Puppy won't stop chewing me!

I know that my 8 wk old (lab/husky/GSD mix?) is not really trying to eat me but it is certainly feeling that way. :sad: I understand about mouthing, and pups exploring, but she is really starting to bite hard. I also know that she left mom/sibs way to soon and that I have to teach her these things but the techniques I am using do not seem to be working. I have searched this site, and found the suggestion of pressing on the tongue and telling her "quit", which I have been trying consistently for the last three days, but she just bites harder (she also bite ankles). I have also tried the "windshield wiper" to teach her my space, and that she needs to be calm to get into my space. After 15 minutes of her charging and biting, my arms were worn out, and I gave up, got up on the couch and ignored her. Every time I get in the floor, and almost every time I reach to pet her (while standing or sitting on the couch), I am getting bit. On the rare occasion that she is calm, and not biting, as soon as I tell her she is being good, or reach to pet her as praise, she bites. She has plenty of chew toys that she likes, and I do give her those when she lets me go. We are working on "leave it", I think she is starting to get that idea, with toys, but it doesn't work at all on hands yet (I do have hope). She is doing everything else GREAT, house breaking (ringing the bell to go out is wonderful, thanks for the tip), sit works even when the starts chasing the cat, and she sits until I tell her it is ok to eat. But I really need to get the biting under control, and I am not seeing any improvement. Am I trying to teach her too many things at once? Do I just need to keep doing what I am doing, will consistency and persistence work? I know she is young, but I need some positive re-enforcement, please tell me that I can help her grow out of this! :pray:

First, take a deep breath, it sounds like you're doing fine. :thumbs up

So have you tried the 'Ouch' method, as in say Ouch when she mouths you ina hurt voice, stand up and ignore her for 30 seconds or so (longer if she's jumping about), and go back to playing? That works rather well.

Word of warning, you will end up with a two year old dog who greets people by licking them if you lay the prais on too thick if she licks you instead of mouthing you... Its better, but it gets to be annoying real fast. ;)

I also have a husky who was mouthy when he was a puppy. The "Ouch" method worked for me but it took until he was at least three months old before he stopped.

Have you signed her up for puppy obedience classes yet? :dog:

I also have a husky who was mouthy when he was a puppy. The "Ouch" method worked for me but it took until he was at least three months old before he stopped.

Have you signed her up for puppy obedience classes yet? :dog:

Maybe if you praise when the pup brings you a toy it might go faster? They mouth to play so in essence, you're teaching them a new way to play and interact. Three months doesn't seem all that long really

Umm, my boy is now 21 months old. I haven't had a problem for 1 1/2 years. :o

Oh ya, sorry, that comment was more directed to the OP, just so they know to be patient, that it won't happen over night, and that 8 months really isn't all that long.

This was a huge problem with our APL pup last year. We found out she had been dumped at about 4 weeks old so there were a lot of things she didn`t learn from her mom. We are still working on problems with fearfulness. Anyway, we used the "ouch" & the other methods you are doing, plus giving her something ok to chew when she was "bitey". She did outgrow it, but still is a bit mouthy & loves to chew on things she shouldn`t. I don`t remember exactly, but I think she was about 3-4 months old before it got better.
There is hope! :fingerscr

Walnut didn't grow out of this 'til she was probably 4 months old.
We did all the methods and she kept doing it (though she'd slow down little by little) and one day she just quit.
Now she NEVER chews on hands or even puts them near her mouth (except to lick :) ).
I guess she just decided one day she didn't need to chew on hands anymore, lol.
Of course at 4 months when she stopped chewing on hands, that's when she started teething and chewing on my coffee table, but that was a lot easier to break her of, and when she was done teething she didn't pay attention to furniture anymore anyway.

I understand about mouthing, and pups exploring, but she is really starting to bite hard

Puppy teeth hurt, I used to have little puncture marks all over my hands.
Just remember that she's not TRYING to hurt you, she's only 8 weeks old and eventually she should stop.

Have you signed her up for puppy obedience classes yet?
Isn't taking her to any training/obedience class a bit too young for an eight week old puppy?? She is still little.

No. When I took my husky he was 4 months old and the oldest pup in the class. Most of them were 3 months and the youngest was 2 months. :dog:

There are socialization classes geared specifically to younger puppies.

Hey! I took little Sydney to my sister's for a visit this weekend (I stayed to visit also) and let her play with my sister's 2 well-behaved, adult dogs, and my nieces and nephew (all the kids are great with animals). Things are getting better. The "ouch" just seems to excite her, but my sister's dogs respond to the "wrong answer" noise (like game shows have....eeernk) they seem to have taught her that that sound means "stop what ever you are doing" it is working for now. Still using lots of praise when she is good, and when she responds to the sound. I have not signed her up for obedience classes yet, I was under the impression that she needed 3 sets of shots first (she has only had one, the next set will be the end of this month). We WILL be taking some classes. I think we are on our way! :cloud9:

Glad to hear there is improvement. :thumbs up

The "eeernk" noise is good too. It's basically just any noise to distract and get their attention. The "ouch" noise works best if it is done affirmatively in a high pitched voice. But stick with what is working for you.

Keep us updated when she goes to school. :dog: :pawprint: