12 week old snaps at people when playing

[Marylyn]

I recently got this boxer with a little mix of lab about 3 weeks ago, he's my very first puppy. He's great when it comes to food, listening to me (most of the time at least)... He gets tired of things quickly, like his toys specifically. He's not a great walker on his leash and I feel like I'm pulling him at least 70% of the time.

When he is in an excited mood, and when ANYONE tries to play with him, he tries biting (definitely not in an aggressive way) but when the person takes it farther into play, he starts growling and biting more. If we stop, he keeps trying to bite, and we do calm him down, he calms down for a little while, then goes back to nipping and biting. He recently started snapping, even at faces!

I have tried pretty much everything, putting him on his side, on his back, holding his mouth shut, making loud noise, yelping, putting my weight on him, and whatever else I can think of. It seems like nothings working or I need to stick to one correction. If there is anything else that I am missing to help my puppy stop his snapping (which I care about the most), GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

 

[TwoDogs]

If it is any consolation, just about every 12 week old puppy that has ever come through my classes or puppy play has been mouthy--so there is nothing abnormal about your pup.

I'm willing to bet that you are letting play go on too long before you give feedback to your pup. Your pup probably gets to the point where he is so riled up that he starts making poor decisions and using his mouth much harder. If you feel as though you have to pin your pup down in order to get him to stop then you are WAY to late in giving your feedback.

In my opinion, play that involves mouth wrestling or "rubbing teeth all over you" is alright. When the pup starts bearing down more with its teeth is the point when you give feedback. Just a sudden "Ouch!" and getting up and leaving is usually enough. Come back in a few seconds and give the pup another chance to learn from his mistake. You might have need to give feedback a couple of times or so during each play session. That is fine--your pup will learn that hard mouth makes play stop but play continues as long as he uses a soft mouth.

Make sure you aren't also letting the entire play session go on too long. If you find that there is a point where you are having to give feedback more frequently rather than less, then you know you've let the session last too long. Stop playing and make a mental note to do better next time.

I'd also recommend enrolling in a good puppy class. It sounds like you would benefit from having a qualified trainer who can offer you more advice regarding common puppy problems. It will help you prevent nuisance behaviors from becoming habits and set you on the right path for future training.

 

[whiskers]

With the above advice I just want to add that rolling him on his back/side, holding his mouth shut etc are all more likely to amplify the situation, instead of teach him what you want.

 

[Bathel]

I think the above advice is good..

In additional with our little girl I stopped trying to get her to stop bitting/chewing and just started to redirect it. She no longer chews/bits on hands or humans and really only does it with her toys.

I accomplished this by giving her a toy each and every time she started to bite/chew. We continued to play as long as she only chewed the toy. The moment she would bit/chew my hand or other unwanted item, play time was over and I got off the ground and ignored her.

She wasn't really happy with that for the first few weeks of doing it and she barked to let me know... but after a week or two she figured it out. Now, when she wants to "rough house" she brings a rope toy over to me and lets me rub her all over while she chews the rope. I scratch her belly, her hips and her back and she just rolls around loving it as she chews the rope toy. Also, she no longer tries to bite/chew on hands/humans or furnature or other items that she should not be chewing on.

 

[Marylyn]

Thanks a ton for the advice, I will keep everything in mind. I have had friends and some other trainers tell me that I'm supposed to be dominant over him and hold him down in a submissive state, but I feel like agression never meets agression.

So thank you all for the great and better advice!

 

[Marylyn]

So another problem I forgot arised. When I'm walking around, he bites at my pants and whatever he can reach down there, and when I stop completely and ignore him, he latches on and shakes his head, he does not stop until I say so or I put a toy into his mouth. The ignoring thing doesn't work so well with him.

 

[wburdette]

biting baby

I am having the same problem with my 10 week old. She is feisty! I never had this issue with my 1st boxer. I've tried so many things and if I "bark" or "yelp" at her she sometimes stops dead in her tracks or she barks and gets down on all fours ready to pounce. Very frustrating and it hurts!! I'm trying the ignoring thing and giving her chew toys the minute she starts to bite me. She never uses a soft mouth when playing. She also will bite my ankles, shoes, pants but it's always when she's riled up. Hoping she will grow out of this but trying to figure out the best way to "nip" this now.