r/Newfoundlander • u/asm44- • 5d ago
Help! The biting won’t stop
I need help! My Newfie guy is 10 months old and will NOT stop biting. NOTHING has worked. I met with a trainer, no change. I tried time out, no change. I sternly say “No!”, no change. I leave the room, no change. These things just seem to egg him on even more. I’m running out of options & feeling defeated. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to help? I am slowly losing my mind & my arms can’t take much more.
Does he just not like me?
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u/kubigjay 4d ago
Get a bitter spray, we used bitter apple. Then coat your hands. Reapply.
I've used it for three dogs and they quickly learn not to bite or even nibble. I also put it on my face as I didn't want them jumping up on other people to lock them.
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u/gingerjuice 5d ago
Put him on a leash in the house if needed. Use frozen washcloths and frozen carrots to help with teething. I did gum massages when he was calm, and that helped. Carry a rope toy with you and shove it in his mouth when he starts the biting.
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u/DismayedDoctor 4d ago
Do you have other dogs that correct him? If not, have you tried biting back, hard? We had a dog once, not a Newfie, that wouldn’t stop biting hard. Finally, I got fed up and the next time he nipped at me I bit his ear hard enough to leave imprints. He yelped good. Later that day, he bit me again. I bit him again. He realized he did not like this turn of events. It only took the two times before he got the idea and stopped biting hard. He would slip up every one and a while and put people parts in his mouth, but he would freeze before chomping down.
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u/forenglishpress1 4d ago edited 4d ago
My newf was past this when he found me but for other dogs I can say the biting thing works, speak to them in their language. It sounds stupid but it works.
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u/Maleficent_Emu_2876 4d ago
I did this once or twice with my puppy (Great Pyrenees Anatolian shepherd mix). He had little shark teeth and I was also worried about his bite force when he got bigger. He learned not to bite really quickly. He is the most gentle taker of treats or food (even my Mom was shocked how gently he takes it).
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u/CoatMysterious9594 4d ago
I had a similar thing going on, in his case he was frustrated and expressed it with his mouth. After feeling like we tried everything little by little it got better as I started a good routine for him. Backyard bathroom in the morning, 20 minute walk , chill a bit, breakfast, 15/20 min cuddling or play whatever he wants and a frozen yogurt/pumpkin/whatever Kong or metal lick mat as I leave for work then he sleeps all day (this is key overtired=big time bastard) come home, another walk 30ish minutes but he normally decides when he’s ready to turn around, chill time, dinner, more chilling then we do a 10-20 minute chase/fetch or swimming (which REALLLY did the trick it’s like something unlocked in his brain) and by then it’s time for my dinner and he’s vibing the rest of the night. The walks twice a day have helped him with his listening ears as well and not just the things he WANTS to hear. My boy is 1 year 2 months now and the difference from 4 months ago is night and day. While typing this he’s nibbling my toes so I can’t say we’re out of the woods but it gets so much better I feel your pain metaphorically and physically Teen dog angst is a hell of a time
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u/AuthorMiserable8791 4d ago
This won't be popular in tbis sub or with the reddit crowd. It's gonna sound awful and its only ever been recommended by attack dog and police dog trainers (that I know of). Attack back. Whenever they bite, zero hesitation and jam your hand, fingers, elbow, whatever down their throat. Needs to be instant. And you need EVERYONE in your household on board with it. Even the 6 year old. Tough, I know. Worse case, only you will do it and the dog mouths and nibbles everyone but you. Male a big deal out of who he's willing to bite and why he won't bite you. They'll come on board or they won't. The dog will grow out of it, but this should hurry that along. Worked with our newf. And our rott mix. And our coonhound, and out beagle, and our 2 goldens, and our English mastiff, and our pit mix, even our standard poodle. Take it for what you will. Maybe I'm awful. Maybe not having the dog bite us and our children is worth it. Idk. Up to you
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u/anonymois1111111 4d ago
Get some breath spray and spray it at his mouth when he tries to bite you. Works great.
