11 weeks and being very bitey

[Leannieb]

Hi max has been with us for 2 weeks now. He seems to have settled really well. He is Nearly 11 weeks now and for the past 2 days he has been very bitey and almost agitated. He was never like this before he was really chilled out. Is it just a phase they go through? My little boys are avoiding him at the moment (they are 3 and 5). My youngest has been waking him up a fair bit today which probably hasn't helped Max's mood. Today has been the first day I have been stressed!! X

[JeffD]

They don't call them cockerdiles for nothing    they do tend to be worse  when tired and just like human toddlers you have to enforce plenty of sleeps.

[Leannieb]

Bless him. He has been so chilled up until now. I guess it will be better once my eldest is back at school and Sam is at nursery again Next week so he can rest in peace. I feel shattered today. X

[Mudmagnets]

Bless him. He has been so chilled up until now. I guess it will be better once my eldest is back at school and Sam is at nursery again Next week so he can rest in peace. I feel shattered today. X

Until they do go back to school and nursery, it is important to make them understand  how necessary it is for Max not to be disturbed whilst asleep, resting, eating etc., as these are the times that they may get an unfavourable response from Max - which nobody wants 

[Leannieb]

My eldest who is 5 is fine and doesn't bother max at all but my youngest does seem to sometimes wake him up on purpose and will then coming running in and say mummy Maxie is awake. I have had a word with him today and told him that its very important that max gets his rest. Hoping for a better day tomorrow x

[Mudmagnets]

My eldest who is 5 is fine and doesn't bother max at all but my youngest does seem to sometimes wake him up on purpose and will then coming running in and say mummy Maxie is awake. I have had a word with him today and told him that its very important that max gets his rest. Hoping for a better day tomorrow x

It is such an exciting time of year for a three year old I would imagine and the added bonus of a young puppy to play with!! still back to normal as you say next week and settle back into a routine.

[Robbie34]

Get a cage for your puppy and put the kids in it .  Seriously, if your children keep pestering the puppy he'll soon learn that a swift bite will put an end to his torment.  You could then end up with an adult dog that will bite, and it won't be his fault.  Puppies should be able to play and sleep without being constantly tormented.  They do need to be handled and played with, but in a controlled fashion. 

I don't have any young children living with me so my pups have been able to grow up without being constantly played with or tormented.  I have been happy to have friends' children play with and cuddle my puppies - it's good for the pup's socialisation - but on my terms.  Consequently, my puppies have all grown up to be lovely natured dogs.  My recent addition, Jamie, is turning out to be a delight.  He likes to play, and he likes to be cuddled, but he also likes to sleep in his bed, and there is nobody to disturb him.  I'm hopeful that he will turn out to be as lovely as Charley and Henry.

[Walshies]

Get a cage for your puppy and put the kids in it .  Seriously, if your children keep pestering the puppy he'll soon learn that a swift bite will put an end to his torment.  You could then end up with an adult dog that will bite, and it won't be his fault.  Puppies should be able to play and sleep without being constantly tormented.  They do need to be handled and played with, but in a controlled fashion. 

I don't have any young children living with me so my pups have been able to grow up without being constantly played with or tormented.  I have been happy to have friends' children play with and cuddle my puppies - it's good for the pup's socialisation - but on my terms.  Consequently, my puppies have all grown up to be lovely natured dogs.  My recent addition, Jamie, is turning out to be a delight.  He likes to play, and he likes to be cuddled, but he also likes to sleep in his bed, and there is nobody to disturb him.  I'm hopeful that he will turn out to be as lovely as Charley and Henry.

Great advice.

Can only echo that puppies need lots of sleep - like humans, if they are disturbed for no reason then they get grumpy!

[QuaCKeReD]

Pebbles is now 5months, and can agree with all the above.

Plus, yes, it is a phase...they do stop...and you do sometimes wonder if they will...and whether you have made a bad choice getting them 

Chin up, bottoms up  and good luck with your new addition

[Leannieb]

Thanks everyone. I'm sure once the Christmas holidays are over things will go back to normal. Sam isn't mean to max he just wants to play. Max is very sweet natured so I'm hoping he won't bite as an adult but I guess you never can tell. Thanks again x

[Mircass]

Hi Leanna - I'm emailed you but will post this link just in case anyone does a future search.

This has pictures to show children what not to do -

http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/kids-and-dogs-how-kids-should-and-should-not-interact-with-dogs

Also to mention my Ralph got really bitey at one stage, turned out I wasn't feeding him enough (was following the puppy food RDA for his weight which turned out to be stupidly wrong).   He also got a bit bitey when needing to poo or to have a snooze. 
x

[QuaCKeReD]

Oh, Pebbles goes ballistic when she needs a poo - runs round in circles, barking, jumping.....

[ShazzaC]

I can sympathise with you as I am always reminding my 8 year old to leave the dog alone! But, with all children, you have to keep saying it! He went through a very bitey stage, but since the majority of his adult teeth have come in (he's six months) he has stopped trying to bite hands during play so much. He will growl at my daughter if she annoys him, and the crate has been brilliant if I feel he just needs 5 or 10 minutes to calm down.