IStarr wrote to me about crazy puppy biting. It’s a question that many new puppy owners ask: “Is My Puppy Crazy?”
Crazy Puppy Biting
She writes: “We have a 9 week old olde English bulldog. He, for part of the day will be manageable, but at times for long periods of time he goes crazy, running crazy, growling, barking… and then becomes unmanageable with his crazy puppy biting. We purchased a kennel run for him to play in and before I tried to keep him in the bathroom with a baby gate but he absolutely goes crazy nuts when hes in there, he gets aggressive, barks uncontrollably, growls, bites the cage and everything in sight and runs from one end to the other sliding into the gate and also digs a lot, I am continually making corrections all the time by clapping loud and saying a firm “No,” and also resorting to a quick pinch on the back of his neck where his excess skin is. I’m being consistent and I’m wondering if its possible if he is over stimulated when he is in a larger area to play in, or does he just need to get used to it like the crate?
Is There A Way To Stop This Crazy Puppy Biting?
He does pretty well in the crate which is where I keep him sometimes when I cant watch him or need to calm him down but the bigger areas are a no go. I play with him a lot during the day to keep him occupied , I play with him after he eats or after he goes to the bathroom… is all this normal behavior? He gets lots of praise and treats when he is a good boy doing good boy things like going to the bathroom in the right spot, and I know he is a puppy so he is going to be a little nuts, but man!! I was raised with puppies and dogs and have never in my life seen such crazy puppy biting. He was so out of control the other day that I literally read your dog training book cover to cover since last night because I was desperate for an answer.
Adam G Katz Explains
How To Stop Crazy Puppy Biting
It’s not uncommon, per se. Frequently it’s an indication that the puppy needs to go outside and potty, but sometimes it’s just a result of generalized rambunctiousness.
In the case of the later– and because he’s a bully breed– the typical scruff on the back of the neck will likely be ignored by him. I recommend getting a small prong collar and fitting it as I describe in the book. The mother dog would correct the puppy in the same way, but she would use her mouth. At this age, you’ll want to only use the collar for nipping and biting. Do not use it for obedience exercises, as he’s still too young. (I recommend that you wait to start formal obedience training until the puppy is 4-5 months old).
Because he’ll likely chew the tab if you’re not watching him, you can let him wear the collar when he’s in his indoor enclosure and then attach the leash when you need to correct him– assuming there is nothing he can snag the collar on. If this still doesn’t phase him, it’s okay to use an e-collar but you’ll need to be intelligent about matching the stim level to his temperament so that you’re not over or under correcting the behavior. This is the easiest and quickest way to stop crazy puppy biting.