hi, i have a newfie puppy who is about 11-12 weeks old. He is right in the middle. I love him to pieces and he is absolutely adorable and a sweetheart! But he does have his moments. He will be really quiet and sleep and when he wakes up he's running around the house, biting at my legs, and when i get down to play with him he attacks me with bites. I feel like i've tried everything. I constantly give him something else to chew on and try to praise him for that, but he usually gets bored and comes right back to my hand to chew on. Has anybody else had this problem?? or have any advice or suggestions?? I just want to make sure that this gets resolved before he's HUGE! cuase i know that's going to happen pretty soon! thanks!
Ok, next time he starts to bite at your ankles or feet or pants legs, instead of playing with him, I want you to march. Stomp your feet and lift your knees high. He will back off right away, and it works even better if you make direct eye contact and walk right into the puppy when you are doing it, making him back up. Once he starts backing away, smile at him, say good boy, get back, and give him a cookie.
Your puppy can get good play interaction time by retrieving things for you. Use a long line or retractable lead. Have several of the object you want to use to play fetch. Have at LEAST THREE of any object you are going to play fetch with. Play with the pup, tease him with one of the toys, and then toss it a SHORT distance away, and encourage him to go get it. As soon as he turns around with it in his mouth, show him another one just like it. Tease tease, and as soon as he comes to you, and shows interest, toss this one. Momentum is important when beginning this kind of play, and that's why you need several of the same toy. Repeat the second time, tossing the third toy, and then praise the pup up, go collect the toys, and play again.
This puppy needs a designated toy box, and LOTS of approved fun interesting chew toys. Each time he attempts to chew or mouth the wrong thing, interrupt him from doing the undesired behavior, and take him to the toy box where he should find a marvelous toy that has been smeared with a small amount of peanut butter or cheez whiz. PRAISE strongly for getting a toy from the toy box.
Judicial use of tugging games can also be great therapy for mouthy puppies. Tugging games are just fine as long as YOU control them. You keep the tuggy toy. You take out the tuggy toy and begin the game. You control the tug interaction, varying times when the puppy wins the tug game, and when you win.
You end the game by taking the tug toy and putting it away BEFORE the puppy loses interest.
Also do a web search on bite inhibition, there are several good articles out there on how to teach your pup not to mouth.