Puppy behaviors - biting and jumping

[JamesO]

Hi all

I just started another thread on potty training, but just to mention it again, we have a 12 week old lab pup. He's awesome, but he's made our arms and knees his chew toys. He also jumps up a lot and really gets us with his dew claws.

We have a lot of chew toys for him and try to distract him with them when he starts biting. We're also sure to say "No!" We were yipping for a week, but that seems to have lost its effect.

I'm just afraid that these will become permanent behaviors. Do you have any other ideas?

Thankfully he isn't chewing furniture anymore!

[DaneMama]

When you yipped at him for biting, did you also get up...walk away abruptly to end the play session? If not, you should go back to the yipping loudly AND removing yourself completely from the game for at least 20 minutes.

[JamesO]

We would turn and ignore for a minute or so. We thought that since their association with behavior was so short, that anything longer wouldn't serve a purpose. But it sounds like we should ignore for longer periods of time?

[MollyWoppy]

Listen to what Danemama tells you, she's a really good trainer.
I just wanted to add, don't stress out too much about it. It does get better as they get older. Promise.
When I took my moron to puppy class, every single owner there had scabby arms. Everyone looked at each other and said 'Oh thank God, I'm not the only one".

[Savage Destiny]

We would turn and ignore for a minute or so. We thought that since their association with behavior was so short, that anything longer wouldn't serve a purpose. But it sounds like we should ignore for longer periods of time?

The reason DaneMama mentions leaving for longer is that it helps them understand if they bite, playtime is OVER. Turning around for a minute and continuing the game just lets them know, hey, they'll only stop for a minute if I bite!

[Northwoods10]

1st- its a LAB puppy
2nd- its a puppy!

LOL

They need to be taught what is acceptable behavior. Instead of NO, use AH AH. No is too common of a word in everyday language to use for training a puppy. When he nips/jumps, etc. say AH AH and stop the play session but turning or walking away. Do not encourage the behavior by continuing the play session.

Exercise.......the more exercise the better.

A common mistake with puppies is that everyone "asks' them to jump up to see them b/c they are too little to bend over to pet. From now on, bend over or kneel over to pet your pup. encourage this with guests too.

Also replace inappropriate chew items (shoes, pillows, etc) with proper chew items like nylabones or a frozen carrot. They are teething and have the constant need to chew on something.....make sure they understand what is a good thing to chew on!

[SerenityFL]

My hoodlums like to jump up on me and bite my pants the second I walk in the door. Turning around doesn't do squat. All they do is jump on me and bite my pants from the back end. Joy!

So I do what Danemama said and I walk away, ignoring them. I stay away until the calm down, already! Then? I go to them, give them love and we go for walkies.

I know they are excited to see me and that part feels good...but they must learn that no matter how excited they are, jumping up and nipping at me isn't the way to show me. I just want them to maybe wag their butts wildly, from side to side, instead.

[SerenityFL]

Also replace inappropriate chew items (shoes, pillows, etc) with proper chew items like nylabones or a frozen carrot.

Why didn't I think of that?!? I'm so going to do that! I hope they like carrots or I'm gonna be Bugs Bunny for awhile.

[JamesO]

Wonderful advice, everyone. Thank you. We'll be putting it to work.

[Tobi]

We've been battling with this, the Yipping very loud didn't do anything as Tobi thinks you're a big squeaky then... walking away for long periods hasn't worked as well but were starting to see progress... the biggest setback though is if you have kids and they don't do it when it happens it just reinforces the behavior so make sure that everybody is on the same page with training so that it sticks quickly... good luck :D