Okay, so I have to ask... met our pup at 6 weeks, he gently gnawed on my finger...

Mog · 03-19-2013, 03:27 PM

Will it get a lot worse? LOL My daughter and I went to see and meet our pup when he was 6 weeks and a day old. We're picking him up this Saturday!

Out of the pups, he was the mouthiest. The others jumped up and licked/kissed. He jumped up and bit my nose

But after a few minutes, he laid on my lap and gently gnawed on my finger with his back teeth.

I keep hearing all the landshark stories and I'm really concerned about my goofball (daughter). Do the teeth get sharper before they get their adult teeth in? When he was gently gnawing on my finger, I didn't feel any sharp teeth at all. But on the other hand, I didn't want to feel around his mouth and provoke him

I guess I just had a different experience in mind when we went to meet the pups and was sort of surprised by not having any blood/cuts

Were the pups just being nice to the strangers? lol

Actually, his nails were sharper than his teeth seemed...

Thanks!

carmspack · 03-19-2013, 03:29 PM

don't provide your finger for a rewarding chew experience

blehmannwa · 03-19-2013, 03:32 PM

Yes they are landsharks and puppy teeth are sharp! Forewarned is forearmed. There is a lot of great info on the puppy pages as to how to deal with this. I provide lots of toys to chew on and I redirect. You might also look into getting some bitter apple spray to deter chewing on furniture etc. I'm missing part of a stair due to puppy teeth!

qbchottu · 03-19-2013, 03:33 PM

They are too young - wait until they get older. Might get one that doesn't bite - it happens.

Some litters are different at that age...vocal, confident, walking around, exploring, mouthing everything....some not so much. One pup jumped up and bit me in the face at that age - it was love at first sight (bite?)

Sunflowers · 03-19-2013, 03:34 PM

Don't let him chew on your finger.
And I suspect if he is mouthy now, he will be very mouthy for months to come. Hans was not mouthy... at first.

Mog · 03-19-2013, 03:45 PM

Thanks, I'm expecting him to be a real mouthy little guy

And no, I won't let him chew on my finger. We were just meeting the pups, so he jumped up on my lap and started licking, then gnawing on my finger.

Believe me, I've read more than I care to about the landshark stage

I was just surprised he was being gentle. Redirection, bite inhibition, you name it... I'm as ready as I'll ever be

Bear GSD · 03-19-2013, 03:50 PM

Agree with everyone else, don't even give him the chance to chew on your finger. I would immediately replace it with a toy.
I think even in a week pups will learn some bite inhibition from their mother and siblings, which is part of the reason why people strongly suggest not removing them from the litter before 7 weeks of age.

I'm hoping for your's and your daughter's sake that he's not too much of a landshark, mine was a landshark (or shall I say a Great White) until he was about 10-11 months old

Neko · 03-19-2013, 04:12 PM

Hi Mog,
Tanya Consaul's Photos | Facebook - this photo does not show how bad it really is.

Anyone I talked to said that if your hands are not bleeding, than you are not playing with your puppy =)

We are working on redirecting and puppy school will help, but German Shephards are known to be piranhas when they are young. We knew what we were getting into so no shock here. But ya my hands, legs and feet are bleeding! and I still love him!

Annie's Mom · 03-19-2013, 04:38 PM

i can still recall the day i called a friend crying. i was sure i had made the worst mistake in the world with getting my pup. i convinced myself i had to stick it out instead of getting rid of her. i just knew she would be abused by any other person that had to put up with her mouthing. my hands were a mess for a month.

it finally calmed down and we are now on to adult teeth. i love my puppy again.

i am unsure of your daughter's age, but if she is excitable and easily stressed by the mouthing ... that will in turn excite the pup and make it worse. your daughter should always be armed with something to put in that pup's mouth when she is holding it.

Kdh2259 · 03-19-2013, 06:08 PM

I hate to say it, but I'm so glad I'm not the only one being eaten alive by their GSD puppy

I love my little man so much but OUCH! He is my first german shepherd and due to the fact that i rescued him off the street, i wasn't totally prepared when i first brought him home. I feel so much better knowing this behavior is totally normal though haha His adorable face makes up for all the chewing he does any way

