We just got ourselves our first Boxer puppy who is 7 weeks old last Friday and for the most part he has been pretty calm and has slept a lot. Day by day he's (Boudreaux) gotten more comfortable in his new environment and has become more feisty and playful. We love it but are having a little bit of trouble. Boudreaux loves to nip/bite/chew (as any puppy does) and we are trying to redirect him with his toys as suggested. Unfortunately he doesn't respond most of the time to the redirection. It seems that he would much rather bite our clothes or us much more than his own toys. And when we try to play tug of war he goes for our hands instead of the toy! I think that he's crazy smart and I'm just not sure how to properly redirect him. Are there other options? Am I doing something wrong? Or is this just regular puppy behavior and we just need to keep redirecting and praising?
Biting EVERYTHING
- Thread starter JHAitch
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It is normal puppy behaviour - even if one might say that your pup is a little more rambunctious than many. That's OK though - VERY much better than a puppy who doesn't bite at all (that can be problematic later - wheras you actually have a wonderful opportunity to teach, even if it's going to try your patience somewhat 
).
Here is an excellent article on how to go about teaching your puppy bite inhibition (DON'T just try to stop him biting). Usefully, it also explains why this lesson is so incredibly important, as well as giving good advice on how to escalate your responses according to the psyche of the individual pup: http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm
And so - if re-direction doesn't work, try other techniques such as getting up and leaving the room (if you can't play nicely/hurt all the time, then nobody will play at all) that sort of message sometimes gets through better than just shrieks of pain or trying to persuade the pup to bite something else. But shrieks of pain etc still do have their place! Best thing is just to see what works best in a given situation, constantly working toward the pup's education about the power of those jaws.
).Here is an excellent article on how to go about teaching your puppy bite inhibition (DON'T just try to stop him biting). Usefully, it also explains why this lesson is so incredibly important, as well as giving good advice on how to escalate your responses according to the psyche of the individual pup: http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm
And so - if re-direction doesn't work, try other techniques such as getting up and leaving the room (if you can't play nicely/hurt all the time, then nobody will play at all) that sort of message sometimes gets through better than just shrieks of pain or trying to persuade the pup to bite something else. But shrieks of pain etc still do have their place! Best thing is just to see what works best in a given situation, constantly working toward the pup's education about the power of those jaws.
georgiapeach
Boxer Pal
I was about to post this same thing.
I had read this article and I too have a new 7 week puppy Daisy that is biting everthing! Shoes, pant legs, hands are the worse. I tried these new techniques and the loud ouch we are saying just sends her back for more. I keep giving her toys to bite and she plays with them and them comes running back for shoes and hands. Even outside she is at the pant legs and shoes (or bare toes even).
I know I just have to keep at it, but I really don't remember Gidget ever biting so much. She did like to chew the ends of the chest in the living room and I bought bitter apple for that and that stopped her. I was wondering if I should put some bitter apple on my shoes to defray Daisy from attacking my shoes all of the time.
Johanna
I had read this article and I too have a new 7 week puppy Daisy that is biting everthing! Shoes, pant legs, hands are the worse. I tried these new techniques and the loud ouch we are saying just sends her back for more. I keep giving her toys to bite and she plays with them and them comes running back for shoes and hands. Even outside she is at the pant legs and shoes (or bare toes even).
I know I just have to keep at it, but I really don't remember Gidget ever biting so much. She did like to chew the ends of the chest in the living room and I bought bitter apple for that and that stopped her. I was wondering if I should put some bitter apple on my shoes to defray Daisy from attacking my shoes all of the time.
Johanna
Caney Creek
Boxer Insane
Yes, she beat me to it! The article gmacleod posted is a MUST!!! It will take months of consistency, but just stick with it!
The article gmacleod posted is a MUST!!! It will take months of consistency, but just stick with it!
KaylaB
Boxer Pal
I'm having the same problem. Bella is about 4 mos and we can't seem to get her out of the biting habit. Last week she went up to my husband while he was sitting on his ottoman and bit his leg. Although it didn't cut the skin, my hubby went off! I've read the article Macleod suggested and when I do say ouch, she looks at me and walks away. She has chew toys (more than enough). I want to try to nip this in the bud before she becomes too old.
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