We have a 12 week old flatcoat puppy, he's our 7th. All the others have been pretty straightforward. But this one will not leave our older flatcoat alone. Constant ear biting, tail biting, and unfortunately our older boy is not reacting to the aggression. we have tried all the diversion tactics, but to no avail. He constantly bites us, legs, anything he can get hold of. Never experienced one this bad before. Help!!
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At a loss as what to do with aggressive puppy
- Thread starter jakemoo69
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It's very unlikely to be aggression, but just over-rambunctious play. Have a read of this: Puppy biting
It doesn't cover biting other dogs, but the principles are the same - when he gets too rough, remove him. And make sure your older dog always has the option of going to a safe quiet place where the troublemaker can't get to him.
It doesn't cover biting other dogs, but the principles are the same - when he gets too rough, remove him. And make sure your older dog always has the option of going to a safe quiet place where the troublemaker can't get to him.
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It is inappropriate play. Some pups are little crocodiles. He will grow out of it but in the meantime you have to take diversionary tactics. If he is biting at you give him a toy to bite at instead. If he is annoying your older dog then separate them for a while and again distract with a toy. Is he getting overtired. You could try giving him a break in his crate.
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Has this one got more working lines in the breeding?
This can make them a little more lively
This can make them a little more lively
He is so determined, sometimes will not be distracred. When I separate, both him and my older dog fuss so much, wanting to be back together. Raven is our 7th flatcoat, if he was the first I wouldn't be having another!!!!!
If this is the case, I would strongly suggest spending time working on them being separated. The last thing you want is two dogs who 'can't' be apart from one another. If the puppy bonds more strongly with the older dog than with you, it will make training all that much harder, and since there **will** be times in the future that they NEED to be separated (training classes, vet visits, whatever...) it's really critical (IMO) that each dog learns how to be content on their own.
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My border collie was like that as a pup ('It's a good thing you are cute.' crossed my mind more than a few times!)
What I found worked well for him was an x-pen (giving us all a chance to catch our breath) where he could work on things like snuffle mats, stuffed Kongs, and appropriate chew 'bones' that required him to 'slow down' and focus, often ending in a much needed nap and 'brain games' - teaching skills, touch, sit, down, - the basics, playing games like 'find it', (searching for kibble in the grass, or in a cardboard box stuffed with papers) brief gentle games of fetch, 'get a toy' instead of chewing on my hands, ankles, shoes, whatever he could get his teeth on.
The x-pen also allowed the opportunity for him to interact (communicate) with the other dogs, and they with him, without getting in their faces. At first the older dogs tolerated pretty much anything he would do to them, but in due time, his 'puppy license' expired and they began teaching him to be socially appropriate - careful, respectful ('knock it off' when they told him so) and most importantly to be gentle with those teeth. They would give him 'the look' (a stare) if he persisted, the lips would start to curl, if he still wouldn't stop, a low growl, or if need be, an 'air snap' was needed to get the point across. It took some time, it wasn't easy, but patience and guidance paid off - he grew up to be a well- mannered, socially appropriate, gentle adult dog.
What I found worked well for him was an x-pen (giving us all a chance to catch our breath) where he could work on things like snuffle mats, stuffed Kongs, and appropriate chew 'bones' that required him to 'slow down' and focus, often ending in a much needed nap and 'brain games' - teaching skills, touch, sit, down, - the basics, playing games like 'find it', (searching for kibble in the grass, or in a cardboard box stuffed with papers) brief gentle games of fetch, 'get a toy' instead of chewing on my hands, ankles, shoes, whatever he could get his teeth on.
The x-pen also allowed the opportunity for him to interact (communicate) with the other dogs, and they with him, without getting in their faces. At first the older dogs tolerated pretty much anything he would do to them, but in due time, his 'puppy license' expired and they began teaching him to be socially appropriate - careful, respectful ('knock it off' when they told him so) and most importantly to be gentle with those teeth. They would give him 'the look' (a stare) if he persisted, the lips would start to curl, if he still wouldn't stop, a low growl, or if need be, an 'air snap' was needed to get the point across. It took some time, it wasn't easy, but patience and guidance paid off - he grew up to be a well- mannered, socially appropriate, gentle adult dog.
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My Percy was a 'bit' too rambunctious with my older girl, so he was kept on a house line and tethered to me for a good few months, if he wasn't in the crate or the kitchen behind the baby gate, they were allowed to mix and hang out even play but as soon as he started going over the top barking or biting he was redirected to a toy or told to settle on his mat and we taught him 'off' as in get off Hilde which he diid learn quite quickly, but she wouldn't tell him off and I didn't want her pushed beyond her limits needing to tell him off, I did find that he was 10 times worse when tired and enforced naps in the crate were very much needed.
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