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Lab puppy's favourite thing to bite

julesuoft
April 1st, 2005, 01:25 PM
I have one major problem/ behaviour that I can't seem to stop my 12 week old lab from doing. I know that puppies have a biting/nipping problem but my puppy loves to bite my pants/socks when I'm around her. She does it to my husband too but when he yells out "No, no biting" - she runs in the opposite direction and plays with her toys. When I do it, she thinks it's a game - and lunges towards me for another bite.

Methods I've tried:
1) "holding her down like I'm her mom" technique but it doesn't work.
2) the "yelping" technique - I think that just encourages her even more
3) crossing my arms/walking away - doesn't care, she just goes after my pants

I originally thought it might have to do with the fact that I was the one feeding her so now, my husband and I take turns doing it. I know she is doing it for fun because she actually likes me more than my husband. (She follows me everywhere I go, likes to chew her toys on my lap)

What else can I try? She's growing more teeth now and she's getting stronger so sometimes, her bites will hurt. Is it because my voice is higher than my husband? PLEASE HELP!! :confused:

Gripenfelter
April 1st, 2005, 02:00 PM
Sounds exactly like what my pup used to do and I was afraid he would never stop.

You have to be persistent.

My puppy used to attack my socks and legs when I wore jeans.

I would yelp, get up, and walk away with my back towards the puppy. I would then get up on a bed or walk into the bedroom and close the door behind me and let him whine for a couple of minutes. When he seemed to calm down I would open the door.

Or you could give the puppy a time-out by putting her in another room for a few minutes. Make sure there is nothing in the room she can destroy or swallow etc. Don't use her kennel/crate to punish her.

Usually 5-10 mins is more than enough time.

My pup is 17 weeks old now and hardly ever bites now unless I'm doing something to him he doesn't like (trimming his claws or wiping his feet). If he does bite its very lightly.

nymph
April 1st, 2005, 02:53 PM
This is just something I do: I don't let my puppy play on my lap or on the sofa where he's relatively at my eye level. He can sleep or snuggle right beside me or on my lap, but no playing. The minute he starts to chew/nip me, I put him down on the floor, and give him his toy to chew.

I agree with Gripenfelter, you probably just need to stick to your way of enforcing the rules, and keep doing it. There was a period of time when my puppy Diego kept chewing on things he was not supposed to chew, and there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel, I too was very desperate, so I totally understand your frustration, but you need to hang in there, be consistent, and be patient.