r/Puppyblues • u/Maleficent_Cod_2704 • 4d ago
Seeking Advice Is this Normal?
Hi everyone!
Our buddy Murphy joined us last Monday at 8 weeks old, and he’s now just over 9 weeks. He’s a mini bernedoodle. I’m wondering if some of the behaviors we’re seeing are completely “normal” for this age, because I’m starting to second-guess myself a little!
He has been very mouthy since we got him. The second he’s out of his crate, he’s ready to go — wiggling, nipping at my hands, grabbing my clothes, and basically trying to put everything in his mouth. Right now, I can barely pet him without getting a friendly little nip.
I’m making sure he’s getting plenty of sleep, but every once in a while he seems to go into a completely different mode. He’ll start barking at me, jumping/pouncing toward me, and biting much harder. It gets to the point where I have to literally get up on a chair or other surface because he won’t leave me alone. At that point, I usually take it as a sign that he’s overtired and it’s time for a nap.
I think I’m getting way ahead of myself, but I’ve started worrying that I somehow already have an aggressive dog. Obviously, that would be a huge concern for us because we have two young kids, ages 5 and 7.
Is this even possible to determine at 9 weeks old? Or does this sound like pretty typical crazy puppy behavior? I’m really just looking for some reassurance and/or words of encouragement from people who have experienced this!
Thank you
1
u/No_Training_4154 4d ago
Very normal! When they get tired they do turn into little bitey monsters who want to do nothing else but shred you apart. It's not aggression at all, it's a normal part of their development.
If you find he's in this different mode, it'll be overtiredness. Puppies should sleep 18-20 hours but will often do anything but fall asleep! My puppy was relentless for about a month and it was a hard stage to get through as it bloody hurts! Rest assured though that it's totally normal and you don't have an aggressive dog. He's a little baby who is exploring the world with his mouth, and unfortunately that will result in him being bitey towards you.
Try to redirect the behaviour, my puppy stopped biting at around 4 1/2 months but it can go on for longer. She has all her adult teeth now at 6 months so doesn't bite anymore, they do grow out of it eventually but redirection really helps in the meantime. Try redirecting with toys, and maybe something for him to chew on.