Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject: There is light at the end of the tunnel
Hi
We recently got an 8 week old black lab and like yours he is great, he has a lovely nature, was quick to pick up commands etc then exactly a week later my beast appeared! I can say that he is now 13 weeks and the biting has calmed!
There is 2 things I found worked the best for Gus, the first thing was to yelp shouting oww didn't help, I made a loud pitched yelping noise like a puppy would and it would just make him sit still. The second was to make a claw with your hand and touch him on either his neck or back leg, you don't need to do it hard just a touch and make a noise or say the command your using to teach him something is wrong. On both cases always give him something to replace it with like a chew toy. Gus still has the odd lapse or we may need to repeat what we're doing but we no longer have the beast!!
Our vet suggested a time out by putting him in a room on his own with the lights out and ignore him, I didn't want to do this as I keep him in the same room at night with the lights out so didn't want to confuse him!
Main thing is, it is completely normal and when he comes out the other side you will have the most amazing dog ever
I've only read the first page so someone else may have said something similar but here goes.
Toby is now 8 months old. He was a difficult pup - a real crocodile. I used to long to cuddle him but you just couldn't. It seems like forever when you are going through it but it does get better. Here are my thoughts.
1) Saying "No!" wound Toby up. I now know he's sensitive and he hated the feeling that he'd got something wrong. So Aaahhh Aaaaah worked well as he didn't associate it with anything negative.
2) I used to be very theatrical when he got hold of a bit of me. I'd go "Ow" and pull my hand away in a grand dramatic gesture. Leaving him worked a treat too.
3) I've been known to climb on the kitchen table to get away from him at his worst - thankfully I only had to do that a couple of times.
He settled when he got his 'proper' teeth through and was also better when he could go for walks.
I think some lab pups are incredibly hard work but they are worth it in the end.
____________ Liz and Toby the black lab pup.
Honey - the best dog in the world! 2001-2011
Run free baby dog.
Wow, I am so amazed by your guys who have gone through this and come out the other side. Chapeau! I must admit none of my four went through this sort of phase. Maybe I've forgotten or by the time number 2, 3 and 4 came along they had each other to bite!
i kinda think im in the same boat as u hun. Yogi is a nightmare with his biting atm. And because ive got a 20 month old son i feel like ive gotta have eyes in the back of my head because i cant leave them alone together and they constantly wind each other up. In certain ways we are taking steps forward. He now sits on command, lies down and goes to his bed. He does all his poos outside but were still on puppy pads for wees which isnt great but well get there. Hes stopped crying when we put him to bed and this morning didnt wake till 6.15 so im very proud of him.
I just cant wait to get over this phase and into the nice companionship phase. Were looking to go on holiday to Haven in May and were gonna take him and its gonna be a nightmare if he tears the place up! x
I just read your message and had to write something here.
My and my partner bought a 8 week lab 2 months ago. After a month, everything you wrote above was happening to us - exactly the same!
I have got to say that in the last month he has come on so much its unbelieveable. I cant explain why he has improved so much but if I take a guess, its because we have taken outside to meet other people, dogs and puppy training. It has got him used to being around other people.
With the biting we had the same problem but cured it very easy. If your pup bites you, just scream really loud and walk away from him. He will quickly learn that if he bites he does not get to play with you and will stop. It was what other puppies would have done in his litter.
I admin being a grown man screaming the house down felt a bit odd but it worked so well. Have a go and let us know the results in a week
jessie was a terrible biter too, and thankfully at 7months as virtually stopped all biting - although some times softly mouths us.
she once put her tooth right through my ear !!!
I had to manage her being a crocodile with having a hose full of very young children as Im a childminder, but somehow all children came through that phase unmauled !
we just ignored all biting behaviour or just said no, i think she just out grew it tbh
good luck it does get better, and they are so worth it in the end xx
Your pup's behaviour is definitely normal! Poppy was a biting fiend too at 8 - 9 weeks.
In addition to the fab suggestions made here, we also filled a tin with stones and dropped it on the floor to divert her when she got over the top. A very gentle water spray was also recommended at crisis points but, whilst it would have worked, we didn't like the idea much.
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There is light at the end of the tunnel
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