids until she is fairly calm and a little tired too - and be sure the kids don't do anything to over stimmulate her in case she kicks off again.

My pup is a little older than yours (17 weeks) and it's really *just in the last 3 weeks* or so I've seen a HUGE improvement in his bite inhibition which is pretty much what I'm sure you will see soon too :) 

Re the chewing, again a temporary but frustrating phase - in a few weeks the adult teeth will start to push through the gums and her gums will be pretty swollen and painful.  All we can do is distract from any objects that they choose which are inappropriate (furniture and flooring obviously) and offer alternatives.  TBH I have been lucky that in 6 pups I've never had one which was a dedicated chewer or anything like destructive (fingers, toes, legs & eyes crossed now LOL) so haven't tried any of the methods you've currently used but know friends have had most success with the Vicks rub - sorry its not working for your little one :(

Have you tried soaking and freezing dish towels?  Once wrung out and kept "wrapped", they freeze firmly and are good ways of keeping pups occupied as they provide the chewing aspect but also cool and soothe painful gums.  Might be worth a shot!

Don't despair - pups are like children and all learn at different rates.  Over and above which all households have different pros and cons towards consistency issues so again just because someone can turn things around in a few days doesn't make you or anyone else a failure if it takes a few weeks :)

Since joining here I now think my own breed is actually particularly easy to train (when pups anyway LOL) compared to some others and that just because I've gotten over hurdles fairly quickly with my pups doesn't mean I'd necessarily be as successful early on with a different breed :)

To sum up there are no genuine short cuts - its patience, consistency and trying to stay positive as best we can that gets us out the other end with a well trained, happy, loving and lovable family pet :)

Teri x

I do use a crate.  She sleeps overnight in it and she goes in every morning at 8.30 when I take kids to school and again at 3 pm when I go to pick up.  When I'm around, she's in the kitchen with me where she also has a bed.  When she wakes up after her morning nap around 11.30 am we go out to toilet, play and train.  I then leave kitchen door open for her whilst I do kitchen chores and she's free to come in and out of garden as she pleases.  I don't want to crate her any more than that really as I don't want her to feel too confined.  She has her second injection tomorrow and then we have to wait a week before we can go 'walkies' and I do believe that she we be more settled/dozy when she's having a couple of walks a day.  I do think she's a bit bored in the garden now and quite often stares longingly out of the gate! 

Exactly how much playtime should I have with her at any one time and how long should she be expected to sleep/doze/be calm/entertain herself?  At the moment, she has a major manic session at around 4 pm and most days I'm still in the kitchen with her at 8 pm as she's still playing and being manic!

I'll def try the frozen tea towel thing.  At the moment her favourite thing to chew is the back door and frame!  Despite all the products I've tried!  She only has access to this when I'm around and I can quite often spend 10 - 15 mins moving her away every 20 seconds and giving her a toy!

Hi Helen,

when distracting her from chewing and giving her a toy, do you tell her off or simply get her attention onto the item of distraction .... ?  I use a firm (but not loud) "AH, AH" when a pup tries to chew or take something inappropriate - then would give a toy or whatever and praise when they took that instead.  If you're missing out on the "discipline" part of the equation, then the puppy is possibly not learning that some things are a strict no go :)

Also, are you still restricting her access to the kitchen/garden alone?  I think if that's the case then part of the problem may be she's bored in general and frustrated at not being allowed to "join in" more with the family.  I can't remember if it was you who posted recently about their puppy always soiling in the lounge?  Apologies if I've mixed you up with someone else.  If it was you though I'd go with the advice I offered then, basically supervised, "access all areas" - that way there's not a little bit of devilment brewing in puppy heads about "oooh, wonder how I can sneak in there then" LOL.

Teri

Hi Helen,

I posted on here about biting too, and was advised to read The Bite Stops Here, it does take a whille (my Whippet is 13 weeks) but it really does seem to be working - I think I am probably two weeks into it now, and he has started 'mouthing' I never ever believed he would but he has!!  Definitely use the quieter 'ah ah, or ow' rather than a sharp 'ow or no' (!) - as the sharp noises seemed to excite my boy even more, and then he would get so excited and bite, blood would be drawn.

