[Lilly'sMom]

We just got a lab/shepherd mix puppy about a month ago. She's 12 weeks. In most areas she's doing well with the amateur training I've given her (she sits on command unless she's really distracted, she lays down, walks on a loose leash most of the time (now...good lord that was tough), sits to wait for her food/water. She seems to like me well enough mostly and listen to me. But then sometimes, I will have just gotten done telling her to sit or I might be petting her gently and all of a sudden she's all snarls and teeth and very loud, very aggressive barking and lunging, looking me in the eye like she's out for blood. So far she hasn't drawn any, but she really freaks me out when she does this. Do you think I should be worried? How should I react to fix this? So far ignoring her and walking away hasn't worked (she resumes the aggressive barking as soon as I approach again) and holding her down by the scruff of the neck and calmly but firmly saying "No!" hasn't worked either. We have two small children, so I'd really like to see this behavior extinguish as quickly as it came in. Thank you in advance for any help
Susan

[Lilly'sMom]

Anybody? Hello out there!

[Lara's mom]

Sounds like pretty typical rough puppy play to me. When the puppy growls or bites, stand up, cross your arms and look away from the pup. They HATE to be ignored and it is an effective way to teach bite inhibition.

[Lilly'sMom]

Thank you so much! That is also what a local trainer said, so getting your second opinion helps me believe it. She's just seems so angry when she does it, it's hard to believe she's just playing. Of course my last dog (when I was a kid) was a shih tzu...I guess I'm just not used to big dog snarls. Thank you again

[lange]

Another person had a similar scenario. Maybe you'll find it helpful: Advice needed please :)

[Wolfling]

I had the same problem with my pitbull/catahoula mix. I tried ignoring him when he jumped on me, and it worked fine for a day or two; then he got worse. He not only jumped on me but began biting and tearing my clothes. I found what was causing his aggression, and now he has calmed down to mildness and is a perfect gentleman. Believe it or not...it was his squeaky toys. He loves squeaky toys and would run around the house biting them to make them squeak. It excited him and he would squeak them constantly in play. But have you thought about what the puppy is actually doing to get pleasure? It is biting! It bites, and the toy squeaks. What fun!:cool: Now he begins to bite people to hear them squeak too, what fun! I have taken away all my puppies squeaky toys and he is calm and mellow as a hamster. We are now playing together and enjoying each other. He is back on track with training too. I hope this helps other people who are having trouble with puppies who bite. I don't think those kinds of toys are good for their learning behavior. Balls are better, so are Frisbees. I read somewhere on the internet that tug-o-war was bad as it teaches biting, but I don't think so. I can let my puppy tug-o-war all he wants with toys designed for that type of play and he does not bite. Squeaky toys are out!