Is this a problem??

I think you've got a puppy on your hands that needs more human intervention and more structure. We've had a biting/nipping discussion earlier, here: http://forum.dog.com/forums/t/105331.aspx that you might get some helpful information from. I provided some links to work on impulse control, bite inhibition, etc, and others also have great advice. It sounds like this pup also experiences overarousal in day-to-day living, and that is likely part of the problem.

But this:

3girls

In fact, the word "no" or any disapproving tone whatsoever seems to have absolutely no effect. He truly couldn't care less... 

Are you okay with using a drag line in the home? Since you have many dogs I'm not sure how suitable it is, but if it is workable I would really suggest the use of a drag-line. That way you can intervene where necessary and also keep your hands out of it so you aren't putting him in a position to always use his teeth on you - you can stop him from bugging the other dogs, but what may work really well is that you can use temporary tethering as a time-out rather than just a kennel. It's more on-time than walking a pup to a kennel is, and often can get the message across sooner, because sometimes wrestling the pup into a kennel or away from what it wants is giving the dog reinforcement for what it was doing. When he gets out of line and bites too hard, simply take the leash and attach it to the nearest doorknob and walk away for 15 seconds. When the time-out is over, calmly walk over and detach the leash and resume what you were doing. If he turns into alligator-mouth right away, repeat the time-out. He will get it, but it might take time. What it will take thought is consistency. You have to be consistent every time, with everyone on board.

Make sure at the same time that you spend more time catching him doing the right thing than you do doing unwanted things. The puppy may learn that the only time it gets lots of human attention - guaranteed - is when the pup is doing something you don't want. And that might keep behaviour going strong. So make sure the pup gets lots of feedback (might do best with calm, quiet feedback so not to cause arousal) that what he is doing is right. Anytime he is laying with his own toys quietly, pop him a treat. Set him up to do behaviours that you can reward (sit for attention, sit to go out, etc). Anytime you catch a puppy doing something "wrong", you must make sure to follow it up with giving the pup the chance to do something right. So if you have to take the pup away from hassling another dog, give him a nice stuffed Kong to take out his energy on, and teach him that he has to lay in a certain bed or area to get it.

Make sure you aren't giving the pup too much freedom too soon. At just about 4 months old, he doesn't need free run of areas. You can even set up an area like an xpen that he can go in and play with all his toys but that he is safe from making bad decisions. And you need to make sure that he's not bullying the adults (especially the ones who won't actually teach the pup some manners), as they have a right to be left alone too without always defending themselves.

Sometimes responding to his biting/nipping with any words can make him think you are engaging in play.   Watch your energy level too.  Try not to tense, not to show stress or anger, etc.  Breath deeply and be as calm as possible.  Redirect or remove him from the situation as quickly as possible. 

In his little "mindless" brain (no offense), he may think that the girls are reciprocating with play too.  He does need to start learning what is appropriate and what isn't.  I've been taught to try to stay out of the dynamics between dogs.  But, I would do the same thing and step in if you feel she isn't able to handle his shenanigans.

Ah, the jaws, er uh, I mean joys of puppyhood! 

CoBuHe

I've been taught to try to stay out of the dynamics between dogs.  But, I would do the same thing and step in if you feel she isn't able to handle his shenanigans.

I'm the same way for most things, but I think in this case either the other dogs aren't teaching him well enough, or he's clearly just one of those "not listening" types (the Staffy mix I fostered was really dog-friendly, but really rude and could never seem to read the "no" signals of other dogs, no matter how many times he was told by different dogs). Especially when the signals are being ignored, you don't want to risk the older dog needing to use damaging aggression simply because the pup is being a little ignorant of the signs.

He might even benefit from finding some other, dog-savvy strange dogs to play with on his own to help teach him those lessons. Sometimes it takes going outside of the "family" to learn real dogmanners.

 I can do the drag line, the girls don't care.

I do reward him constantly for doing the right thing. Is it possible to be rewarding too much?

He is in puppy class and puppy socialization where he gets off-leash time with other pups.

I have a feeling, with him, he's not reading the signs the girls are giving off. I'm not sure what more I can do to help him understand.

3girls

He is in puppy class and puppy socialization where he gets off-leash time with other pups.

But this isn't necessarily teaching him appropriate dog-skills. Think of putting a bunch of kindergarten children in a room with toys and crayons, and expecting them to learn all life's skills by interacting with those their own age. *G* Would be a bit of a nightmare. Similar things can happen if the only sociailziation your pup gets is through puppy class.

Pups also need access to lots and lots of dog-friendly, dog-savvy adult dogs who will teach them the really important stuff. Most puppy classes these days that I find are worth their weight in gold are puppy classes that involve one or two super-stable adult dogs to act as mediators (along with the humans), and not 'just' all-puppies.

Kim_MacMillan

3girls

He is in puppy class and puppy socialization where he gets off-leash time with other pups.

But this isn't necessarily teaching him appropriate dog-skills. Think of putting a bunch of kindergarten children in a room with toys and crayons, and expecting them to learn all life's skills by interacting with those their own age. *G* Would be a bit of a nightmare. Similar things can happen if the only sociailziation your pup gets is through puppy class.

Pups also need access to lots and lots of dog-friendly, dog-savvy adult dogs who will teach them the really important stuff. Most puppy classes these days that I find are worth their weight in gold are puppy classes that involve one or two super-stable adult dogs to act as mediators (along with the humans), and not 'just' all-puppies.

I'm surprised that no one commented on this, but an 18 week old dog is no longer a puppy, it's an adolescent (think doggy teenager lol), and if he did not receive socialization with other puppies in an appropriate way when he was lots younger, I'm not surprised that he's still inappropriately nippy.  Dogs like this are often in danger of being seriously reprimanded by an adult dog who will no longer recognize "puppy license" but will tell him how obnoxious he really is.  I agree with Kim that some dogs need the mix, and not just puppies who will cave because he's pushier than the others.  What he needs is a savvy adult dog or two or three that will tell him off, but without hurting him. 

 So how do I go about finding these dogs to teach him?

Its strange that he doesn't listen to my girls (not counting Astra). Any foster I ever had listened to them...

 18 weeks is no longer a puppy but an adolescent??? But that's still only 4 1/2 months old...

3girls

 18 weeks is no longer a puppy but an adolescent??? But that's still only 4 1/2 months old...

I consider dogs puppies until they're at least a year old... longer for some other breeds.  Luna (1 year, 4 months) and Apollo (1 year, 9 months) still act very puppy-ish.

I still think of your pup as very much a pup. Adolescence, for me, is the time 6 months and over (some even put it at 8 months, so it is subjective) when hormones start changing, and the brain starts changing itself from puppy to adult brain.

I don't consider a pup a "teen" until six months of age.

Kim_MacMillan

I still think of your pup as very much a pup. Adolescence, for me, is the time 6 months and over (some even put it at 8 months, so it is subjective) when hormones start changing, and the brain starts changing itself from puppy to adult brain.

I don't consider a pup a "teen" until six months of age.

This makes more sense to me.  

Maybe Anne was referring more to the fact that the puppy socialization window is pretty much closed around 16 weeks of age.....  I still consider 18 weeks a puppy but not in terms of being within that socialization window.

JackieG

Maybe Anne was referring more to the fact that the puppy socialization window is pretty much closed around 16 weeks of age.....  I still consider 18 weeks a puppy but not in terms of being within that socialization window.

I definitely agree that there is a crucial socialization window... I don't necessarily think it's closed after 16 weeks.  Adult dogs with little to no socialization as puppies can definitely still be rehabilitatated/socialized.

Rott-n-GSDs

JackieG

Maybe Anne was referring more to the fact that the puppy socialization window is pretty much closed around 16 weeks of age.....  I still consider 18 weeks a puppy but not in terms of being within that socialization window.

I definitely agree that there is a crucial socialization window... I don't necessarily think it's closed after 16 weeks.  Adult dogs with little to no socialization as puppies can definitely still be rehabilitatated/socialized.

I agree that puppies and adults can be rehabilitated to some extent and much depends on exactly what socialization they received during the crucial window.  Defining socialization, in terms of dog behavior and learning, is a thread all by itself. 

My comment was NOT meant to imply that Susan's puppy is beyond being able to benefit from further socialization.  I was simply speculating on what Anne might have been referring to in her comment.