My lab pup is a serious biter.

[whenwewasfab]

My nine week old Lab pup has a real issue with biting. I know that he is only playing when he does it, but I don't want it to be habit forming, and it's already painful enough. He doesn't listen to me when I give a stern "No" while he's doing it, or a swat on the nose. At best he will pause momentarily and continue. I have about 12 dog toys as well as bones for him to chew on yet he prefers me as his main chew toy. My arms are covered in bruises, scrapes, and scratches, and he's very hard to manage when he gets in his feisty moods. But it seems like he will only listen to a male voice, I'm assuming because they have deeper and stronger voices. He will listen to my father or any adult male, but as soon as he/they leaves the room my pup is done with his chew toy and ready to chomp on me instead.

He is a really sweet puppy, playful, and friendly with other humans and animals, but I need him to stop this biting.

What should I do?

[Gamerchick]

From what I've read in various puppy books, you should continue with the stern "no" when he does it. Remove your hand from his mouth and replace it with a toy. Praise him when he's chewing the right things. And it may help to practice getting some authority in your voice. I had to do that, my dog still listens and responds better to my husband than me. Slightly unfair though, he's a cop, of course he has an authoritative voice!

It does take time to learn, but the younger the better. You don't want it to be a problem when they're full grown. I modified this approach for my dog, her issue was chewing and eating anything wood.

[mikedavis76]

We used a spray bottle with water in it every time our puppy started to bite. She really doesn't like being squirted and as soon as the bottle is nearby, her behavior already becomes calmer/more submissive.

[whenwewasfab]

From what I've read in various puppy books, you should continue with the stern "no" when he does it. Remove your hand from his mouth and replace it with a toy. Praise him when he's chewing the right things. And it may help to practice getting some authority in your voice. I had to do that, my dog still listens and responds better to my husband than me. Slightly unfair though, he's a cop, of course he has an authoritative voice!

It does take time to learn, but the younger the better. You don't want it to be a problem when they're full grown. I modified this approach for my dog, her issue was chewing and eating anything wood.My dog chews anything wood as well, he's even chewed a molding off the wall! :rolleyes: :p

Anything he can get in his mouth he will chew.

Thank you guys for the tips.

[Gamerchick]

Leia ate one of the dining room chairs. Slowly, but to the point it was no longer usable. It completely collapsed. Thankfully she has outgrown that habit!

[PatchO'Pits]

Please read this thread:
http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9801

[ShockCollars]

i got the same problem with you. that's not all, my dog jump into the person he saw.

[mynameislola]

Hitting dogs anywhere, especially in their faces, will not teach them anything constructive and may cause blood clots and other permanent damage. Please stop hitting your dog.

[whenwewasfab]

Hitting dogs anywhere, especially in their faces, will not teach them anything constructive and may cause blood clots and other permanent damage. Please stop hitting your dog.
I do not hit him hard, it is just a tap on the nose. However I can not get him to listen to me no matter what. I have tried to speak to him in as stern and aggressive voice as I can when I am trying to tell him "No" and nothing helps. Tapping his nose doesn't either, but I am at a loss. I have no idea what to do, and he gets very violent at times when he is playing. I know he doesn't mean to hurt, but when he gets really worked up he scares me. There have been a few times where he's almost snapped at my face before.

There is no way I would give him away because of this behavior, I love him, and I know that he can be taught, I just don't know how to get it through to him.

[ReesAkita]

You need to get him into puppy training classes ASAP!

[Angelfire]

When I took my rottn to obedience classes, the trainer taught us to say ow really loud and you know it worked. We always use the word no a lot but it your pup knows that she is hurting you, she will stop. Also for more extreme measures if we had to shock our dog from harming herself or anyone else, (I just know not everyone will agree) we would not hit her on the nose but under her chin. The reason for hitting her under the chin was that she could not see your hand coming therefore your hand does not become something to fear. Hope that makes sense.