Not sure if this is a big issue, but I really hope it isnt!

I have a 17 week old Beagle, he is an angel (usually) very sweet and cuddly, if we are out and he see's anyone he will run over and sit at thier feet so they can stroke him- he sits at the road etc,

However, recently of an evening he seems to be really nippy, I know this is normal puppy behaviour but he gets quite aggressive (still playing though) when we try to get him to stop.
It has never been too much of an issue cos we are quicker than him, but today he did it to my partner and nipped his arm, it was very deep for such puppy teeth and drew alot of blood. My partner is obviously not happy!
If that was one of my young cousins it would have been worse to the eye!!!
But what do we do? how do we make him understand thats not good. It isnt a matter of walking more because he walks alot and gets pretty tired from it. seems to be of an evening though, from patterns- maybe thats because its when we all sit together?
Please help- he is such an angel but I dont want it to get too much
Charlotte x

Charlotte, my pup was the same, seemed to be when he got tired and didnt want to go to bed, same as a child :-) hes 6mnths now and has recently stopped it but I always held something in my hand whilst he chewed it untill he fell asleep which really helped, it gave us all peace of an eve when we sat down and stopped us looking like self harmers :-)

dont play tuggy with him (if you do of course) they tend to do this when excited in play a firm 'no' and removed to another room should get your point across , he will soon learn that it is not acceptable behavour.

Roni

My girl is this age and is of the same disposition......
She gets tired and naughty like a toddler.
She gets put into her cage within her pen at this point and tends to lay straight down for a sleep.
Also you must not allow him to mouth and/or bite.
'the bite stop here' link is great for all to follow but sorry cant do links :(

Karen ;)

Remember just how very sharp those little puppy teeth are.  Play biting is a big issue for us because we always have a pet GSD as well as our dachsies.  The way I deal with it is to say 'ouch' and purposely remove myself from the 'play'  I find they soon learn that we don't like it and as puppy wants to continue to play they tend to stop. 

Louise

Ignoring them when they get silly I find works the best- when he hurts you or your OH- just say ouch and blank him completely, pretend he is not in the room he will get bored eventually and just go and find a toy to play with instead.  He will most probably protest at first for you doing this and will moan, jump up and down and bark for your attention but stay firm and it will work honest. If he gets too much walk away from him. I used to feel a right cow and my snoop would sulk into his bed so after I would go to him and give him a big cuddle. Its all got to be on your terms- rather than them dictating when they want to play. The amount of times my puppy nipped me on the tit! I could of gone crackers on him as it damn well hurt :) Luckily he stopped when he was 8 months old..

read the bite stops here, if you search it its mentioned on a few threds, it might help.

btw, how much are you walking him? you know his walking should be limited at this age?

Yeah those puppy teeth sure hurt Just the other day got nipped on the foot.He's really quite good it was a puppy madness
moment ...He has nearly all his adult teeth so hopefully he will have some control over his bite!
He is so far turning out to be a very well behaved dog... when left no cage just allowed certain areas and no problems nothing
touched always make sure he has been walked and had some time spent together before leaving him.
I think the nipping will go in time...I 'm now looking for a puppy that responds when called (that needs some work yet)
He has the makings of a super little mate if I'm not mistaken.

Right. This is the time they go 'silly' always at dusk, always in the evening. They get revved up when the famly are ready to settle down. Most puppys at 16 weeks onwards do this, and they get pretty over excited. Thats the time if he was with his litter mates in the natural den he would be having a high time playing in the cool of the day, just before bed.

So for you thats the time to put him on the lead, take him for a calm stroll and let him walk off a little energy, plus into the garden at the end of the walk for a couple of retrieves for fun, with a nice SIT and a treat and the end of each one. Leave it on a high. Job done! Energy spurt over with. Mentally sorted out, and physically, by taking a nice him walk out when its cool, and those nice evening smells are about.

And although its an effort for the humans, well worth the 20/25 minutes it takes. 

