HELP! Puppy Biting!

laura1987 · 03-17-2013, 07:55 AM

Hey everyone,

Sorry if there is a post elsewhere for this, I just cant seem to find it!

Zara is 8-9 weeks old and her biting is getting ridiculous. I cant give her any sort of attention without her biting me. This is not soft biting this is now drawing blood. She has lots of toys and she is very well treated, we try placing a toy in her mouth, saying NO in a stern voice, saying ouch even waking away and ignoring her for a few minutes but every time we come back it is just the same again after a few minutes of playing. When she bites she just wont let go!

Zara comes from a reputable breeder who is a family friend.

Does anybody have any suggestions coz my poor hands and feet cant take this anymore!

Thanks Laura

Sunflowers · 03-17-2013, 07:58 AM

Welcome.
Here you go.
Many pages.
Welcome to the official home of the German Shepherd Dog, a dog respected and admired throughout the world for its versatility, loyalty and intelligence. - Search Results for Puppy biting

StellaSquash · 03-17-2013, 08:39 AM

The only thing I remember is that it took a lot of time and patience. If Riley wouldn't stop, she was placed (calmly) in her crate for a short time out. I kept up with the "OUCH" when she would bite and constantly redirected her bitey mouth to an acceptable toy. Over time she got the hang of it, but I don't think it happened overnight. sadly.

I also greatly limited her time with my kids during this phase since it took no time at all for them to whip her into a biting frenzy.

She's now incredibly gentle and can roughhouse with the rest of us, and is very gentle with her mouth. I also made sure to feed her out of my hand, saying "easy" with each bite. She's darn near "dainty" when I feed her something from my hands now.

Whiteshepherds · 03-17-2013, 08:45 AM

It's not something you can teach and be done with it when they're this young, it's a process. Like StellaSquash said, patience, redirect, use the crate. Eventually they do stop, honest.

Sunflowers · 03-17-2013, 08:54 AM

Mine stopped at 5 1/2 months. Until then, nothing worked.

laura1987 · 03-17-2013, 09:29 AM

Aw thanks for replying everyone!

I'm glad it's not just me it's happening/happened to!

knowing you've all been through it makes me realise that it can be done!

Just away to head to the pet shop to get her more toys and hopefully they'll taste better than my hands

Thanks as always

**MaggieRoseLee** · 03-17-2013, 10:11 AM

There's a ton of great info in ---> Welcome to the GSD/FAQ's for the first time owner - German Shepherd Dog Forums

and specifically in --> Puppy biting... Hints and tips to help

Sunflowers · 03-17-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laura1987

Aw thanks for replying everyone!

I'm glad it's not just me it's happening/happened to!

knowing you've all been through it makes me realise that it can be done!

Just away to head to the pet shop to get her more toys and hopefully they'll taste better than my hands

Thanks as always

Just hope she won't lunge and bite your butt, as mine did to me!

laura1987 · 03-17-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunflowers

Just hope she won't lunge and bite your butt, as mine did to me!

Haha! Not happened yet.....

We've had a good day, she seems to have calmed down a lot! I think once she has her 2nd jabs and we can get her out for proper walks she will be a lot better! Just been running in the garden for around 35 mins and now she's asleep on my feet after giving me lots of cuddles!

maybe I should do this more often!

Linda1270 · 03-17-2013, 01:23 PM

Welcome and trust me, as you already know, you are not alone! German Shepherd puppies are notorious land sharks. Both mine and my husband's arms and legs use to be covered in bite marks. The best thing you can do is keep redirecting her to a toy to chew on, rather than yourself. I had to carry a toy with me everywhere and as soon as she'd start, I'd say no and then place a toy in her mouth.

I would also try acting like a tree when she'd get pretty bad, and/or walking away from her, but she would run after me biting at my heels and ankles. She tore a lot of my clothes, jeans, slippers, boots, etc. I use to think I had an aggressive puppy and would lock myself in my bedroom and cry some days thinking it would never end. Trust me, it does, it may take a while but it does eventually end. My girl Tess is 7 months old now and she still can be nippy at times, especially when she's not had enough exercise.

