[Bailey's Mamma]

OK - I have a really big problem that I am hoping someone can help me with. Bailey is 3 1/2 months old and although I can appreciate that he is still a baby, my kids and I are going crazy. Bailey has gotten into biting - not just our hands and feet, but our clothing as well. He has destroyed my son's brand new Under Armor shirt, and put holes in god knows how many shirts, pairs of pants, sweaters, jackets, and socks. It doesn't matter if it is hanging up or on our bodies. I don't know what to do - he DOES NOT do this to my husband and it is causing major problems because all I hear is, "He doesn't do that to me." HELP!

 

[tibvixie101]

what do you do when he nips and tears your clothing? Maybe hes not understanding hes not allowed to do this. And also if he isnt doing it to your husband try thinking how he reacts with the dog compared to you and your kids. Maybe your husband is doing something that shows bailey hes the boss, that you and your kids arent??

 

[Amaruq]

Redirect him with an appropriate toy. Puppies do not really need to be shown "who the boss is" per se. They need fair and CONSISTENT leadership. Would you show a 1 year old baby who the boss is when he reaches for the hot stove?

 

[doggiedad]

the old nip and rip stage. you have to train him not to do those things. i was pretty lucky. mine tore up some magazines, corner of the sofa, corner of a bureau, the tv remote. i had to start crating him more. i was a little to lenient with him. he had full run of the house from day one. we kept a watchfull out on him. he only got into trouble when we weren't home. he's 9 months old now. now we crate him whenever we leave the house. so keep an eye on him, correct him when he nips and crate him more. i was never a fan of the crate but i am now. i think he likes his crate because he'll go in it on his own and nap or take toys or bones in it to play with.

 

[Maryn]

I feel your pain!
Reich is at the same stage. If I'm walking she can't resist the pant legs, the kids' shorts, underwear, pants....and ohhhhh my does she love socks.
She'll also steal the newspaper, papertowels, coloring books, or any papers books on the coffeetable...she loves to shred.
Fortunately she learned 'leave it' and 'drop it' pretty quick. I redirect with a toy most of the time, but if I'm in the middle of something and just can't do it at that moment those commands are invaluable!

 

[scannergirl]

Yes, I agree with the crate idea. My 15 week old never gets the run of the house alone- when she's out with the family someone's always watching her- if she's in a mood where she's just acting nuts into her crate she goes for a few minutes but that does not happen often.
What we do is make sure we give plenty of attention to her when she's acting the way we want her to, and none when she isn't. Your puppy either does not know that she's not allowed to do that, or gets fun attention when she does, or a combination of both. Even negative attention is better than no attention, so removing any attention will make her unwanted behavior have no payoff.

Also is she getting enough exercise? I can't believe how important that is to her mental health. My dog anyway needs lots.

Where is she getting these items? Sounds like you need to do more puppy proofing in the areas she's in. And please be careful- this could be a serious issue if she should swallow a sock like mine did and it got obstructed and I have to have it removed surgically. I would not have thought it was physically possible, but thank God I saw her do it and then later that day when she started vomiting I knew why. Otherwise I might have waited longer to take her in and lost her.

 

[Maryn]

Definitely crate more, and restrict access in the house. My dogs are only allowed in 4 rooms on the first floor total. Gate on the steps, so no upstairs into bedrooms or laundry baskets.
1 of the rooms is actually all theirs -for now-. It's an un-finished den/game room/playroom that needs a section of the floor replaced. Their crates and toys are in there, and that's all.

Make sure you keep everything you want intact, out of reach. It really can be harder than it sounds.
My girl likes to lay at my feet under the computer stand when I'm on here.
Last week I did not realize until it just mysteriously stopped working, that although I saw/felt NO movement and thought she was asleep.......she chewed through my keyboard cable!!!!!!!!!!!
Laying right there..ON my feet...and I had no clue.
BAD OWNER neglected to assure all PC wires were bundled up securely and out of reach.

They're like babies, who put everything in their mouths to check it out..only they have teeth and reeeaaalllllyyyy like using them.

 

[elsie]

oh my this post brings back memories... nightmares more like.
dylan was so bad, i'd have to put him in the crate so i could get dressed. as soon as he saw me go for clothing, he grab hold and not let go. dh summized it as this: "getting dressed means leaving the house, thus, being left alone, locked in the crate. clothes are the enemy. destroy the clothes and momma can't go anywhere." this lasted until i broke-down the crate (many of his behavior problems went away when the crate went down the cellar). i know this is not giving you any adivse, just sharing my experience.

 

[frenchie27]

Mine is kinda the same way. He is 4 mos. and a week old now. He has gotten a little bit better but still bites and bites hard, not only clothing but hands and feet. His teeth are as sharp as razor blades. My hands now look like I was in a fight with Edward Scissorhands and my feet look like I walked through a bed of roses

. No joke. He's better with my husband too. I do admit I am his mommy and maybe spoil him a little. But I do let him know it hurts a lot and I just stop playing all together when he does this. He also loves to jump and bite shirt or jacket when I walk him. That is really anoying

. He's ripped clothes while doing this. I started taking treats on walks now and praise him when he's good. It has helped, but it sure needs more improvement. How long is this stage gonna last? Hopefully not long.

 

[scannergirl]

The trainer at my puppy class identified nipping as a problem with Lucy, and he used the following method to correct it. He has a treat in his hand, holding it between his thumb and index finger. He offered it to her and if she nipped (which she did at first of course) he said "OUCH" and pulled the treat away. He would even turn his back on her. He kept this up until she would lick at his fingers rather than nip, and then she got the treat and a click. He said we should practice it at home and we do- she never nips anymore and it seems to have carried over to other situations. But every once in a while she does lose her little puppy mind.....
I was taking a nap on the couch (which she's not allowed on) and she was chewing a toy on her bed today. I know she's got painful teething today- whimpering a little, bit of blood on the rawhide and incessant chewing. Anyway, she all of the sudden took a flying leap onto the couch and landed on my head. Then she bit my head, hard. What a rude awakening.
I'm very glad there was no aggressiveness associated with it- just puppy stuff. I will be glad when this stage ends too. She's a very good girl- she just lost it for a second.

 

[StGeorgeK9]

It's funny, it was the opposite in my house, she didnt nip me much, but did nip more at my husband and the girls too (they are 18 and 23). I noticed that they all gave in to her, and would try to push her away instead of getting a toy to put in her mouth, a tug or a Kong or even a stuffy (with supervision of course) or saying ow, and crossing my arms and ignoring her, same as for jumping up. They do outgrow it.....but Ava never shredded clothes or anything so I'm lucky there....but I have been ambused a time or 2

 

[DHau]

I can understand your frustration. My puppy acted the same as yours at Baily's age. Tosca is now 6 months old but still does the attacking of shoes and clothes once in a while. I have come to realize it's how everybody reacts to the bad behavior. Tosca would attack my hands, shoes and pants as a puppy and I would correct her firmly or redirect with a toy while the other family members just complained about it. I would explain to the family what was happening and how to correct it but it just went in one ear and out the other. I have learned that with your commands you must be loud and firm in discipline otherwise the dog won't take your seriously. It'll get better as the dog matures.

 

[big_dog7777]

What a wonderful little land shark. Redirect the biting, exercise him to keep him balanced, and crate him periodically to keep yourself sane and your interaction positive.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

Your problem is so common with the rest of us and our GSD puppies we even made this into a sticky:

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=153716&page=1#Post153716

Good luck!