Ignoring him and crating him for a short time are the best I think - others will disagree, but we are both calmer and happier for it.  Although some days I did feel bad, as it seemed to be every five minutes!!!  Now it is much less, and I think it has been several if not more days since I had to do that!!

Also the training for 5 - 10 mins definitely is good - I try and do it two or three times a day, and that 5 minute walk just around the green in the close where I live also helps.  Goodness, I am far from the perfect owner, just doing my best but these things do seem to work, and when you are able to go out walkies, you will be SOOO relieved, it makes SOOOOO much difference honest - still playful, but much calmer!!!!! 

The chewing I have no ideas on, I have the same problem, although we did buy some teething keys (three keys on a ring, nothing special!)  from a local Pet Shop, they are sort of not altogether hard plastic, more like what children have (I think!), I thought these will be a waste, but when his teeth are playing up he really does like to chew on them, and my hands now are not shredded, just incredibly dry from overwashing!!!!!!  They have definitely helped.

I'm no expert, there are far more knowledgeable people than me here, but just wanted you to know what has helped me!!!!
;-))

Hi Teri,

Yes it was me who posted about soiling in lounge etc.  She's not totally restricted to kitchen/garden and we have started to introduce her to the lounge.  We've done it every day since your advice on this but she still zooms around and gets over excited.  For this reason, I only bring her in the lounge in the evening after the kids have gone to their rooms to try to limit the excitement.  I try to engage her in a little simple training whilst we're in there to no avail.  Trouble is, the other exciting thing about being in the lounge is there are two large sofas and a coffee table to chew on!  I've tried with chicking to teach her the 'leave it' command but she just takes the chicken and immediately goes back to chewing!  If I let her, she'd get through a whole chicken breast in 10 mins!  Lol! I know it's just gonna take time.  It's ok though, I know she'll learn eventually.  If I use the 'ah ah' when she does it will that confuse the 'leave it'?

Sorry so many questions.  Just want the best for pup and us.  Want her to be happy, safe and secure.  She's such a lovely little thing, even if demanding!

Am I the only one with a puppy that never did thing play biting and has always had good bite inhibition???   He's 18 months now and is still the same.

Have I been sent an angel??  Or is he waiting until he's older and can cause MEGA destruction......

Thanks Duffysmum.  It's reassuring to know it gets better!  We too have the teething keys and they are great.  I just think the door must taste better. Lol!

Hi Helen,

I dont try to teach leave commands (or any TBH :-D ) until they've mastered the concept of the (IMO) most important ones - what's good and what's not :)  So "busy" for performing their business on cue, "good boy/girl" for everything they do that I'm aiming for - covers toilet training successes, stopping chewing, biting, stealing etc and "AH, AH" for everything that's not wanted - soiling indoors (after they've started to show signs of asking out so grasped the concept if not control), biting hard rather than "mouthing", chewing furniture, carpets, WIRES - scary one that so usually becomes a louder noise of disapproval!, stealing shoes, laundry, tea towels, anything off the coffee table etc etc.

Once they've cottoned reasonably well on to what is and isn't OK for them to do, I'd then introduce words such as "leave" or "drop"

This doesn't mean that you cant do some training with them to help physically and mentally tire them but IME sets up a fairly simplistic routine which the entire household can easily remember and, importantly, doesn't get things too complicated for the puppy :)

HTH, Teri

>Am I the only one with a puppy that never did thing play biting and has always had good bite inhibition???

It certainly seems like it. ;-)

Hi georgepig,

don't fear - they dont all have something evil up their sleeve for later (unless you're a closet BSD owner in which case be afraid, be VERY afraid MWAHHAHHHA :-D

>I just think the door must taste better.

The texture will be different as well - wood gives way when chewed in a very satisfying way whereas rubber toys don't.

>wood gives way when chewed in a very satisfying way

Have you tried it then JG ;-) ;-) ;-)

LOL supervizla - ever chewed your pencil at school and then a biro ..... pencils taste great, biro's just splinter sharp peieces of plastic into our gums :-D

wood gives way when chewed in a very satisfying way whereas rubber toys don't.

But it's a plastic door!  Lol!

