Hi i have had my labrador puppy about a week now and i am just wondering what the best way to discourage nipping and biting is. He's just being playful i think but his nipping can hurt. he also tugs on your clothes. Whats the best way to handle this?
Thanks
Christine

You can try toy distraction.
When he starts nipping, stop all interaction and leave the room for a small amount of time so he learns biting = no more fun.

However we've had Wesley since 8 weeks and Im really struggling with the biting, and as he gets older it gets harder and is breaking skin now and growling as he does it. Im losing the will to live. He's bitten through my new clothes and my flesh and I get very upset.

Try and nip it in the bud, and best of luck to you.

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Labradors can be incredibly mouthy pups, after all, they're bred to use their mouths. It is just play, a lot of people with pups for the first time mistake it for aggression, but it is most certainly just a pup exploring his world and family. And how tempting for a pup is a flappy trouser leg or dressing gown, the movement is just so exciting they are BOUND to want to stick it in their mouths and keep it

As I've had more experience of working bred Labs, I've found them to be much less mouthy than their pet/show bred counterparts, although that is a generalisation and there are obviously pups that don't stick to that rule. It does definitely get better, but you need to be consistent, it isn't fair to wind up a pup, and then expect them to be calm when it all gets too much for the owner, so you need to encourage calm play. The only things I'd be concentrating on are socialisation, getting him used to everyone and everything, hats, bicycles, wheelchairs, brollies etc, etc, and his recall. Loads and loads of fuss when he comes back to you, and don't set him up at this point to fail, ie recall him when he isn't likely to come back to you.

You'll have to post some pics, not that I'm biased or anything, but I'm known to like Labradors a little bit

And welcome to the forum btw!

This is normal and necessary part of their development. It is really important for a pup to learn bite inhibition - how hard to press, what to put teeth on and what not to.
So a pup would be taught by the older dogs when he`d gone too far. And now that`s your job.
There are a few things that work at different times - yelping and withdrawing works with young pups. Stopping the game and walking away works better with older ones. Transferring the pup on to toys rather than hands is good too.
It does take time and patience. But it is a vital part of their education.
Why not buy a good puppy book (not Cesar!) which will explain these stages?
And cheer up - you`ve got the teething and the Kevin stages to look forward too.....

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Haha, didnt even realise i could post pictures? I'll figure that one out. I also LOVE labradors and have always had them in my life although this time it is different as i am the main owner haha! I did expect some nipping to be honest but i have a 3 year old who is getting nervous about it, i find he is often on a higher surface when pup is awake (like fully on sofa or at table). I want them to both get used to each other being around. Thanks x

Not a fan of ceaser?
Lol at Kevin stages. I cant wait to be able to walk him. I feel he's going to need so much walking. May do my figure some favours!
Thanks i will try the yelping thing.

I use photobucket, you may need to resize pics before uploading, so they're not too large to post, these are my two, everyone's seen them before as I tend to post a few pics



All you need to do, once you've uploaded into photobucket is copy the IMG codes and paste into your post

What on earth is the kevin stage? haha, I don't have a dog...yet. xD I really want a leonberger, they're beautiful dogs. but, for now, I'm trying to convince my parents to get a springer spaniel. or a lab :P they're loveeeerly. xD

They are beautiful! Lovely photo. I got some on my profile now i think? lol! What toys would you recommend?
HPIM1414.jpg

that puppy is ABSOLUTY gorgeous!!! awwh! *melts* very jealous here! I've got a ten week old kitten haha, she just jumped up at me for a cuddle, bless. But yeah, please enlighten me on the Kevin stage? I wanna proove to my parents that I know how to look after a puppy so that I can have one. is it all pups that have the kevin stage? (whatever it is) or just labs?