Hey everyone,

It's been awhile since I've posted on here, since Royce was (surprisingly) on a good puppy streak. But this past month, it seems as though something has clicked and he's forgotten how great of a dog he can be.
One thing that he hasn't seemed to change one bit, is his biting habits. He has toys pretty much all around the house, but he thinks our (and our family and friends) body parts are more fun to chew on. He's 8 1/2 months old now and we were told that he would be over his biting phase by now, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Pretty much, throughout the entire day, when he goes through his bits of energy, he'll run up to me and start to bite down on my hands, to which I'll jerk back and yell (which I know isn't a good reaction, but it's like there's nothing I can do about it). Although, he's doing a lot better with me, but my wife is a different story. If she's taking a nap on the couch, he'll constantly bite at her face and hands. It's obvious that he's doing it playfully, because if we yell "OW" or yell, he'll let go.

The main problem we've noticed, is that we've done the training methods of making him uncomfortable whenever he bites, such as grabbing his muzzle and lightly keeping it shut, folding his lip under his teeth, and lately, stick a finger down his throat whenever he tries to bite. It seems as though no matter what we do, he thinks it's a game and will just try to bite again. We also purchased a muzzle at one point, but after about 10 minutes of wearing it, he figured out how to get it off.

Is there something else we can do? Is this just a looongggg puppy phase?

How long did you use each method for?

We have the same problem, except our puppy (Jethro) is still quite young- he is 12 weeks on Friday... we have been consistent with our methods- we hold his mouth shut until he calms (usually around 10 or so seconds) but as soon as we let go, he starts up again...

I know he is just a puppy, but I am looking forward to more experienced owners advice as it is very trying, and my hands and feet are sore!!!

With every method, we've used it for about a month or so and honestly, it's never made a difference.

How much exercise does your pup get? It could be a mixture of his teenage years beginning and pent up energy.

The way that I read it was that he has had this issue since he was a puppy.. Is that correct? If so, did you ever put him in any type of obedience class? Ever brought in a trainer? If I am not reading that correctly, then just ignore this part .

Have you tried walking away and ignoring him when he bites? When you need to correct a problem, you can't look for the "easy" way out. There really is no quick fix for 95% of the problems you will run into with dogs. It takes time and patience. If you keep giving up, he will never learn that he NEEDS to listen to you. He will just think that you will give up and he can go back to doing whatever he wants.

I personally am not a fan of those training methods, but to each his own. There are lots of different training methods, but the key is to STICK to them. It's frustrating, trust me we all know, but you will never get results if you don't stick to your guns!

There are a lot of different bite inhibition threads, check them out. Train him like he is an eight week old puppy that you are just bringing home.

Also I am curious, does he do this with dogs? Or is just people? A lot of dogs to ME it seems like have no bite inhibition not only with their people, but with playmates. Was he well socialized as a puppy? I could be way off base with this lol, so take it for what it's worth.

If you use the nose grab, it's not just holding the mouth closed, the most important part is eye contact and leaving the play session after they become calm and going to a place that they cannot follow you.

Hm. If he is responding to the yelping, I'd stick with that method. The most important thing is to end play and go to a room where he can't get to you. As for the biting and nipping at the face, I'd keep him contained or leashed to an area till he is getting the "no bite" and the "soft mouth". But that's just what I would do. I still leash kale up in the living room when we are in the kitchen cooking because he is a sneaky bastard and counter surfs (work in progress). Lol

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It's obvious that he's doing it playfully, because if we yell "OW" or yell, he'll let go.

I agree that the Yelp is obviously effective so I would keep on that route. If he stops even for a second it shows that he understand by you making that noise something isn't right.

Be sure to stop all interaction with him right after you yelp. Completely ignore him to the point you aren't even making eye contact. Don't even look his way until he gives up and either lays down or moves on to a calm activity.

If he comes back with a toy is his mouth he isn't calm yet. He needs to understand that when you yelp like that all play will stop.


You can also separate him from the area; a time out if you will. It is probably the way I would deal with it if he nipped me while I was sleeping like he does to your wife.

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We also purchased a muzzle at one point, but after about 10 minutes of wearing it, he figured out how to get it off.

Then the muzzle was defective, not sized properly for him, or not placed on him correctly. No offense intended, and in all honesty I wouldn't use one in this case unless a child was coming over, but they should not be able to slip out of a muzzle ever. That defeats the purpose.

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and lately, stick a finger down his throat whenever he tries to bite.

Trigger a gag reflex for a bite can indeed work, but it is very high risk to get the point across. It has to be done right or you just risk getting your fingers bit when you remove them. It isn't something I would normally suggest to new dog owners just because I prefer the dog and human avoid any chance to add injury to the mix.

I also don't advocate extending fingers.

If you do continue to use it, and again I wouldn't in this case, make sure he pushes your hand out of his mouth by himself. Either by pushing it out with his tongue or just coughing it out.



Stick with the Yelping though as it sounds like it is effective and could work if you build off it properly.

~Chris~

Keep in mind that it is not unusual at all for a puppy to go through two mouthy/chewing phases. The first is usually while they are fairly young and teething, the second usually hits when they are a bit older and in the teenage phase. All dogs experience their world with their mouth. Just because they put something in their mouth doesn't mean they are trying to be mean or hurtful they are experiencing it. So this is perfectly normal to still be addressing this problem.

That said puppy teeth hurt and its something you definitely don't want your adult dog doing. So keep at the yelping! As far as jerking back and yelping being the wrong reaction, it isn't, it communicates on a very instinctual level that what your pup did hurt you. Just start following it with a time out or no play so your pup also knows it is followed with a consequence.

With Saphire, we followed the yelp with the command "no teeth" and then ended play. After she calmed down and moved on to something else we would resume play until it happend again. She isn't perfect at it yet, even though she is less than one week from her first birthday, but she is MUCH better. Now a warning of "no teeth" is usually all I have to give.