Please help, my baby wouldn't stop biting me!

[AutumnMaple]

She's 9 weeks, I got her approx. a week now... the first day I got her she didn't bite me at all, then she started licking me and by the third day whenver she sees me she would first lick my fingers/hands/arms and toes/legs and then she would bite me.. I went to the Vet and told the vet that and she said to bark back at her and give her an alternate toy to chew on but she would only chew on the toy for like 10 seconds then come back to bite me. Is this behavior normal? am I doing something wrong? I dont want to be a bad mommie but I just don't know how to get her to stop, my arms and legs are all scrape up and I feel very bad because I dont know how to control her. I know she is only a puppy but is there any way to slowly get her to stop??? Also whenever I lock her out of my room, or lock her in my room, she seem to get angry and urinate. Please give me any advice you can... thanks in advance!!

[frontierrots]

Have you ever had a puppy before? It does not sound like it. You are describing normal puppy behavior and instead of the pup learning not to be bitey she is learning to control you

A good book for you is

After You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar

See about getting into a Puppy Kindergarten class

Does your breeder have any friends in your area that could mentor you?

[kina]

Read all of the 'Stickys' in the puppy forum...and did you notice all of the similar posts about this sort of thing, it's very normal. My boy is 10 months old and still got the odd mouth/nip in when he was 8 months (not very impressive!). Stick with redirecting to a toy, always have one in your pocket and stuff it in her gob when she bites you, then praise her for chewing on the toy. She'll get it...eventually and its not easy work on your behalf, you have to be very consistent.
And just when you think you have it sussed, she'll start getting her big kid teeth and will want to chew everything, so make sure you have icecubes/frozen carrots/frozen cloths on hand for her.
It will get better, hang in there!! My boy left many a bruise!

[FilosFolks]

You've rec'd excellent advice. I've raised two youngsters in the last three yrs and you will have a storm and then a break, and then a storm again. With this baby, BABY biting is something you need to be on top of NOW. I literally carried something chewable at all times at this age. Stuffed animals! Rubber somethings! Every single nip, needs to be met with an appropriate chewable.

You HAVE to constantly re-direct them. Once this "sinks in" your life will be so mcuh easier when the big teeth come. Cuz you'll go through it all over, only they're BIG, painful teeth. Frozen carrots, hot dogs (which won't last) dish towels in broth (never tried), ice cubes, frozen marrow bones (once older teeth set) will become your best friends for at least the next year.

Patience is the key here. And remember, just because they're not teething, they'll still need to chew.

[FilosFolks]

...About the peeing, you need to make sure before you give any "time outs" in a room, that your dog doesn't have to "go".

[CanineCoach]

Very normal puppy behavior. This is how she is learning about her world. When she gets a hold of a finger, press down firmly on her tongue and say "no bite" and she will soon learn that teeth on skin is not that fun. But always have something else with you that is ACCEPTABLE for her to put her teeth on. It's not enough to tell her what NOT to do, you must also let her know what is OK to do. Her teeth are hurting right now (you and her!). I know they are needle sharp, but keep that in mind that this is what puppies do until they learn. Also she is not peeing because she is "angry", she is peeing because she feels like peeing. She doesn't yet know what the rules are and has very little control. Are you using a crate? At this point, she is not ready for any unsupervised time! Read all the stickies on the forum and you will find lots of encouragement and good advice! She will grow up so quickly -- enjoy this age.

[AutumnMaple]

Thanks so much for the advice!! I dont use any crates and further more... she keeps on getting fleas?? the vet gave her a dose of Advantage and some medicated shampoo, however the fleas never seemed to have gone away? Would it be a bad idea for me to put her on some more dosage of Frontline or Advantage? Thanks again for all the advices!

[vwgirl29]

Just keep giving her a toy in it's place....barking back at her is good but also say "ouch" or ahh ahh! loudly. Unfortunately nothing is fixed quickly....it takes alot of time and patience with these little ones.

[kina]

I would get a crate if I were you, its the best way to toilet train your pup because she won't want to go toilet in her sleeping/eating area, so she learn's to 'hold on' quicker. And every time she goes in and out of the crate make sure you take her to her appropriate toilet spot. I couldn't imagine life without my crate, I expect without it my house would be chewed to pieces! Kina loves his crate, he knows he gets yummy goodies in there alot.
As far as the fleas go, I'm not sure if you should give her another does, one should do it shouldn't it?? Have you got rid of them from your house? Used flea bombs? Are you sure its fleas and she's not itching from allergies?

[AutumnMaple]

Im sure its not her allergies because I would rub her body and feel a bump and I would pick at that bump and out comes a flea (reddish/brown) in color and has tiny legs YUCK!! and I would continue to rub her some more and feel even more bumps especially around her upper legs and around her necks and I would see her biting herself around her lower stomach. I feel so bad. We have tiles at the house and I dont let her near my mattress, should I still use flea bombs?

[moondog]

Originally Posted by AutumnMaple

Im sure its not her allergies because I would rub her body and feel a bump and I would pick at that bump and out comes a flea (reddish/brown) in color and has tiny legs YUCK!!

Those aren't fleas! Fleas don't burrow into the skin. It sounds like she's loaded with deer ticks to me. You need to fumigate your home and yard for ticks and get the ticks off her, too. Ticks carry diseases that are horrible for dogs, so get rid of them.

[fd235158]

LMAO, I'm sorry but I'm going through the same thing with my new 8 week old female. She is my second dog though so I've been through all this before. Ironically my pup gives kisses to all the strangers she meets but bites me like it's her job. One of the big expenses you don't expect goes to new shoe laces, socks, pants (tug-a-pant leg), etc... Keep telling your pup Uh-uh-uh in a calm, low tone and redirect followed by praise when she chews her toy. It may not seem like it works and some days it will seem like she's getting worse but have patience. Think of it like a long term investment that just needs time to mature.