Engage with her as much as you can, tire her out and always keep a toy close by...

Good luck and congratulations on your new puppy!

03-17-2013, 07:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
laura1987 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Posts: 5	HELP! Puppy Biting! Hey everyone, Sorry if there is a post elsewhere for this, I just cant seem to find it! Zara is 8-9 weeks old and her biting is getting ridiculous. I cant give her any sort of attention without her biting me. This is not soft biting this is now drawing blood. She has lots of toys and she is very well treated, we try placing a toy in her mouth, saying NO in a stern voice, saying ouch even waking away and ignoring her for a few minutes but every time we come back it is just the same again after a few minutes of playing. When she bites she just wont let go! Zara comes from a reputable breeder who is a family friend. Does anybody have any suggestions coz my poor hands and feet cant take this anymore! Thanks Laura

03-17-2013, 07:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,661	Welcome. Here you go. Many pages. Welcome to the official home of the German Shepherd Dog, a dog respected and admired throughout the world for its versatility, loyalty and intelligence. - Search Results for Puppy biting __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

03-17-2013, 08:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
StellaSquash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 383	The only thing I remember is that it took a lot of time and patience. If Riley wouldn't stop, she was placed (calmly) in her crate for a short time out. I kept up with the "OUCH" when she would bite and constantly redirected her bitey mouth to an acceptable toy. Over time she got the hang of it, but I don't think it happened overnight. sadly. I also greatly limited her time with my kids during this phase since it took no time at all for them to whip her into a biting frenzy. She's now incredibly gentle and can roughhouse with the rest of us, and is very gentle with her mouth. I also made sure to feed her out of my hand, saying "easy" with each bite. She's darn near "dainty" when I feed her something from my hands now. __________________ Jennifer Riley 2/25/10 Tucker (Lab) 10/10/03 plus assorted cats in different flavors

03-17-2013, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,661	Mine stopped at 5 1/2 months. Until then, nothing worked. __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

03-17-2013, 10:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 24,173	There's a ton of great info in ---> Welcome to the GSD/FAQ's for the first time owner - German Shepherd Dog Forums and specifically in --> Puppy biting... Hints and tips to help __________________ MACH3 Bretta Lee Wildhaus MXG MJG MXF MFB TQX HIT CGC TC Glory B Wildhaus AX, AXJ, XF "*It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."* - Oscar Wilde

03-17-2013, 08:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Whiteshepherds Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northeastern Connecticut Posts: 3,372	It's not something you can teach and be done with it when they're this young, it's a process. Like StellaSquash said, patience, redirect, use the crate. Eventually they do stop, honest.

03-17-2013, 09:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
laura1987 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Posts: 5	Aw thanks for replying everyone! I'm glad it's not just me it's happening/happened to! knowing you've all been through it makes me realise that it can be done! Just away to head to the pet shop to get her more toys and hopefully they'll taste better than my hands Thanks as always

03-17-2013, 01:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Linda1270 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 143	Welcome and trust me, as you already know, you are not alone! German Shepherd puppies are notorious land sharks. Both mine and my husband's arms and legs use to be covered in bite marks. The best thing you can do is keep redirecting her to a toy to chew on, rather than yourself. I had to carry a toy with me everywhere and as soon as she'd start, I'd say no and then place a toy in her mouth. I would also try acting like a tree when she'd get pretty bad, and/or walking away from her, but she would run after me biting at my heels and ankles. She tore a lot of my clothes, jeans, slippers, boots, etc. I use to think I had an aggressive puppy and would lock myself in my bedroom and cry some days thinking it would never end. Trust me, it does, it may take a while but it does eventually end. My girl Tess is 7 months old now and she still can be nippy at times, especially when she's not had enough exercise. Engage with her as much as you can, tire her out and always keep a toy close by... Good luck and congratulations on your new puppy!

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement