my 10 week old german shepherd x, is nipping really hard which we are finding not enjoyable at all , its not all time but when he does it really hard, the thing is we have three young children who are actually becoming scared of him and are not bonding because of this reason they wont go near him, and we have to keep him in the back room which leads out to the garden, my partner has bought a muzzle this morning whilst working so when he gets home we are going to try and use it, and see if that helps and control him a little better, we are starting puppy training in 3 weeks so that will be helpful, any advice if we are doing the right thing or not?

A muzzle won't teach him not to nip. If anything it will make you less inclined to train him not to nip as he won't be hurting anyone.
He's 10 weeks old. He is the tiniest of babies as far as development and learned skills go.

What training have you done to stop the nippnig?

please do not use a muzzle on a puppy, it is only a baby and it is natural for them to nip. as they are teething.
and yes they do hurt their like little needles!

how do you react when he nips you?


personally if the puppy was nipping me - basically exploring with their mouth i would distract them with a toy and play with them.


you could also try yelling in a high pitch way and hopefully the puppy will relise that i is soar.

as when they were puppies they would obvioulsy play fight with their littler mates and explore with their mouths. when a puppy bite to hard it would yelp - so the puppy would eventually relise not to bit so hard!

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As the others have said, a muzzle is a very bad idea. What you WILL succeed in doing is not teaching your dog about bite inhabition and causing problems further down the line.

I am assuming that because you have picked a powerful and intelligent breed that you have researched into training? Go back and read the section on bite inhabition.


Once again, if you do choose to muzzle, you can be sure you will be re-homing your dog in the future. This is not a breed to mess around with and good training and discipline are a must.

Good luck

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all dogs bite at 10 weeks its up to you to teach it that its wrong, with age it will also lessen but this really stmes from your signals that you dont want it to happen. Say "ow" high pitched or move away and busy yourself with something, giving no attention to it when it happens

oh my goodness....

Ok...number 1) its a puppy. A baby. Hasn't learnt right from wrong yet

2) does he know the word No? Teach him that if he doesnt and say it when he bites you.

Or just yelp 'ow' that normally tells them oops i did something wrong.

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i really appreciate what you are saying, i am not a silly person as to what i should or shouldnt be doing, he is starting puppy training next sunday with the whole family where we will get the help we need, its only that the youngest children cant get near him to bond as he generally goes for them and its not just a nip! thanks though for your imput and i assure you i will not be rehoming my puppy in the future!

Glad to hear it

Don't worry about the biting he's only a puppy and he's playing with you..he doesn't know he's not playing with you right. You have to teach him that.

Explain to the children that he's only playing with them. They need to understand he is just a baby and doesn't understand what he has done wrong. otherwise they will never bond with him and that might be a problem in the future.

Maybe put his lead on and take him out in the garden with him and while you're holding him with his lead encourage your children to play with him.

Do your children feed the dog? Try encouraging them to do that, that will help pup bond with them more. Dogs bond more with the people that actually do take care of them. I'm not saying your kids don't i'm stating a fact.

Also encourage yoru children with the grooming ie brushing. If they're afraid of him biting, again sit with them, maybe put his lead on and make him sit while they brush him.

Good luck.

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My two babies. Separated for a while but now both reunited on Rainbow Bridge, running in a field of daises. Gone but not forgotten. Love you always and forever



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Sorry but the answer to this is NO

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What have you tried to stop him doing it?

You shouldnt muzzle a baby, You didnt muzzle you child when they were putting everything in thier mouth did you? its the same he hasnt got hands to play with things he only has his mouth yes he might be going hard but that where he need guidence to show/tell him hes gone to far and that it hurts

Zeb was a nipper he would nip hard aswell if one of the kids ran he ran with them and would nip them, A quick OUCH in a very high pitch would stop him and then we would say "no bite" and turn away from him, It didnt take long before he realise we wouldnt play with him if he was biting hard

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