> I 'm now looking for a puppy that responds when called (that needs some work yet)
>

He's a Beagle!!!! ;)

I agree check out The Bite Stops Here many people think that pups should not bite, and do not be mistaken those puppy teeth are far sharper than adult teeth, and can sure rip skin and clothes and do a lot of damage.  Puppies naturally play like this can be extremely aggressive and act as though they are quite menacing, but it is puppy play, they just do not understand that they can not play with humans like this as we don't have a dogs coat and we tear very easily.

You need to make it plain that it hurts. Large OW! and time outs if the pup just is too hyperactive, though a nip just with mild play can hurt just the same.

Pups need to chew to loosen those baby teeth, and ease in the new adult teeth, make sure your pup has appropriate toys etc to help with this.  Don't get into any overly excitable play with a pup once it gets going it won't stop, they don't switch off, just nice calm games, play tug by all means, but once you see the glint in his eye stop and calm the play and distract with a garden walk or get him interested in some training with a treat. :-)

Above all else don't think it unusual or that you have an aggressive pup, they all grow up, just handle calmly and protect yourself. :-)

I agree with Carrington. But when running my puppy classes almost every single pup has this over the top energy spurt in the evening, what I suggested to them and to you, if people were prepared to try it,.....worked! Have a go and let us know

In case nobody else has posted it, here's the link to The Bite Stops Here. It really works as long as everyone is consistent.

And don't let him get over-excited or over-tired, because that's when they lose control. Stop any rough-housing when you can see 'that' expression starting to develop in his eyes, and before he gets OTT.

A mad half-hour in the evening is normal though, with even adult dogs charging around the house and garden like loonies!

Just something i have picked up on - he is 17 weeks and you say you walk him quite a lot. At that age, keeping to the 5 min rule he should only be walked approximately 20 minutes a day. This is to protect his growing bones etc, but also, i have found that dogs can get over tired and grumpy like children. If you are walking him a lot plus playing at home he could be tired and irritable hence the biting in the evening? Maybe. Just an idea.
Puppy classes are defintly a great way to go and also saying in a stern voice NO or OUCH and ignoring pup as soon as he bites will soon give him the message tht he is not to do it.

Are beagles like borders, we were told to growl at him and it worked a treat, but all the other advice is good, removing him for a sleep is a good thing, time out when they get their funny 5 minutes.

> we were told to growl at him

essentially its the same as the ouch or no, its a negative sound and emotive reaction, bite= unhappy mummy/daddy/sister/brother person so biting is not fun

> In case nobody else has posted it, here's the link to [url=http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm" rel=nofollow]The Bite Stops Here[/url]. It really works as long as everyone is consistent.
>

lol, i didn;t know how to re-post a link! though now i think on it i could have just copied the thing from the page couldn;t i? duh, special me...

LOl I am having the energy spurt in the evenings with my 18 week old now, she goes out at teatime with one of the other dogs for 15-20 mins and then later in the evening when it is cooler we do training in the garden - we do still get the zoomies but if she goes ott then she is shut in her crate to calm her down and then let out again when she has done.

I think the' zoomies' is a great word for it...will use that. I also worry about this minute per week of the pups life for exercise. We end up with many a mindlessly bored youngster in Rescue over and over again when the owners have religiously stuck to this 'rule' laid down by the breeders advice of terrifying consequences if this isn't adhered to, sometimes up to a year old!! 'Balance' doesn't seen to come into it. These are young dogs that need mental and physical balanced stimulation everyday, and puppy classes are great, but wont cure the zoomies, only on that evening he attends...No zoomies that evening!! I rest my case.

I think "Puple Hour" describes it quite well. I like the "zoomies" too..LOL

I try to channel the energy, we do some training exercise, or a few fetch games in the garden. Then a grooming which calms them. Works for us. But mine are 2 and 4 now!!!!!

>These are young dogs that need mental and physical balanced stimulation everyday,

It's often the lack of mental rather than physical stimulation that causes the OTT-ness in puppies. More exercise is no substitute for mental training. At training classes the puppy is having to concentrate and actually think - not run around the park. And that's why he doesn't have an attack of the zoomies later ...

Absolutely Jeangenie! Balance, Mental and physical!! That what they need every day, not just once a week.