You have just brought your furry friend at home. He is playing, roaming, eating, peeing, and pooping. Children reach out for him to play but after some time, surprising and loud cries are heard. You panicked and then you reached out for them and saw your lab puppy is playing cheerfully, and the children are crying. You asked them about what happened at the answer was this little shark bit us.
Why do Labrador puppies bite so much?
Labrador puppies bite due to their teething age, exploring the world around them, and playfulness. But sometimes if they don’t get enough attention and they are over excited about something, then there are more chances they can bite. But if your puppy shows signs of aggression and dominance from an early age, you should consult veterinarian or animal behaviourist.
Are you a new pet parent and also worried about your puppy’s biting? And worried about how to fix this problem. Don’t worry! Just read this whole article to stop this biting behaviour and to get some information about this behaviour. Get yourself ready to train your lab and read the article.
How to stop a Labrador puppy from biting?
Biting is an essential part for the development of teeth of Labrador puppies. This can’t be stopped but can be reduced by the following ways:
- Say “Ouch!” or “No” Firmly– When your puppy bites say “Ouch!” or “No” firmly to avoid biting while playing or doing some other activities.
- Stop playing when puppy bites– Always stop playing when your puppy bites. This way you can indirectly tell him to not to bite and this can make him realize that biting stops and interrupts the fun.
- By giving him chew toys while teething age– Order him some few chew toys while his teething age is going on as teething makes the gums uncomfortable and this leads him to bite on you and other things. Whenever he chews on you, make sure to give him his chew toys so that he doesn’t chew on you and other things.
- Consistency in saying no– Be consistent in saying no or leave it when your puppy bites you or some furniture. This way he can understand that biting is not a good way.
- Socialization– Socialize your puppy well to dispel his fear that causes biting and aggression.
- Basic training commands– Teach your little land shark the “leave it” command. It can reduce the biting.
- Keep your pup playful and active– A pup which has played enough will not bite. It is because the puppy usually bites when he is bored.
At what age do lab puppies stop biting?
Good news for new owners! Lab puppies outgrow their biting habits between the age of 3 to 5 months. But however, some puppies still continue this habit of biting till 6 to 7 months of age. If your lab is above 6 to 7 months of age and still continue biting, you should consult a dog trainer or an animal behaviour specialist immediately.
Why is my lab puppy so aggressive?
Your lab puppy might be aggressive due to fear, dominance, teething (becomes both grumpy and aggressive during this stage), lack of socialization, lack of basic obedience training, and if the owner leaves them in the house for long intervals. By keeping these things in your mind, you can recognize which type of aggression do your labrador puppy has in different situations.
How do you discipline a lab puppy?
To discipline your lab pup to stop biting, follow these steps:
- Time breaks– If your lab puppy is biting at you or some furniture for a long time, keep him in a calm and peaceful place where he can calm down.
- Use puzzle toys– Buy your pup some puzzle and mental stimulation toys. This way you can keep him engaged and prevent him from biting from boredom.
- Consistency in training– be consistent in your training schedule. Make sure your every family member follows the same hand sign and verbal cue so that your lab puppy doesn’t get much confused.
Why do Labrador puppies bite so much at night?
Labrador puppies bite for many reasons. These reasons include teething, over excitement, exploration, playfulness, and attention seeking. Teething can make their gums uncomfortable and thus, they bite. Puppies bite so much at night due to their over excitement, teething, and playfulness.
Do All Labrador Puppies Bite?
Labrador puppies bite like all other breeds and there is no exception. They bite for many reasons such as teething, over excitement, exploration, playfulness, and attention seeking. They bite for 3-5 months of age. But some of them continue their biting habit for 6-7 months. But if they bite after 6 or 7 months of age then you should be worried and consult a vet or behaviourist immediately.
Reasons why Labrador puppy bite so much
Reasons why Labrador puppy bite so much are:
- Over-excitement– During play, puppies get over- excited which makes them to bite you.
- Teething– A puppy bites when he’s relieving himself from discomfort of teething.
- Attention seeking– Biting is a way for puppies to get attention from which they want to.
- Exploration– A puppy is new to the world so by biting, he’s exploring the world.
- Play biting– While playing, you may experience biting. This is due to the over- excitement of puppy while playing.
What to Avoid When Your Labrador Puppy Starts Biting
You should always avoid these following things when your Labrador puppy starts biting. These are:
- Avoid Physical torture: Whenever your pup bites, always avoid hitting your pup. This can lead to aggression and fear.
- Avoid Yelling: Make sure to not to yell at the puppy when he is chewing on you or your furniture. This way he will be afraid of you and will bite you when you will touch him.
- Avoid rough playing: Rough playing such as playing with your hands can make your puppy to bite your hands. Use soft toys to play.
How long will it take to stop my puppy from biting me?
Most of the lab outgrow their biting habits between 3 to 5 months of age. But some puppies continue their biting for 6 to 7 months. This is not fixed, and it depends on puppy and his parents.
When to seek professional help?
When your lab puppy’s biting habits slip out of your hand, you must consult a vet or behaviourist immediately. They bite for 3-5 months of age. But some of them continue their biting habit to 6-7 months. But if they bite after 6 or 7 months of age then you should be worried and consult immediately. But there are more reasons that include- fear- based biting, aggressive behaviour and regular biting. These are the three of the main reasons why lab puppies bite. And don’t forget lack of training and socialization are also two of the main reasons why lab puppies bite. These two reasons are the keys for the development of Labrador puppy. But if these keys also don’t work, no need to worry and just read the articles or consult an animal behaviour specialist in your local area if any.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
At the end of the article, I would love to conclude that Labrador puppies bite due to teething, over excitement, exploration, playfulness, and attention seeking. Teething can make their gums uncomfortable and thus, they bite. But if they show signs of aggression or their biting habits slip out of your hand, you must consult a vet or behaviourist immediately. They bite for 3-5 months of age. But some of them continue their biting habit to 6-7 months. But if they bite after 6 or 7 months of age then you should be worried and consult immediately. You should always avoid these following things when your Labrador puppy starts biting. These are: Physical torture, Yelling, and Rough Playing. Always remember biting is an essential part for the development of teeth of Labrador puppies. This can’t be stopped but can be reduced by saying “Ouch!” or “No” in firm voice, stopping playing when puppy bites, by giving him chew toys while teething age, consistency in saying no, socializing, training them basic commands, and keeping your pup playful and active.
Thank you for reading this article and stay tuned for next such articles.