Help! Aggressive-playing pup

First, welcome to idog.

Second, get out of your mind that your pup is in ANY way agressive.  He isn't.  He's just playing like he would with his littermates.  THIS IS NORMAL PUPPY BEHAVIOR.

When I have a foster litter in the house, I literally wear a fanny pack full of chew things ALL the time.  When someone decides to chew on me, they get a very GENTLE correction "uh uh, no bite" and redirection to an appropriate chew thing, (THIS is what you can bite)  then praise for chewing on it and not me.  yes, I've gotten up and left the room.....been there, done there, bought the replacement pants!  Try leaving the room with seven pups latched on to your pants!  You just keep going without a look, without a word, you just keep on walking.  Ignore only works if you truly and fully IGNORE.  And that means no looks, no corrections, no nothing but you leaving the room.

It also really helps to catch him doing something RIGHT and praise for that.  When he's laying there and chewing on his toy, notice that and praise to high heaven for doing the RIGHT thing.

This is probably the most trying time of new puppy ownership but with time and patience it WILL pass.  Do remember you've got yourself a lab mix and they don't "get over it" as quickly as some breeds.....labs seem to chew and be puppy like for a whole lot longer than other breeds.  And, they also go through a second chewing stage once the adult teeth come in...and this is ALL pups, so be prepared for that as well.  I start pups as young as 5 weeks on raw marrow bones (most of the marrow removed) just to keep my ankles intact!

This is annoying, it's also normal.  And it WILL pass.  There is a reason pups are so darned cute!

Thank you!  I feel much better about this.  Now to just convince my boyfriend that ignore does work (he is convinced it doesn't work, so he gets much more frustrated about this behavior than I do).  I told him we both have to instill the same same practices with the dog, or he'll just get confused and it won't work.  I do praise him if he's chewing on something appropriate, so I'm glad to hear I'm doing that part right!  When I do try to redirect him to an appropriate chew toy, he still sometimes tries to go for my hands, so that's usually when I will get up and walk away.  Thanks again!!

Oh, I'm glad you are already praising!  So many folks forget that part!

It's important that BOTH of you be on the same page with the pup, and for goodness sakes, get him to read some of the stuff you'll find here.  I've sometimes, although it's rarely needed, used just a bit sharper "EH" when giving the toy if somebody decides to chew on me, but I reserve that "eh" for when I really need it. 

I personally do find it best to leave the room when I want to ignore.  Otherwise I'm sitting there trying to protect body parts from those darned razors pups call teeth and THEY think I'm playing.

Honestly, if I had to rank puppy behaviors, that darned nipping and chewing on ME would be right at the top of my list, over crate training, potty training, anything else, as the toughest to deal with.  You've got to be so darned calm and consistent, and I'm not really all that calm and consistent in REAL life.....just when it comes to the dogs!  And even then, I often have to remind myself to employ those two C's.

When I'm placing pups I remind new families that the most important thing to remember is that "this too shall pass"!

You're not kidding about the razor teeth.  My hands looks like I washed them with barbed wire, ha ha!  I spoke to my boyfriend about your advice, and while he's still skeptical, he says he's on board.  Thank goodness!  He grew up owning dogs, and they used the old-school techniques that are no longer considered appropriate, so he thinks of these kind of techniques as "new wave," and is somewhat hesitant to think they will work.  I think the best way to convince him is for him to see progress, which I think we'll see once we really stick to the plan.  He's already impressed with how quickly the pup, Harry, has learned "sit," "stay," and "go to your crate."  I know with the play-biting we are not always completely ignoring him, so we'll try that (aka-no speaking at all).  Thanks again for all your help.  I have as much to learn as Harry does!!

Ah, yes, the bad old days of raising pups!

Ignore means don't look at Harry too.  And it isn't a fast process, which BF might find frustrating.  But it DOES work.

I will also suggest a training class.....they are worth their weight in GOLD, and will teach YOU how to teach Harry.  BOTH you and BF should go.

But, tell BF if an old broad can handle SEVEN or more little razor laden pups, HE can handle one!    Calm and consistent will win this race.  Promise.

No looking at him...got it!  When we do ignore, how long a period of time should we do this before paying attention to him again?  I've been doing about 30 seconds - 1 minute each time.  Should it be longer? 

I am looking into a trainer as well.  I'm hesitant to go to a pet supply store for this for two reasons.  1 - Too many distractions, 2 - He's still going through his initial vaccine series, so I don't want him exposed to anything (pet supply stores are uncontrolled environments).  I'm thinking more along the lines of a private trainer who will work with all three of us.  I'm getting some recommendations from friends.

I found an article online about play biting that says exactly what you were telling me on how to handle this, so I printed it out to give to my BF.

You're a lifesaver, thank you!!!!!!!!!

Let me add to what Glenmar said, which I completely agree with! He's not aggressive, he's just trying to play and he plays rough. Better to stop it now before he gets BIG too!