I'll def try keep things simpler for the moment.  We've mastered 'sit' and sometimes 'come' although she'd rather not have to come and quite often looks at me like I'm a nutter when I try that one!  We're still trying to master the lead.  She really hates having a lead on and fights with it all the time rolling over and over wrapping it around her then chewing it!  Even if I try to use the 'donkey and carrot' thing with a piece of chicken.

Mine is woeful on the lead kiddo so I'm no use on the advice for that but it may make you feel better to know that you're ahead of me by the sound of things :-D  Mine's a monster on lead, loves going out and throws himself all over the place and randomly changes sides/direction etc in eagerness to get there quicker LOL

Definitely a work in progress (methinks it's going to be a long haul!)  I am way late on doing some one to one lead walking with him so have allowed a habit (bad habit) to form already.  Usually I train with treats to walk using initially "good boy/girl" then when making progress the  "close" command.  A tube of cheese spread which they can randomly lick is a good way of keeping them close and attention focussed on what youre trying to achieve - hold it just in front of the pup's head and near your leg :)

> The texture will be different as well - wood gives way when chewed in a very satisfying way whereas rubber toys don't.

Yep mine likes wood but only sticks when he's out and about, he never chewed the cupboards or skirting etc etc.  His eyes go all funny and trance like when he munches on a rubber ball tho - he could do this for HOURS.

I'll get home tonight and the sofa will be in bits, you watch.....

My GR is 14 weeks and still biting and chewing (wood wood and more wood, tables skirting boards etc etc) I like to think he'll grow out of it :)

I would suggest letting her in the whole hosue all the time if you can, and just insist the children ignore, or just sit quietly with her, no playing,  her until she stops seeing them as soemthing so exciting. Then being int he main room with everyone isn't such a novelty, and the 'wall of death' routine will stop. One of my puppy owners was having exactly the same thing as you, let pup into the whole house (supervised, of course!) and they had no problem after the intial run about.

I have three children under 12, one of which is a toddler, and we kept one of our pups till 12 weeks. She just learnt to totally ignore him.

We gave a 'mouthing bit' to daughters Staff x and my current GSD pup when they were/are teething, its metal and nice and cold to chew/mouth/suck. helped with both of them.
find them by putting ,mouthing bit, in ebay search. Just an idea that worked for us.
Chris

no georgiepig...you are not the only one. I have had 3 afghan pups in total, and none of them have ever done play biting with people, and naturally had bite  inhibition. Maybe its a breed trait with mine.

When shes being like this it is good to shut her away but also to ignore her completely when you go and see her after rather than "making friends " just let her back in no talking or touching and see if she is calmer . I used to dread going to the toilet in the night as Snoop would be outside my bedroom and would attack [ in a cute way] my dressing gown! Its only her being a rascal and too ignore is the best plan... I know its real hard for your young children to understand. It got so bad with my 5 yr old I had to band him from touching snoop as it wound him up so much ! ;)
With the chewing its a matter of baby proofing your house for a while and making sure nothing is in reach. Let her have a couple of toy's then take them all away  rotate them couple days later  she will think its a new lot to munch on - while those new toothy pegs are coming through!

Thanks Magica.  I do tell the kids to keep calm around her.  They are not young children though, 14, 10 and 9.  Had to isolate her a few times again yesterday, but so far today have had no incidences of biting (fingers crossed)!

I've got one here of 14 and he can  send my lot into MAJOR MANIC TIME! The dogs are 4 & 9 ;)

To georgepig - no, my girl, Jet, was the same way and never did a blessed thing wrong.  She walked on the leash, didn't bite, bark or jump.  In short she was the perfect puppy we all are warned we are NOT going to get.  She didn't grow out of it either.  No wonder training current puppy is all new for me.

My breed are very boisterous and bouncy they on occasion become very excited begin nipping and chewing to the point you cant get them to look at you as they cant concentrate.
A tip given to me which I have done for years with a pup (when required ) is to lie the pup on its side and put your body over it no pressure , gently stroke the head and ears whispering quietly at first the pup will feel tense and rigid but after a few minutes you feel them relax and become very calm , once they relax just get up and walk away they normally stay for a few minutes they get up and carry on playing but in a more relaxed manner.

It may take a few goes but it works for me and I pass it on to all my new puppy owners.

Roni