My American Bulldog puppy bites me and my partner. Is training needed?

Lexy is likely playing and play-biting, but she doesn't know what is acceptable biting and what is too much. Make sure not to get her wound up, and if she is really excited redirect her biting to a toy she is allowed to chew on. Also, check out the play-biting section in this great veterinary behavior dog training website: www.dogstardaily.com. This is an excellent resource--good luck!

It can always be tough with a new puppy. Some chewing is normal with a young puppy however it is important to start trying to control the behavior now. I would recommend when Blue starts to bite to replace it with something he can chew on. Also, I would recommend starting with some basic training. This would be sit, stay and come. That way when Blue starts to bite you he can be re-directed with the commands. I hope that helps

Biting and mouthing during play and at other times including when you pet her, when you are walking, etc. is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. I do not recommend scolding her for this or telling her "no!", as this often makes dogs more frustrated and worked up, and tends to make the problem worse. Instead, redirect her to one of her toys and encourage her to bite the toy instead. Make sure that she has a variety of different toys available to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. She also needs lots of different things to chew on - bully sticks, rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter are all good options you can try. This behavior normally resolves on its own as puppies get older, so there is no need to attempt to punish her for it - just redirect her to something more appropriate, and be patient while she learns :)

That is a lot going on and it sounds like Oggy would benefit from a visit with a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in your area, especially if she is being aggressive to the point of bruising or drawing blood. Aggression usually looks very different from play/exploration biting and can include low growling, stiff bodies, showing the whites of the eyes, hair raising on the back, baring teeth, and then nipping or biting. This is unusual in a puppy of this age, so if it is happening, it is best to seek professional help in person ASAP since it is a complex issue that needs to be worked with. If the nipping is just puppy nipping, and she is also chewing on lots of things, it could just be normal puppy behavior and a puppy kindergarten/training classes is a great way to establish some ground rules and get used to interacting with each other in a positive manner. I'm also including some articles on general puppy nipping/chewing that may help as well. https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-nipping-of-hands/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-when-does-it-stop/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-tips-to-help-prevent-destructive-chewing/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/

Congratulations on your new puppy! It takes some time for puppies to learn to mind their manners. I recommend making sure that Percy has plenty of toys to chew on as his adult teeth are coming in. As you are playing with Percy and he starts biting, you should stop playing and tell Percy "no" and only begin paying attention to him again once he is calm. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have about Percy!

One recommendation I have for all new puppy owners is to go to a puppy training class. Even if you've raised puppies before it's always a great refresher course for you and Olie has never been to school before. Right now she's probably a little bit too young, you do want to make sure she's had several set of vaccinations and your veterinarian says she is healthy enough to go to class. Another great resource is how to raise a perfect puppy by Dr. Sophia Yin. https://drsophiayin.com/product/perfect-puppy-in-7-days-how-to-start-your-puppy-off-right/ Barking and biting our normal puppy behaviors but they do need to be addressed so that they do not interfere with being a good companion. When she is biting tried to redirect her to a toy or other objects she is allowed to bite. Www.veterinarypartner.com also has some good articles on puppy training. Good luck and thank you for using PetCoach

I’m sorry to hear about Luna Mia! There are many thoughts and opinions about dog training. One thing is sure- you need to nip this in the bud IMMEDIATELY. My rules include: if she bites during play time all play ends immediately. If she bites, she is reprimanded immediately and put in another room. Crate training can help a lot with anxiety so start crate training if you haven’t already. I’ve attached some links below with more articles and ideas about training. https://www.petcoach.co/article/biting-causes-prevention-and-control/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-nipping-of-hands/ Best of luck to you and Luna Mia!