playful biting that's painful!!!! HELP

[unibear]

Hi all!!!!

Please help. We recently welcomed our newest puppy Uni into our family. He's 12 weeks old and he's absolutely adorable and we just love him to no end but he seems to have a problem with my 11 year old daughter. She loves to play with him and roll around on the floor, unfortunately, he mistakes her for one of the litter and play bites her with his sharp little teeth. More then once she has walked away with bite marks and scratch marks all over her body and on her face. I try to be there to supervise the play but I'm just not fast enough for that sleek pup : ))). When she says "no" to him it's always in a high pitched whinny voice that sounds like she's playing. Any advice from all you seasoned labradoodle owners???? and thanks in advance.

Alena

[tuffystar]

Welcome Alena. I am not sure what to do but I am sure those that know more will write soon. I just wanted to say Hi and we love pictures!

[Jac]

Hi, welcome!

That is a tough one...as long as your daughter is on the floor, your pup will see her as a littermate...I don't know why but they do...so she should try not to play on the floor while the pup is out, especially when the pup is wild...or you could crate the pup while your daughter plays.

What we do for nipping pups is to (very gently) hold their muzzle closed and say "no bite!" or "close your mouth"...

Another thing to try is when the pup bites to do the opposite from what he wants...stop playing. The reward is playing so if he is not getting the reward, he will probably slow the biting...I strongly suggest that you start training him...when he learns to sit on command or down on command...then stay, you can control him much better...but your daughter also needs to learn how to give commands. Not in a high-happy voice, not a shout, but firm.

There are many good training books (I like McConnell) and really great clicker training ideas (Pryor Clicker Training) that you could look into. Also there are some great articles at Veterinary Partner...here is one about children and dogs...it has some good advice: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=2229

Finally, I always like to teach my dogs the command, "settle" ...it comes in handy! Just rub their chest or belly and when they calm down say, "good settle"...eventually they understand...be consistent...when you see him doing something right, praise him. "good settle" when you see him being calm, even if you didn't tell him to.

Hope this helps!

[unibear]

Thanks for the advice!! Will give it a try. Pictures will definetly follow as soon as I learn to use my new Mac...lol.

[Raleighsmom]

Welcome to the forum Alena and Uni!! With the great advice you've been given here, I'm sure you'll get his nipping under control in no time...Looking forward to pics of Uni when you get a chance!

[deepnite10]

i had problems with Toby mouthing my arm..and ive got the scar s to show for it..

finally i tried some Bitter Orange.. ..and the meaning of *STOP*..

put some on your finger and let him lick it..chance s are he ll gag a bit and not
want to get near it again..then i spray some on my arm where he like to mouth when
he gets excited..just befor the mouthing would start id just say *STOP*..usually after the
second time he came to understand *STOP*

now the *STOP* command stop s him in his tracks till a release given..

[kirama]

put him on a tether, so that your daughter can move out of his reach the second he starts nipping. She (or you) should sharply say "NO" the second he niops, and remove all attention from the puppy until he becomes calm. That means turning your back on him, folding your arms and physically moving from him so he can't continue playing with you. When he calms down (probably no more than 30 seconds) move back to him, pet him, praise him and resume play, if he starts nipping again, just move away again and don't look at him. I would discourage any games that your daughter might play with the puppy that simulate puppy vs. puppy play- it just encourages it! Instead, have her spend her time training the puppy with basic commands, i.e. sit, stay, down using praise and treats, or a clicker if you know how to use one. The main goal here is to teach the puppy that when he does something that displeases you, you will simply deny him all attention. It works, I guarantee it.

[SamsonsMom]

Originally Posted by kirama

he does something that displeases you, you will simply deny him all attention. It works, I guarantee it.

Totally second that - and works for EVERYTHING from jumping up to rough housing - WORKS. Make sure it is immediate though. Henry had a problem of jumping up on me when I first came home. When I saw he was about to jump I immediately turned my back on him and took a step away. They learn pretty quick that whatever they were doing just makes you ignore them and they'll stop doing it.

Be sure to teach that to your lil' one too. A lot of kids will just make a lot of noise yelling NO NO NO, OUCH, etc. A lot of loud high pitched yelling just makes the puppy think you're playing. One sharp NO and turn - no more/no less than that.

[MaxandMe]

ok i am with JAC w/your daughter not playig o the floor at all with him till he matures a bit

another thig you can try it havig your doodle sit i front of you slowly run your semi-closed hand over his muzzle
one hand after another

you can also say good settle adn start to sstroke the head and body
it takes time but will stop but you can also have your daughter do this with you by her side as well

another thing is have your daughter have her hand closed in fists tightly abnd yell OUCH or NO or UHUH sharp loudly and once
then walk away REFUSING TO look or acknowlege your puppies presence

little kids and puppies hate to be ignore.......or the latter above works with jumping (the igoring thing)

OB classes are great and your doodle is at an awesome age for one