Puppy Question - Rough Housing

No1newts

No1newts

No1newts

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Hi all,

Just got my first ever dog, a 10 week old Labradoodle dog. Quick question as everything seems to be opinion based rather than factual out there.

He's really soft and very responsive and listens. Great with the kids and doesn't bark, whine or tap in general just a chilled out little guy.

He grew up with a little of 8 and I'm assuming they liked a little rough housing with one another. We got him some toys and I must admit I have a great time "rough housing" with him playing tug of war, chasing each other and having fun. He nips a little but every time he does I very firmly tell him no and give him his toy saying along the lines of "toys are for biting" and if he keeps going I stop or hold him and repeat that he shouldn't bite.

Being first puppy I'm obviously worried in setting a bad precedent for him. Some say it's bad and leads to rough behaviour others says it's good and helps them learn to play and understand limits.

Just wondering what experiences you all may have had with this?

Cheers
 
I think you're not meant to play tug of war with a puppy as it encourages them to pull

My mum has 2 Labradoodles and they can be quite playful! I think they've inadvertadly nibbled a fair few times, but just stop playing with them /ignore if they do, to not encourage the behaviour.

PS you need to post pics of dog :p
 
You shouldn't do anything with the dog that you wouldn't be ok with your kids doing too. Any nipping of humans and you make a loud noise like you're in pain and take the toy away. Playing tug of war is ok as long as it's good natured, any sign of aggression and it's game over though. Dogs need to learn their limits.
 
Agree with the above. My first dog, now 1.5yo loved to play, loved to bite. We trained he like her litter mates would do. Play as you like but when the play turns painful yelp! Make a noise and stop playing and turn away (for 30seconds - 1 minute) then continue playing and rinse and repeat.
She plays now and her bites are so gentle because she knows it hurts.
 
No1newts said:
He grew up with a little of 8 and I'm assuming they liked a little rough housing with one another. We got him some toys and I must admit I have a great time "rough housing" with him playing tug of war, chasing each other and having fun. He nips a little but every time he does I very firmly tell him no and give him his toy saying along the lines of "toys are for biting" and if he keeps going I stop or hold him and repeat that he shouldn't bite.
Click to expand...

you're right to stop when he bites and make an exception about that - though it's the chasing thing that might be an issue too here, their bones aren't all together initially and so they shouldn't have more than a few minutes of exercise at a time, when people play with puppies of that age for too long you actually put them at risk of injury

kennel club recommends 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day... so you should only be playing with him for circa 12.5 minutes twice a day at the moment
 
You're giving him a gift in toy form for biting. Don't do that. Yelp and then very firmly say NO! and ignore the dog for a minute.
Rough-housing with puppies to the extent that they start nipping is not the wisest thing.
 
OK I have two Labradors from puppies over the last 6 years or so, but before I suggest this, some will say its not nice and I shouldn't have dogs. Well it worked for me AND others who have had puppies to which I suggested this.

Anyway-

If your puppies nips/bites, touch his ear, just the once. Keep playing what ever your playing. If it nips/bites again, squeeze his ear a bit, not too hard, just enough so he/she feels it. Carry on playing. If the dog nips/bites a third time, BITE its ear. It will associate biting/nipping with that ear bite you did and it wont bite or nip again. Dogs ears are very sensitive and will do anything to not feel that pain again and one of those things is not bite or nip again.

Years later I have not had ONE single bite or nip from my dog. Neither has a few friends who have had puppies.

/dons flame proof coat
 
Cheers for the tips all.

Not sure I fancy biting his ear mind. This morning when playing I let him have the toy rather than fight for it and the one time he nipped me I made a "yelp" sort of noise and stopped the game. Went back to him after 30 seconds and he looked so sorry and didn't try it again. Going to keep giving this a try and see how it goes.
 
Just make sure he gets interaction with other dogs and other settings now. Take it to classes etc etc
 
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