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Hi @dogmama Maria – thanks so much for the update. I’ve moved your discussion here to the Puppies channel because what you are experiencing is really common for adolescent pups. Just when you think you’ve got it all under control, you see these crazy-making behaviors like biting increase. This happens when puppyhood is progressing under normal conditions; I can only imagine that it’s worse for you and your puppy during this period of isolation and confinement!
Let’s try this:
1. Present a soft toy she can hold in her mouth, the moment you open the kennel door. If she drops it, pick it up and present it again. Let her bite that.
2. Stop playing/engaging when she starts biting. For this, you’ll want to have her on a lead. Slide your hand down the lead until your arm is straight and pull her away from your body so that she cannot reach your arm or body. With your other hand, pick up the toy and get her to latch onto it. Once she has the toy, you can loosen the lead again.
3. Teach her “play nice”. As a separate exercise, set up this puppy game that I developed for my puppy classes. I’m including a demo video. (I used to teach this in a veterinary, clinic which is why we are where we are in the video.) The puppy in the video is likely calmer than your puppy. You may have to repeat the sequence I demonstrate 3 or 4 times each session before you get any effect. And you are likely to have to practice this game for several days in a row before you see any progress. That’s okay. It’s not meant to have immediate results, but with daily practice, you can help your puppy understand that biting ends the play.
Good luck and please let us know how it goes!
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