Dear Miss Behavin’: We just got a lab puppy named Sammy and she’s so fun! However, over the last couple of days she has started using her teeth on everything, including the kids! They are starting to become scared of her. How do we stop her from biting everything?
Puppies don’t have hands to explore the world with, so they tend to default to exploring with their mouths! Chewing and biting are very natural behaviors for a dog, particularly a puppy, so they key will be providing Sammy with appropriate things to chew on and helping her understand what she should not chew.
Get her a few toys and keep them on hand around the house. Any time she starts chewing on something she shouldn’t, direct her attention to a toy by tossing it or squeaking it. Also be sure that Sammy does not have access to anything too valuable. She is still learning and will make mistakes along the way. Keep shoes in the closet and kids’ toys out of her reach.
Similar guidelines apply to teaching her not to bite you and the kids. If she becomes mouthy as she’s being pet, the petter should simply stop to prevent further mouthing, and engage her with a toy to show her what is more appropriate. If she is playing rough with the kids, have them avoid games like tug-of-war and encourage them to play fetch with two toys. This way, they don’t have to take a toy straight from her mouth when she returns it but can instead just throw the second toy. An adult should always be supervising when the puppy and kids are together to make sure that all parties are having fun and that the kids are sticking with the game plan.
Overall, Sammy just needs some guidance as to what is okay to chew and what isn’t. Since chewing is a natural behavior, it should not be punished, but channeled into an appropriate outlet. Helping your kids understand this and supervising playtime will surely help their relationship with the puppy grow!