My high-energy puppy bites my kids. What can I do to stop it?

Question

Our puppy is a bitter. He's fond of toes shoes and trousers. We are trying the ouch technique to curb his biting but it doesn't seem to be working it seems to make it worse and he's started to grow and tug hard on what he attaches to. I have 3 children eldest is 8 and twins at 6. Who are starting g to show signs of being afraid. He is a high energy dog and we are limited to the exersoze we can give him as he only had his first jabs 14/9/2017 and we have stray cats in and out the garden. Thanks. Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 8 days old

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have a 2 year old puppy who has been a handful. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. I think your first challenge will be to keep Enzo busy! If you cannot exercise him in your yard, I would recommend asking your vet for recommendations. As far as the biting, it seems like he has turned the "ouch" technique into a game. My best recommendation will be to completely ignore the behavior. This goes for everyone in the house. If he puts his teeth on anyone, they need to turn and walk away. He wants your attention, so if you remove it, he will be less likely to do that in the future. The other thing that can be helpful is teaching Enzo to play with you with something in his mouth. It is normal for puppies to be "mouthy", so we need to teach them what is appropraite for them to put in their mouths. As far as keeping him busy and tired, one thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. A basic obedience class would be great for him. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. Enzo might be a little young for it, but I would consider looking into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about it. clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

My high-energy puppy bites my kids. What can I do to stop it?

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