biting lab puppy

hunting_labs · 02-01-2002, 11:08 PM

I have a 3 month old lab pup who bites constantly. well he really doesn't bite,he'll
sit there and try to gnaw on your hands or whatever's there to gnaw on. He's been doing this since he was 7 weeks old and I've tried everything in the book to persuade him otherwise. But I guess I need to explore other tactics. I don't want to sell him or give him away becasue he's a really smart dog with good insticts. Can anyone give me any advice on how to stop him. Thanks. Here is a picture of Jay at 8 weeks.

April<font color=purple></font id=purple

amitydeerslayer · 02-02-2002, 12:19 AM

I have an almost 14 week old lab pup who does the same thing. Part of it is the fact that they are just pups and put their mouths around anything. I am using a tactic that I've used on my other dogs before him, when he bites I tell him no bite and hit him softly under the mouth. He is bigger now and this seems to get the point across more. When he was smaller I used to gently squeeze his mouth together and tell him no bite. He doesn't bite me anymore, but he does attempt to bite other people who unsuspectingly begin to pet him. Other people have suggested rolling his lip under his teeth and squeezing until he cries a bit, I haven't tried this yet. I just tell folks to watch out because he's teething and if he does bite I show them how to correct him.
This is my 4th puppy and they all do it. Some stop earlier then others, but the important part is to be patient and consistent and firm in your corrections. Remember also there is a huge difference between vicious biting and playful puppy mouthing.

fatdave · 02-02-2002, 07:43 AM

The pup is probably teething, just like your kids did. Get some teething gel, I found that it worked on my pups. Also get them LOTS of chew toys.

hunting_labs · 02-02-2002, 02:55 PM

<font color=maroon>Thanks to both of you. One thing he doesn't need is more chew toys, he has literaly 25 of them scattered all around this house in all of the bedrooms. I will try the gel idea.
I have tried the lip thing and it's having a gradual efect on him.</font id=maroon>

Fluff · 02-02-2002, 03:53 PM

I have a 3 month old choc. lab pup and I have basically the same problem. However, we have started obedience training and the biting seems to be much better since the start of training. All pups explore the world with their mouths and I believe, especially labs. I think this is a small problem that he will grow out of. My training instructor tells and the books I have read, tell me to redirect the biting of humans to one of his chew toys. This works well. I agree with the other responder that your pup is teething and will grow beyond this behaviour. Please don't give up your pup for a behaviour that is natural to him. All pups must learn to inhibit their bite. This is a normal part of life. He will eventually get the message that he is hurting you with his bite and will learn to bite with control. I believe dogs will always "play bite" their entire lives as a part of healthy play. Retrievers must learn to have a "soft mouth" in order to become a good retriever and I believe your dog will.

star1pup · 02-02-2002, 06:03 PM

I had the same problem with Star and her teeth were really sharp. A trainer had me get a spray bottle of Gannicks Bitter Apple at the pet store. When she bit, we told her no and sprayed a little in her mouth. It does not harm the dog and it worked for us. Star is a hunting Airedale so her puppy biting had to be stopped before she got bigger.

BTW: Got her trained some now and she hunts birds like a Springer.

ShortHair · 02-02-2002, 07:09 PM

star1pup does the Airedale point? I have always like the looks of an Airedale. I know it is a sporting breed but never knew what they were bred for. I was thinking they were a retriever.