my 8 week rottie puppy is biting and growling at me

[GaryA]

Help, my wife and I ,3 days ago got the cutiest rot puppy but then I went to work came home and after being with my wife and two of my kids she was kinda distant from me . as the night went on i was playing ball with her and as i told her what to do she snapped at me as i told her no she did it again and bit my face. today I went to give her a hug good bye and as I bent down she growled and barked with a quick snap. this is my first rottie and i wanted the dog to be mine but is very close to my wife and cries when she leaves the room . I am so afraid that as the dog gets older she will bite me or someone else.
thank you
Gary

[harleychik66]

Do a search for puppy biting. This is quite common, and there are many posts that discuss this.

[GaryA]

Harley ,Thanks for answering me . I have looked and read but nothing that is very clear. my wife and kids love her to bits , I do also but I am concerned because she is going to get big fast.

[ping]

For now, it would be best not to put your face close to the puppy. Where did you get this puppy? What is the background of this puppy? Temperament is influenced by the genes of the parents of the dog. Excellent Socialization can fix a multitude of issues.

[KatarinasMom]

Please read the stickies in the Puppy Developement forum....this will give you a lot of information about your new puppy's behavior. What your puppy is doing is actually quite normal, and it is up to you and your family to teach her what you expect of her. I have to admit, the "puppy biting" is quite annoying (not to mention how much those sharp little puppy teeth hurt ) and I know what you are going through because we have a 12 week old pup at home right now. Have you checked into the Puppy K classes in your area yet? It's a wonderful way to socialize your pup, and for you to get some basic "problem solving" advice

Good luck and hang in there

[Maxxx]

Puppies will usually bond to the person who spends the most time with them. Just be lots of fun and engage her in play and she'll warm up to you. You don't want a pup who whines when you leave anyway, as that could lead to separation anxiety later on.

For now, don't push yourself on her, let her come to you. Don't hug her, dogs don't like to be restrained like that. I know you see it differently, and it'll be hard initially, but it's what's best.

Read the stickies, they do help. Patience is key right now with all the biting. Get her and yourself into a puppy k classs and she'll learn to listen to you and take direction from you. That will help your relationship.

[babz]

Hi, I'm not a rottie pro, but i did research alot about puppy biting on the web
and came up with a few great sites One video, they actually show you how to pretend your a dog & actually do what the mother would do when bitten, So you would actually make a sound like a dog mmmmmmmmm and bite the pup back in the jowel (slightly not crazily) and move your head forcing the pups head away (as if your were a dog)It worked wonders on our then 14month old and he has never bitten again. Another great trick which i never tried so i don't really know if it works is using a water gun. Your 8 week old is small enough so you should try the first suggestion and let me know. I think you will be amazed. Also i really enjoyed Dean Rankins"clicker training" look for that as well. I never thought our puppy Riley would ever stop the puppy biting but it does end!!!:
Babz

[SABELLESMOM]

Goodness, virtually all 8 week old puppies bite, any breed, for that manner. It's part of their play interaction. They especially like to follow hand movements, and don't like to be hugged.

They do not comprehend being told what to do, or even what "No" means... Yet. Classes will help you develop that bond you're looking for. Such a wonderful learning experience for you both! Classes help you understand how dogs learn. I Can't begin to tell you how much I've learned! In fact, I'm still learning and my dogs are 7 and 4!

A few things to look for: Positive training methods. ANY positive oriented class will do. I'm a convert to clicker training as it focuses on what a dog does right -vs- correction for whats wrong. I find the training more effective and direct, ( more quickly absorbed by the dog)but that's up to you and what you can find in your area.

You've got a way to go. At 8 weeks you should be working on potty training, leash walks, and coming when called. That's plenty for her right now. Don't overwhelm her with your expectaions for the future.

Understand she's a puppy. She WILL get excited and nip whenshe plays. Stop the play and ignore her.

