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HELP! Serious Biting Problem

22K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  doggiedad 
#1 ·
My boyfriend and I just brought home an 8 week GS puppy weve had her for almost 2 weeks now and she bites us HARD, any chance she gets.

Feet, hands, arms, face, etc. I feel like its not just puppy nibbling. She has the gumma bones, soft toys and bully sticks, and gets plenty of exercise. We are at a loss at how to curb the biting.

We are starting puppy training in about 2 weeks, any ideas until then??
 
#2 ·
What do you mean, any chance she gets? Is it literally any time you are near her, or is it only when she's active (as in, could you walk into a room while she's tired out and sleeping and she'd still get up and go for you)? How hard are these bites--is she breaking skin and/or refusing to let go, or are they painful nips?

Also, how old is she? Is she 8 weeks old now (you got her at 6 weeks old), or is she 10 weeks old and you brought her home when she was 8 weeks old?

What do you currently do when she bites?
 
#4 ·
What do you mean, any chance she gets? Is it literally any time you are near her, or is it only when she's active (as in, could you walk into a room while she's tired out and sleeping and she'd still get up and go for you)? How hard are these bites--is she breaking skin and/or refusing to let go, or are they painful nips?

Also, how old is she? Is she 8 weeks old now (you got her at 6 weeks old), or is she 10 weeks old and you brought her home when she was 8 weeks old?

What do you currently do when she bites?
We got her at 6 and 1/2 weeks, so she is now 8 weeks.
Anytime we play with her she goes directly for our hands, feet, leg, arm, etc. even if we have toys in our hands and are trying to distract her with the toys. She isn't breaking skin but we definitley have marks all over our bodies. At first they were not painful though they have started to get harder and harder and now she is not wanting to let go which is why I was worried about the biting.

Currently when she bites we just try to do redirection to a toy, as our puppy trainer discourages grabbing the muzzle and/or yelling no at her age.

She does well with the little training weve done at home so far. She is learning sit and come already and does those pretty well for a puppy her age.

Thanks so much !
 
#3 ·
Get a kong ball, maybe the medium one, and roll it for her. She'll chase, then teach her to bring it back ( I do this with having a 2nd ball in my hand t 'tease' her back.

When she drops one, roll the second.

She'll soon be engaged in the game and directed to teeth on ball.

Start traing simple sit (with) treat.
Etc.., etc...

She sounds like a normal GSD pup to me.

Remember, she wants attention, has no 'hands,' and needs mental exercise as much as physical.

Hang in there - this will pass!
 
#5 ·
Sounds like a very normal little GSD puppy.

And don't forget - you got her VERY young and so your baby didn't have a chance to stay with her mother and littermates to learn any bite inhibition, so you will have to teach her that.


AND, some GSDs are just generally very mouthy - our 5yo male GSD is STILL mouthy and loves to grab a hand or an arm. The BIG difference is that he has learned bite inhibition so it is just mouthing (thank goodness!).

That is how dogs communicate and play - with their mouths and the better they learn BI the better. I can now have my 90+lb dog take a tiny biscuit from between my lips (and not have a trip to the ER!).

So also train your dog to take things from your fingers "Gently"!
 
#7 ·
I agree that it sounds very normal. I also have scars from teething puppies, and when they leave their litter young like your dog did, they've missed out on some socialization that probably would have included mom and siblings teaching not to bite so hard. Keep up with the redirection every time she does it and she'll outgrow it.
 
#9 ·
When she bites, say "NO" firmly, and substitute a toy for her to chew on. Or, when she bites (shes trying to play) jump up, scream "OW!", make a huge fuss about it, and go into another room. After a few minutes, go back and play with her, if she does it again, do the same thing. She will eventually catch on to the idea that biting human = losing play buddy. It takes a while to curb, but it worked for my pup.

Also, praise her when she is biting/chewing something she is SUPPOSED to be.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I got WD at 10 weeks and he spend all that tmie with is mom and litter mates but oh boy did he bite. I used all the tips given here already and he is the best dog now.
It is almost crazy but I already am looking at puppies. 6 months ago I vowed to never get sucked into a pup again because of the biting.......
 
#13 ·
Teach your puppy the GENTLE command. I start with taking treats gently. After I have taught the pup that he can have the treat when he takes it gently, Good Gentle. Then I remind the puppy, GENTLE when I have a treat. Pretty soon I can substitute GENTLE for things I want her to be Gentle with .

I tell the girls "Gentle with my fingers."

It works with my girls, though I don't have scars from puppy biting either.

You might want to use the word IPE instead of OW or NO.
 
#14 ·
All of these replies are great! Read as much as you can on the Puppy Section of the forum..read some each day! Even if it doesnt apply to you yet..it will soon. Then, you can decide what information will work for you in conjunction with your trainer. And everyone here loves pictures!!
 
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