My puppy is biting too hard and drawing blood. What can I do?

It sounds like Rosey needs some guidance on what is and is not considered appropriate behaviour for a puppy. Puppies use their mouths to play and to explore the world around them, but need to learn that it is not ok to bite humans. It is important to help her develop bite inhibition and redirect her to an appropriate activity, as well as to teach her that biting humans means they won’t play with her until he calms down. Visit the following link for more information on how to work on these goals at home https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-puppies. I also strongly recommend working one on one with a reputable trainer to help set boundaries for Rosey, as basic puppy classes at a pet shop are good for socialization, but may not be enough to address Rosey’s biting problem. Visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/behavioral-help-your-pet for information on how to find behaviour help near you. You can also work directly with a board certified veterinary behaviourist, as they are the experts in the field, and have resources and training available that make them the most likely to be able to help Rosey. See the following link for more information http://www.dacvb.org/resources/for-the-public/Regular exercise and enrolling Rosey in a puppy class to help her burn off some excess energy and learn how to play appropriately are also important steps you can take to help her succeed. It is also essential to make sure she is up to date on her vaccinations, particularly her rabies vaccine, as a dog who bites (even in play) can be a potential health risk for animals and people around them.

There is a risk that the bites could cause an infection. Make sure to clean the wounds thoroughly and monitor for signs of infection. That is very concerning that the puppy is biting hard enough to make you bleed and you should consult with an animal behaviorist to help resolve this behavior before he is fully grown.

Is the biting aggressive or puppy behavior? If you are seeing snarling, bared teeth, growling and then biting to the point of drawing blood, that indicates an aggressive approach and you should consult with a veterinary behaviorist in your area ASAP. If it is the typical puppy behavior, usually done with hopping and nipping, wiggly body, while playing, etc, then it seems that you just need more time and patience with Papi. Puppies explore their environment with their mouths, so making sure he has plenty of appropriate chew toys can help curb the behavior. If he does get too nippy, yelping loudly, and then getting up and walking away (and thus ending play) is best to help teach him that too rough of play ends the fun. You can then praise and give treats for times where he is quietly playing with a toy or with you. Puppies do go through a teething stage at about 6-7 months of age, so the chewing and nipping behavior can ramp up again at that time. Sticking with your training can help ensure the nipping behavior stays minimal.

I have a couple recommendations for you in no particular order My first is to contact a different trainer because someone truly qualified will be able to help you out. Its crucially important to only work with a trainer who uses positive reinforcement and ideally is certified through the Karen Pryor academy or CPDT-KA (which stands for Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed). Spooky is at a great age to start training, and really it's mostly us humans who need to be trained. I recommend reading this free PDF right away: https://www.dogstardaily.com/files/downloads/AFTER_You_Get_Your_Puppy.pdf Finally, it sounds like Spooky is getting "egged on" by your loud noises and attempts to interrupt. He's probably finding it to be a super fun game that you two are playing. So, I would recommend taking the opposite pathway of totally ignoring inappropriate behavior. You mentioned that you tried this but he kept biting - you need to also move away and get space between you. You can use a leash or a crate, or a door to create space. It's very important to give Spooky an appropriate toy to work on when you leave the situation. This can be hard to do correctly, so use the above resources to help. I hope that helps a bit, good luck!

Hi, sorry to hear about this problem with Rosey. Young puppies can be difficult to train at first. It is important she gets enough exercise. At least 30 minutes of exercise twice a day is good. Whenever she gets mouthy, you need to put a toy in her mouth and praise her. Ignore her when she is not behaving properly. Puppies usually grow out of this with proper training. You can find a local trainer who may be able to help. Another thing is to keep her occupied at all times. Make sure she has enough toys and interaction with people during the day so she sleeps well at night. You can try a Kony toy filled with peanut butter to keep her busy when you are not around. It is important the whole family works with her and enforces good behavior and ignores bad behavior or she will get confused. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I am so sorry that you are experiencing these problems with biting with Darby. I am sure it is very upsetting for you. First of all rest assured that this is a very normal puppy behaviour. Puppies learn through play biting and it is part of our role as pet parents to help them learn limits. The biting behaviour will diminish with age. I would not attempt negative reinforcement such as striking Darby or speaking harshly as this will potentially create more serious behaviour issues such as anxiety and fear-aggression. Try some calm corrections and positive reinforcement. If Darby bites you, simply say in a calm voice "no" and stop interacting with her for a few moments. This over time will teach her that biting is not a desired form of play. Also try reinforcing her as she starts to play in a good way by not biting, and give her a small training treat. If Darby does manage to bite hard enough to break the skin be careful of a possible infection. Monitor your wound for heat. Swelling, or discharge. Make an appointment with your doctor if this occurs. If you are struggling with the biting after a couple of weeks of the above suggested training methods, consider puppy socialisation classes or potentially a few sessions with a behaviourist. Distraction, increased exercise, and redirection will also help. Other games which may be fun with Darby are hide and go seek either with you and another person, or you hide her toys and she has to find them. Or classic fetch. This resource should help! https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ I hope this was helpful!

That is a lot going on and it sounds like Oggy would benefit from a visit with a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in your area, especially if she is being aggressive to the point of bruising or drawing blood. Aggression usually looks very different from play/exploration biting and can include low growling, stiff bodies, showing the whites of the eyes, hair raising on the back, baring teeth, and then nipping or biting. This is unusual in a puppy of this age, so if it is happening, it is best to seek professional help in person ASAP since it is a complex issue that needs to be worked with. If the nipping is just puppy nipping, and she is also chewing on lots of things, it could just be normal puppy behavior and a puppy kindergarten/training classes is a great way to establish some ground rules and get used to interacting with each other in a positive manner. I'm also including some articles on general puppy nipping/chewing that may help as well. https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-nipping-of-hands/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-when-does-it-stop/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-tips-to-help-prevent-destructive-chewing/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/