Many, many dogs find hugging scary and opressing. They're dogs. They prefer some petting, a good belly skritching and a nice brushing. Tho your pup, at this point may "follow the brush" with her teeth. It can wait.

Check the threads. There are many here about puppies... and training.

[Anne]

Originally Posted by babz

Hi, I'm not a rottie pro, but i did research alot about puppy biting on the web
and came up with a few great sites One video, they actually show you how to pretend your a dog & actually do what the mother would do when bitten, So you would actually make a sound like a dog mmmmmmmmm and bite the pup back in the jowel (slightly not crazily) and move your head forcing the pups head away (as if your were a dog)It worked wonders on our then 14month old and he has never bitten again. Another great trick which i never tried so i don't really know if it works is using a water gun. Your 8 week old is small enough so you should try the first suggestion and let me know. I think you will be amazed. Also i really enjoyed Dean Rankins"clicker training" look for that as well. I never thought our puppy Riley would ever stop the puppy biting but it does end!!!:
Babz

Please tell us you are not serious. Surely no one is silly enough to do such a thing as bite a puppy on the jowls Do you honestly think your puppy doesn't know you are not a dog Believe me, the pup knows very well you are not its mother. Pups are smarter than that.

GaryA, I'm far too astounded by the above recommendation to give further opinion other than to suggest you read the puppy section of this forum then book your pup in to puppy preschool andn follow up with professional training.

[babz]

Hi Guys, just a quick comment back, Yes i know it sounds bizzare, but it worked! and my error, the puppy was 14 weeks old, not 14 months. The reason I tried the jowel technique was because he was in "land shark" mode
constantly. Any way it did work!!! Remember, its just a suggestion!I never did
try the watergun technique!that may work as well.

[moz205]

HUUUUUHHHHH? I would also love to hear that Babz is not serious. Sometimes, and yes, only sometimes I am left speechless.

[saber53]

I have to say that a human is looked at like the alpha dog ( MOM). So treating the pup as mom does would work and has worked for me and others. Hold the puppys mouth shut also until it stops fighting, because it will fight and try to get out of your hold. Mom does this also for biting puppies I have seen this 1 st hand because I do breed them.

[brutus'mother]

Seriously? This puppy is weeks old and we have people suggesting to growl, bite jowls, spray with a water gun and hold the puppy's mouth shut? This is a baby. Using strong armed tactics as those listed above have no place in puppy rearing.
To the OP-please, please, please read the all the stickies in the puppy forum and then come back with any follow up questions you may have.

[moz205]

Doing alpha rolls, holding their mouths shut and any other negative training is detrimental to ANY breed. Puppies only know if taught. All of my dogs, Rotties included as pups would mouth, bite but that's what pups do.
Sorry, we are NOT their biological moms. At least, the last time I looked I gave birth to a son not a dog. I don't walk on all fours or bark and growl. I don't bite and therefore, I am not a dog.
Out of curiosity, saber53, are you a COE breeder? How long are you breeding? Do you have titled and health cleared dogs?

[saber53]

Yes I do and I have raised many dogs without 1 unhappy owner!! My pups are paper trained at 8 weeks and my adult dogs that I have raised since a pup have all been House Broke, sitting, laying, and shaking by 12 weeks. I do not have all these problems that other people are talking about. My youngest rottie is 1yr and I have no problems and have not for while. she knows what she can chew on and when is the right time to be barking. When the dogs knows who is the leader it makes a happy owner! I will hold these puppies mouth just like mom does and guess what it works. My puppies that I breed are not bitting like crazy either. My children and I work with them a lot!! I get lots of thank you notes and pictures to this day of my litters. I am also picking on the homes I put them in. They have to have rottie experience and are willing to take on a rottie because they will test you! I have puppies sold before my female ever delivers a litter. I will take all my pups back at anytime for any reason! I have the land and the $$ to take care of them. So it is not just a few dogs but many that are trained with the alpha leader rule and it works quick!!