At what age is biting no longer normal puppy behavior?

[mdrichey]

Clementine is 6 1/2 months old. She bites us when she is feeling very playful or upset (such as when we take away from her something she should not be chewing on). Usually her bite inhibition is okay and her bites don't hurt very much, but once in a while they are very painful. They don't draw blood but can leave red marks or bruises.

Is this still normal puppy behavior or is it time to start getting concerned? She is well behaved other than the biting. She has had 3 puppy training classes and is very well socialized.

Here she is, on 10/8 at 5 1/2 months.

[Ace's Place]

I'm not a trainer but I think its still normal for the age and this breed. Ace is almost a year now and seems to have grown out of that within the last month or two. Of course that is with giving correction - no, off, leave it - as it happened.

If Clementine is getting enough exercise, discipline, affection (in Cesar's words) she would be getting out of this stage eventually. Just know tho that pups go through an adolescent phase between 6 and 8 months where they want to test everything you taught them as a baby. Stay consistent.....good luck!

[Moe]

I just read a dog behavior book that discussed this. It said to say ouch in a loud voice and leave the room, no more playing with the puppy. Every time the puppy bites ignore it. It said that it will eventually learn to play nice. I don't have a dog yet so I have no idea if this really works. Good luck!

[mdrichey]

Originally Posted by Ace's Place

I'm not a trainer but I think its still normal for the age and this breed. Ace is almost a year now and seems to have grown out of that within the last month or two. Of course that is with giving correction - no, off, leave it - as it happened.

If Clementine is getting enough exercise, discipline, affection (in Cesar's words) she would be getting out of this stage eventually. Just know tho that pups go through an adolescent phase between 6 and 8 months where they want to test everything you taught them as a baby. Stay consistent.....good luck!

I think she is very much in her "bratty teenager" phase right now. Thank you!

[warcopwife]

We are at almost 6 months with our Doodle, and she is still totally in the puppy gnawing phase. We do the loud yip, or ouch, when she bites too hard, but that does not happen often. She is not our first puppy, so I know I won't worry about her gnawing on us for a couple more months.

[deepnite10]

mouthing is normal puppy behavior..it s a form of play and they learn their chewing strength..of course its not good if they re mouthing you as hard as they re trying to chew a doggie bone..

i ve really tried hard to learn how it s mother would handle this problem if the pup started mouthing her too hard..

mother s dont punish..rather correct..

i found that when Toby began to mouth..i d lay him on his side and lay my body across him and say *NO*..atleast this this work d on Toby..they have to learn that this not something not tolerated..

though i feel they outgrow most puppy behaviors that can be annoying..i always keep in mind that many doodle stay puppies for a long time..*maybe forever?*..so the correction must be made rather than hoping they ll outgrow the behavior..