Lab are notorious for being nutcases so if you see this little stinker getting riled up, back off on the playing. Be very calm, speak in a calm soothing voice (like you were talking to a crazy person). Wear junky clothes when you are around the little guy and do your best to ignore his attempts to play rough.

 And getting him to understand where to draw the line when playing with us think-skinned humans won't happen overnight-probably it will take about 4-6 weeks, so try not to get frustrated. This is one of the most trying times of having a pup!

Have fun!

aerial1313

No looking at him...got it!  When we do ignore, how long a period of time should we do this before paying attention to him again?  I've been doing about 30 seconds - 1 minute each time.  Should it be longer? 

I am looking into a trainer as well.  I'm hesitant to go to a pet supply store for this for two reasons.  1 - Too many distractions, 2 - He's still going through his initial vaccine series, so I don't want him exposed to anything (pet supply stores are uncontrolled environments).  I'm thinking more along the lines of a private trainer who will work with all three of us.  I'm getting some recommendations from friends.

I found an article online about play biting that says exactly what you were telling me on how to handle this, so I printed it out to give to my BF.

You're a lifesaver, thank you!!!!!!!!!

Don't do the private trainer thing - you NEED your dog to be in a group class with other puppies he can play with.  It's part of his education in learning to inhibit his bite and play nicely!  Try to find a good positive reinforcement trainer (positive doesn't mean permissive - just that reinforcement (reward) is used much more heavily) who has a class where the dogs interact off leash for a bit before class - helps tire them, helps with learning, and helps teach you what's normal play and what's not;-)

Sites where you can find positive trainers:

http://www.clickerteachers.net/clicker/index.php 

http://www.peaceablepaws.com/pages/referrals.asp 

http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=4 

Thanks!  I practiced some of your advice just now.  It worked like a charm!  He was grabbing onto my jeans with his teeth, and I just ignored him completely (couldn't really walk away and go to another room because we were outside in the yard, so I just stood there motionless with my back to him), and after about 30 seconds he realized I wasn't going to react, so he turned his attention to his toy.  Yay!!!  I praised the heck out of him for playing with his toy.  I know it will take some time for him to understand completely, especially since we've let him get away with it up until now, but we're ready and willing now with the excellent advice you guys have given.  Patience is not one of my strong points, so it'll be a learning process for all of us.

I think all my clothes are junky now thanks to him, so it shouldn't be hard to wear clothes I no longer care about around him.  Ha ha!

I've heard that about labs, but also that they are great dogs, so I'm very excited to have him.  I just love him to death and he's proven to be very smart (learned "sit" in about 10 minutes!) and really funny, too.  He makes me laugh so much, and gives great puppy kisses.

spiritdogs

 

Don't do the private trainer thing - you NEED your dog to be in a group class with other puppies he can play with.  It's part of his education in learning to inhibit his bite and play nicely!  Try to find a good positive reinforcement trainer (positive doesn't mean permissive - just that reinforcement (reward) is used much more heavily) who has a class where the dogs interact off leash for a bit before class - helps tire them, helps with learning, and helps teach you what's normal play and what's not;-)

Sites where you can find positive trainers:

http://www.clickerteachers.net/clicker/index.php 

http://www.peaceablepaws.com/pages/referrals.asp 

http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=4 

 

Awesome, thank you!  I'll check into these and see if I can find a good class in my area. 

CoBuHe

Harry is simply adorable.  You are doing all the right things.  Keep it up....patience, patience, and more patience.  And, consistency is key as well.

Thank you **blush**!  I think he's adorable, too (but I'm not biased or anything..haha!).  I'm happy to report that Harry is getting MUCH better about play-biting.  He's getting more interested in his toys, and will play with them independently of us.  He'll toss them and chase them around the house and yard all by himself.  It's hilarious to watch.  We do let him chew on our hands only if he does it softly.

I found an excellent puppy class through the Peaceable Paws referral link, and we've been to two classes so far.  They are so much fun for all of us, and the trainer is fantastic.  Her advice to the class about play-biting was exactly what you guys suggested.  Harry gets along great with the other puppies and they love the off-leash play breaks (they get to play before, after, and for a break or two during the class).  He's learning his obedience commands fairly easily; and we work on them a little bit every day at home.  It's worth the 45-minute drive each way, for sure!!

I had to laugh when I saw your post because my husband and I are going through the same thing with our first puppy. Allie seems to understand now that she is not supposed to bite, but her instincts still tell her too when she gets excited. I hate to yell at her for it because I know she doesn't mean to be rough, but definitely don't want her to think it's okay. We have company a lot, and even though we don't have kids yet, other children do visit occassionally. It can be really scary for a small child if a puppy nibbles on them.

Anyway, I just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading your post, and getting all the advice you did. Thanks for bringing it up!...and good luck! Also, I wish you well with training! Allie has learned a few tricks (sit, stay, and down), and she starts puppy class tomorrow. We're pretty excited! :)