My puppy bites my young kids. How can I stop the rough play?

I am sorry to hear about Jack. This can be a very frustrating problem that is common in puppies. I would recommend reading the following article by veterinary behaviorist Sophia Yin which goes into depth on how to properly deal with this behavioral issue: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy_play_leads_to_nip_marks_on_hands_and_arms/

I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have a 2 year old puppy who has been a handful. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. I think your first challenge will be to keep Enzo busy! If you cannot exercise him in your yard, I would recommend asking your vet for recommendations. As far as the biting, it seems like he has turned the "ouch" technique into a game. My best recommendation will be to completely ignore the behavior. This goes for everyone in the house. If he puts his teeth on anyone, they need to turn and walk away. He wants your attention, so if you remove it, he will be less likely to do that in the future. The other thing that can be helpful is teaching Enzo to play with you with something in his mouth. It is normal for puppies to be "mouthy", so we need to teach them what is appropraite for them to put in their mouths. As far as keeping him busy and tired, one thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. A basic obedience class would be great for him. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. Enzo might be a little young for it, but I would consider looking into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about it. clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I am sorry to hear about your issues with Pacha. These are quite common problems in puppies. I would recommend reviewing these articles by veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin for ideas on how to stop these issues: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/excessive-barking-why-some-dogs-bark-and-how-to-fix-it/ and https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy_play_leads_to_nip_marks_on_hands_and_arms/

I am so sorry that you are experiencing these problems with biting with Kimi. 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. I would not attempt negative reinforcement such as striking Kimi 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 Kimi 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 giver her a small training treat. If Kimi 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. Other games which may be fun with Kimi 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. 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/

Congratulations on your new puppy! What a cutie. This is a normal but frustrating puppy behavior! I would highly recommend reviewing this article by veterinary behaviorist Sophia Yin https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy_play_leads_to_nip_marks_on_hands_and_arms/ for strategy on how to deal with this problem. I would also recommend her book Perfect Puppy in 7 Days. It is a great resource for puppy owners, as is The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell. How long this behavior lasts depends on the puppy and how quickly you work on training, but it is not uncommon for several months if the behavior is not addressed.

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!