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03-19-2013, 03:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Apex, NC (outside of Raleigh) Posts: 355	Okay, so I have to ask... met our pup at 6 weeks, he gently gnawed on my finger... Will it get a lot worse? LOL My daughter and I went to see and meet our pup when he was 6 weeks and a day old. We're picking him up this Saturday! Out of the pups, he was the mouthiest. The others jumped up and licked/kissed. He jumped up and bit my nose But after a few minutes, he laid on my lap and gently gnawed on my finger with his back teeth. I keep hearing all the landshark stories and I'm really concerned about my goofball (daughter). Do the teeth get sharper before they get their adult teeth in? When he was gently gnawing on my finger, I didn't feel any sharp teeth at all. But on the other hand, I didn't want to feel around his mouth and provoke him I guess I just had a different experience in mind when we went to meet the pups and was sort of surprised by not having any blood/cuts Were the pups just being nice to the strangers? lol Actually, his nails were sharper than his teeth seemed... Thanks! __________________ Alex & Brianna (daughter) Maximus - Male Sable - Born 1/30/2013

03-19-2013, 03:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
carmspack Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: ontario - Posts: 5,526	don't provide your finger for a rewarding chew experience __________________ Carmen ******** Carmspack**

03-19-2013, 03:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,672	Don't let him chew on your finger. And I suspect if he is mouthy now, he will be very mouthy for months to come. Hans was not mouthy... at first. __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

03-19-2013, 03:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Apex, NC (outside of Raleigh) Posts: 355	Thanks, I'm expecting him to be a real mouthy little guy And no, I won't let him chew on my finger. We were just meeting the pups, so he jumped up on my lap and started licking, then gnawing on my finger. Believe me, I've read more than I care to about the landshark stage I was just surprised he was being gentle. Redirection, bite inhibition, you name it... I'm as ready as I'll ever be __________________ Alex & Brianna (daughter) Maximus - Male Sable - Born 1/30/2013

03-19-2013, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bear GSD Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 1,930	Agree with everyone else, don't even give him the chance to chew on your finger. I would immediately replace it with a toy. I think even in a week pups will learn some bite inhibition from their mother and siblings, which is part of the reason why people strongly suggest not removing them from the litter before 7 weeks of age. I'm hoping for your's and your daughter's sake that he's not too much of a landshark, mine was a landshark (or shall I say a Great White) until he was about 10-11 months old __________________ Bear GSD 10/16/11 Elsa GSD 12/23/03 - 11/10/11

03-19-2013, 03:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
blehmannwa Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,128	Yes they are landsharks and puppy teeth are sharp! Forewarned is forearmed. There is a lot of great info on the puppy pages as to how to deal with this. I provide lots of toys to chew on and I redirect. You might also look into getting some bitter apple spray to deter chewing on furniture etc. I'm missing part of a stair due to puppy teeth!

03-19-2013, 03:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
qbchottu Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,714	They are too young - wait until they get older. Might get one that doesn't bite - it happens. Some litters are different at that age...vocal, confident, walking around, exploring, mouthing everything....some not so much. One pup jumped up and bit me in the face at that age - it was love at first sight (bite?)

03-19-2013, 04:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Neko Master Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: St Petersburg Posts: 932	Hi Mog, Tanya Consaul's Photos \| Facebook - this photo does not show how bad it really is. Anyone I talked to said that if your hands are not bleeding, than you are not playing with your puppy =) We are working on redirecting and puppy school will help, but German Shephards are known to be piranhas when they are young. We knew what we were getting into so no shock here. But ya my hands, legs and feet are bleeding! and I still love him! __________________ Zeus {aka Ymka Von den Oher Tannen} - Red/Black 01-07-2013

03-19-2013, 04:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Annie's Mom Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 75	i can still recall the day i called a friend crying. i was sure i had made the worst mistake in the world with getting my pup. i convinced myself i had to stick it out instead of getting rid of her. i just knew she would be abused by any other person that had to put up with her mouthing. my hands were a mess for a month. it finally calmed down and we are now on to adult teeth. i love my puppy again. i am unsure of your daughter's age, but if she is excitable and easily stressed by the mouthing ... that will in turn excite the pup and make it worse. your daughter should always be armed with something to put in that pup's mouth when she is holding it.

03-19-2013, 06:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kdh2259 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 8	Okay, so I have to ask... met our pup at 6 weeks, he gently gnawed on my finger... I hate to say it, but I'm so glad I'm not the only one being eaten alive by their GSD puppy I love my little man so much but OUCH! He is my first german shepherd and due to the fact that i rescued him off the street, i wasn't totally prepared when i first brought him home. I feel so much better knowing this behavior is totally normal though haha His adorable face makes up for all the chewing he does any way Sent from Petguide.com Free App

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