Mouthy puppy-need help!

light of mine · 07-07-2014, 05:17 PM

Help set me up for success with our new puppy. He is 8 weeks old. This is the first large breed dog I've ever owned (Bouvier des Flanders/Giant schnauzer mix). He is doing so good with house and crate training, and is sweet as can be, very loving. I remember puppy mouthiness, but it was always with little puppies-so not a big deal. The kids are having a hard time dealing with his puppy mouth. The love him/want him, but his puppy mouth is too much for their sensitive skin.

Right now we are giving him an appropriate chew toy when he starts mouthing and then stop playing/ignoring him if he doesn't stop. He rarely does it to me or dh, but the kids playing gets him really excited--not when they are necessarily playing with him-just their loud high pitched squealing/running/jumping acting like kids. He grabs at their clothes (we put a stop to as soon as he does it) and likes to take toys from them

I've also order a baby gate to be able to keep him away from the kids, and of course are supervising each time he is out. I want him to be able to be out around the kids without mouthing them. I am not sure how long that will take. I am trying to be realistic about the fact that he is a puppy and trying to learn what is appropriate/not appropriate. I don't want to keep him continually away from the kids, because he will never learn appropriate behavior around them. I would love ideas

CelticJourney · 07-07-2014, 05:43 PM

In 'puppy with mama dog world' that kind of behavior would be normal. After all, other puppies don't mind the mouthing. The pup sees your kids as other puppies, which is why it doesn't do it to you. A mother dog who didn't want that kind of behavior would put her mouth over the mouth of the pup. You can put your hand gently but firmly around the puppy's mouth and tell it 'no'. Keep in mind, like any other toddler, it will take some time and over excitement will be a factor in ability to comply.

rebecuna · 07-14-2014, 08:23 PM

I read that you should make a sharp "yelp" sound similar to what the puppy would hear from a littermate-- this helps teach the puppy the boundaries with teeth and mouthing, as they would learn in their natural setting. You don't want to scream, but a firm consistent "hurt" sound will teach them when they cross the line. You can teach the kids to do this, too, but you will probably need to make the sound for them when you see it happening (I'm assuming they're never left unsupervised with the puppy, right?), especially while pack order is still developing, since your kids will be seen by the puppy as other puppies.

believer · 07-15-2014, 12:32 PM

You can also put the puppy on it's back and hold it there firmly and say "no". The putting it on it's back and holding it there is something the mama dog does and it shows the puppy that you are in charge or something. We had a puppy that was mouthy and that is one thing we did with her.

07-07-2014, 05:17 PM	#1
light of mine Rose Trellis Baby smooches Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN Posts: 2,546	Mouthy puppy-need help! Help set me up for success with our new puppy. He is 8 weeks old. This is the first large breed dog I've ever owned (Bouvier des Flanders/Giant schnauzer mix). He is doing so good with house and crate training, and is sweet as can be, very loving. I remember puppy mouthiness, but it was always with little puppies-so not a big deal. The kids are having a hard time dealing with his puppy mouth. The love him/want him, but his puppy mouth is too much for their sensitive skin. Right now we are giving him an appropriate chew toy when he starts mouthing and then stop playing/ignoring him if he doesn't stop. He rarely does it to me or dh, but the kids playing gets him really excited--not when they are necessarily playing with him-just their loud high pitched squealing/running/jumping acting like kids. He grabs at their clothes (we put a stop to as soon as he does it) and likes to take toys from them I've also order a baby gate to be able to keep him away from the kids, and of course are supervising each time he is out. I want him to be able to be out around the kids without mouthing them. I am not sure how long that will take. I am trying to be realistic about the fact that he is a puppy and trying to learn what is appropriate/not appropriate. I don't want to keep him continually away from the kids, because he will never learn appropriate behavior around them. I would love ideas __________________ ~Christina, WAHM, Devoted wife to my wonderful DH 2001, Loving mother to DD Cola 01/06 and DS Q-man 03/08, DD Nutter 'Butter 12/2010, and new DD babybear 11/13

07-07-2014, 05:43 PM	#2
CelticJourney Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 34,565	Re: Mouthy puppy-need help! In 'puppy with mama dog world' that kind of behavior would be normal. After all, other puppies don't mind the mouthing. The pup sees your kids as other puppies, which is why it doesn't do it to you. A mother dog who didn't want that kind of behavior would put her mouth over the mouth of the pup. You can put your hand gently but firmly around the puppy's mouth and tell it 'no'. Keep in mind, like any other toddler, it will take some time and over excitement will be a factor in ability to comply. __________________ Elizabeth "Truth without love is divisive and hurtful & love without truth is anemic"--Pastor Estep Arise, cry out in the night...pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children..; Lamentations 2:19

07-14-2014, 08:23 PM	#3
rebecuna Rose Trellis Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Amherst, MA Posts: 1,510	Re: Mouthy puppy-need help! I read that you should make a sharp "yelp" sound similar to what the puppy would hear from a littermate-- this helps teach the puppy the boundaries with teeth and mouthing, as they would learn in their natural setting. You don't want to scream, but a firm consistent "hurt" sound will teach them when they cross the line. You can teach the kids to do this, too, but you will probably need to make the sound for them when you see it happening (I'm assuming they're never left unsupervised with the puppy, right?), especially while pack order is still developing, since your kids will be seen by the puppy as other puppies. __________________ me- Becky DH- P DS1- The koodle. 7 (June 06) DS2- Turtle, VBAC baby. 4 (October 09) Healing rheumatoid arthritis through GAPS since October 2011 Remembering Little Bean- January 2009

07-15-2014, 12:32 PM	#4
believer Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,130	Re: Mouthy puppy-need help! You can also put the puppy on it's back and hold it there firmly and say "no". The putting it on it's back and holding it there is something the mama dog does and it shows the puppy that you are in charge or something. We had a puppy that was mouthy and that is one thing we did with her. __________________ Dana INTJ widow of Big Bear, mom to: B. - 16 y.o. dd J.-19yo ds M.- 25 (MIL to) A - 24 2 white cats, 3 dogs http://becauseisaidsothathswhy.blogspot.com/

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