My golden retriever puppy ( she is almost 8 weeks) is constantly biting?

Question

I was told that it is not a good idea to physically punish my puppy, I keep firmly saying "no", but she keeps biting. Every time I raise my voice she barks at me. She is wonderful, she is almost potty trained and she loves her crate, but we can not even play with her, she bites us! Her little teeth are so sharp. What should we do?

She has plenty of toys, but she prefers our fingers.

Answer 1

Hi there, I am a Veterinarian Technician and I hope I can help you!

First of all, congratulations on your new puppy! I love Goldens!!! How exciting! Secondly, I do have two suggestions/strategies to help you stop your puppy from nipping! There are two different types of biting, agressive and play. It sounds as though the puppy is play biting. Please be aware if play biting is not stopped, it can lead to agressive/territorial biting even over something as silly as a sock they want to play with. I am also wondering if it is a quick bite or a clenched on bite, there are different ways to go about those.

Anyways, luckily for you, it is not too late!! The first strategy I would like you to try is something littermates would teach each other when they were very young pups still with mom: Each time your puppy bites you I want you to let out that loud, earpiercing, yelp that I know you have heard from other dogs. That is how other dogs communicate to each other that the behavior is not acceptable.

It is important that you DO NOT yell, hit (not even a tap on the nose!!), or bite your puppy back (trust me, I have seen EVERYTHING! It will create fear in your pup), instead let out a loud yelp. It might take a few times for your puppy to realize what your message is, but remember it is so so important to remain consistant! Don't yelp every other time she bites, yelp each and every time or you will leave your puppy confused as to why sometimes she can bite, and sometimes she can't.

If that doesn't work (it really should if done consistantly!) then you can try to associate a word with a behavior and a consequence. Think when you try to teach your puppy to sit. You associate a word ("Sit!") with a behavior (when they actually it) with a consequence (a cookie, praise, rubs, etc. remember... consequences are not always bad! they are just a result o a choosed behavior!). So apply the whole sit concept to the biting. Your word could be as simple as "Ouch!" (say it sternly, you can use a louder voice, but don't yell) when she bites (behavior) and the consequence (as SOON as your puppy releases from the bite reward them with a cookie, praise, rub, etc. Again, it might take a few tries (ok, maybe a week, so again, stay consistant.

If you feel like the cookies, praise, etc. are not working you could absolutely still use your word "Ouch!" and then immediately pick your puppy up (not in an angry way, just sternly) and put her into her crate for 1 minute. Go on doing your business as she is crated, ignore any barking, crying, eye contact. Then after the minute is up let her out and praise her! Each time you say "Ouch!" and place her in her crate she will associate the behavior (biting) with the consequence (crate).

Dogs are smart and want to please, she will catch on! Just remember to stay calm and assertive!

Answer 2

I have a Golden - he is now 13 months. At that age, he (as well as all other dogs) are all about their mouths (think of human babies - everything in the mouth).

Puppy teeth are sharp - but the good news is, like humans, dogs lose their puppy teeth (just like children lose their baby teeth). Puppy teeth fall out within a year. I've never come across any of my puppies' teeth, however, my neighbor was able to get some of his pup's teeth as they came out. My point is, you may not even notice the teeth leaving as it happens quickly. The good news is that the adult teeth aren't as sharp.

To break your pup of biting, just say a loud "Ouch!" whenever there is a nip and pull your hand away in a hurt manner (even if it didn't really hurt that much). Then give a squeeze on the neck with a gentle "no bite" command. Repeat as needed. The "Ouch!" is their way of learning that they can hurt - and they don't want to hurt you. Puppy teeth are so sharp that they will draw blood (my Dal pup even scarred my Golden pup due to his sharp puppy teeth when they were play-fighting). Dogs learn to play-fight more safely as they age (again like kids - at first they hit hard, but then they learn to play fight better so there's less or no pain).

Keep tons of hard rubber toys around. Soft squeaky toys will be torn apart and the pup may swallow the pieces - so get hard rubber toys (including puppy size kongs). Constantly use the toys when you play. NEVER get an old shoe, pillow or anything else you cherish as a toy. The pup will not differentiate an old shoe from a new shoe. So even though you are playing with an old shoe, one day you may find your new shoes chewed up because the pup thought they were chew toys! My pups leave my shoes alone and always have - they learned their toys quickly and love them.

If you follow these tricks and have some patience, you'll do fine. And as I tried to illustrate, the sharp puppy teeth phase doesn't last long.

Enjoy your new pup!

Answer 3

I know what you are going through and I know how annoying it is! I have a goldendoodle and he is 8 months now and the mostly the nipping has subsided. The first thing I would recommend is to have patience, as hard as it may be! When the puppy bites, yelp loudly, and then leave the room for a couple minutes. This way, they learn that when they bite, they lose their playmate. Also, puppy kindergarten is helpful when you have a new pup. You can talk with other puppy owners and get some good tips. Good luck, and hang in there, it gets better!

Answer 4

when you tell her no then give her a toy ore something she can bite she is teething and it's the time of 6- 8 weeks that the mother and siblings would have taught her how hard to bite this is why dogs shouldn't leave until they are 8 weeks or older.

Answer 5

Go to a pet store and get some apple bitter spray and spray it on your hand, wash hands after you play with your pup. This spray should make the pup not bite at your hands. (Not harmful to anyone). I did this for a week or so and that help with our Golden. I don't recommend physical abuse, that may make your pup be more aggressive. Try it and see!

Answer 6

Yelp loudly the way dogs do to tell each other that is not acceptable and take your hand away, looking hurt. Then give her a toy she can bite and move away from her.

Answer 7

next time she bites grasp her snout and bite her back. not hard but just enough to make her realize it hurts. and say no bite! each and every time do this. Ive had dogs for 40 years and this has always worked for me. after a bit you wont have to do the actual bite. you'll be able to say are you supposed to be biting?
good luck , be consistent with your discipline and all will be fine.

Answer 8

You have to just keep teaching her games she can play with you like fetch or chase or find (the toy). She will turn out fine, but they are mouthy dogs. Keep toys in her mouth.
Don't play tug of war with her, but do play fetch.