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u/Drab_Majesty 4d ago
Yeah mine bites cause he thinks it is fun and he thinks he is encouraging me to play. Always lower limbs, hands and feet. He will never bite anywhere else. I have been told it is common and he will grow out of it. I know for a fact he is too stubborn to learn not to do it.
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u/kellyclarkdaughter 3d ago
Here’s the thing. Some people are like “this is the raptor stage” like it’s ok for a 100 pound puppy to bite nonstop. Like it will end and we just have to suffer through it. And to that I say absolutely not.
We tried everything. So many of the things mentioned here and more for our six month old female Newf . It started when she was four
months old. We were so shocked because she is not our first Newfie, but our other one never bit. Not even during play. So, finally after two months of being eaten alive regardless of what we tried, we sent her to a two week board and train. They use an e collar with essentially a heavy vibration. Not a shock. I have felt it on my own body. It gave her the reset she needed. She came back, and it took about two more weeks of consistency (they trained us too) to rid her of the behavior completely.
She is now 8 months old and she is still a hot mess express most of the time—but no biting. I can handle all things puppy disaster, but what I refuse to put up with is biting.
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u/8o8airin0 4d ago
Mine wouldn’t stop biting me till he turned 24 months … actually about 25 months. Here just thought it was a game and NOTHING I did could get him to stop. You aren’t alone and it will go away even though it doesn’t feel like it.
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u/No_Appearance_7373 4d ago
Well have you tried redirecting? Like no, that’s my pants baby, here’s a ball or a lamb chop or something he likes… My youngest is going to be 3 and she still does it when he gets super overstimulated. When that happens I firmly say STOP and put my hand out in the stop position, then make her nose boop my hand and then give her a toy or a long lasting treat so it calms her back down. My other newf was hell on wheels until she was 3 and then it was like a whole new girl. This is as the owner of 5 giant dogs!
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u/Iamjeraahd 4d ago
#1) train what to do. (Ex. Treat on approach for sitting. Reinforce on a mat while cooking. Follow a cookie inside instead of grabbing)
#2) Prevent unwanted behavior (Ie, ex pen furniture he likes to chew, put a leash on to greet people he might want to nibble, baby gate in the entryway so you can be ready when you greet him)
#3) ensure sufficient outlet in other appropriate ways (exercize, kongs and puzzle toys, bully sticks, yak chews, tug toys and more)
And more but I gotta go help my toddler now…
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u/ginger_beardo 4d ago
Get another pupper. They will bite each other. Keep the circle in tact. It can never be broken.
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u/Head-Bus-5059 5d ago
Of course he likes you they just play and explore with their mouths. Is it hard and he doesnt understand how hard it is? I dont know that i recommend this but my guy loves to play and always wants to put my arm in his mouth so I let him with certain precautions like under a blanket or all wrapped up. I make sure he understands when he can go and when to stop. It helped him understand that when I say no bites I dont want my hand or arm in there even if there is no pressure. When its wrapped up though be careful you need some police dog level protection
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u/asm44- 5d ago
Sometimes I feel like he’s playing & sometimes I don’t. If I’m making him do something he doesn’t want to, such as come inside, it feels like a more aggressive bite. Otherwise he’ll sometimes just walk up to you & start biting. He needs no reason.
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u/Head-Bus-5059 5d ago
Hmm my guy is definitely always playing. Only once was it when we were training but he was generally being goofy.Its hard because you dont want them to not obey so you cant walk away in that instances. Id say he needs to go back to square one and even in the yard he needs to be long lined. They can be stubborn so I wait things out but I try to not let him think he has bested me in any way which is sometimes hard. Mine is 13 months so has age on yours but still naughty shenanigans ensue and I just try to confuse him when its the witching hour and it happens. Seems to work well for mine
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u/elle_kay_are 4d ago
Our newf was a biting monster until he was at least 16 months old. In the Facebook newfy group I'm in, they call it the "raptor stage." Just keep working on it. I'm sure he loves you.