[heels1533]

My 11 week old lab has started biting my shoes and legs extremely hard. It typically happens when she's playing with her squeak toys. She'll start running back and forth with one in her mouth and then decide to switch to my feet. She clamps down tight enough to draw blood from toes, growls, and starts pulling me. I'm not really sure what to do about this situation. First, how should I immediately respond? I've taken to trying to nudge her toward her crate or playpen while trying to free my foot from her jaws. Is that the correct thing to do? Second, should I be worried that she's displaying aggression or is this just puppy play that's going a bit too far? She's also gone after my calves and shorts a few times.

Edit: She's been an absolute nightmare tonight. I've always yelped when she bitten and it seems to work. Tonight yelping has just made her crazier. I wrote the original post while leaving her alone for a couple of minutes to cool off, so after coming back into the room she immediately started in again. This time she went for my hair while I was sitting on the couch. I yelped, she pulled hard. I yelped again, she pulled even harder and growled. I left her alone again, came back in a few minutes and nothing had changed. She's been fed 4 times, had plenty of water, played and slept most of the day, and I took her out roughly 20 minutes ago. Is she just having a bad night? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[titiaamor]

My dogs got like that (and still do sometimes) when they are over-tired/over-stimulated

Aren't labs kind of mouthy anyway?

I know that yelp has to be pretty loud! My husband's voice is in the low register, and he couldn't make the sound. They got used to his cue word just the same ("Stop")

 

[hanksimon]

She's still in Lab play mode. She needs a time-out and withdrawing attention for a few moments: More Bite Inhibition training:

(Change 'He' to 'She')

The Bite Stops Here takes about 3 days to kick in, even then you only get a reduction of bloodletting, slowly resulting in bloodfree nipping, leading to mouthing, etc. Depending on the reaction of the pup, you don't have to use a Yelp!, you can say Ouch!!!, or Oops, where you want a marking word, to indicate when you are withdrawing attention.

Re-read the Sticky:the Bite Stops Here. perhaps you need to try a little longer. Read this and note the 3 days and the apology....maybe, he ignored the Yelp!, because you ignored the apology. Instead of the Yelp, you can say Ouch! or Oops!

Some Tweaks to Bite Inhibition (to get him to stop biting when he wants to play or otherwise):
1. When the pup bites, then yelp. It should sound about like what the pup does when you step on its paw... don't step on his paw for a sample . When you yelp, the pup should startle briefly and stop nipping. (Look for the startle) Praise and pet. He'll bite.
2. When he bites the second time, Yelp. When he stops, praise and pet. He'll nip again, although it may be a little gentler. ...
3. Whenshe bites a third time, Yelp (see a pattern?). But this time, turn your back for 15 - 30 secs. If he comes around and play bows or barks, then that is an apology. This is important. Accept it, praise and pet... and cringe in expectation of the next nip...
4. When he bites the 4th time, Yelp, then leave the area, placing him in a 2 min. time-out. It is better if you can leave, rather than moving him. Then, return and interact. (He's still hungry...)
5. When he nips the fifth time, yelp, and leave the area, stopping interaction for now.

You can modify the number of steps, but not what you do... for example, you can leave in a huff , after the second nip or even the first, but you have to provide a vocal marker, to give him something to react to. I still use a light yelp with my 11 yo when he lets teeth touch skin as I give him a treat. No pressure or harm, but I want him to appear very safe to everyone.

Pups need to sleep over night in order to learn their lessons. So, keep doing this for 3 days. By the third day, you should notice signficant Bite Inhibition. He may still nip, but it will be softer and he won't draw blood. And, he should be less aggressive, especially, if you notice the apology. Keep up the training and make sure that everyone yelps.... Very powerful method.

If you learn the technique, then you can apply the "yelp" to other circumstances, also. I believe that "yelp" is "Please don't do that, I don't like it." in dog communication. I currently use the yelp when my dog plays tug, then runs with the toy, when he fetches and keeps it out of reach or when he takes a treat too quickly....

 

[heels1533]

Thanks for the feedback. I've read the bite stops here thread and done the technique you've suggested. It's really seemed to help with the play bites and other nipping. The shoe and leg biting are just so different from the other bites that they've freaked me out a bit. I'm glad to hear that they are normal.