Dog owners!

[negams]

So I have an amazing pooch that DH and I rescued four years ago. We already know she's amazing w kids, but this is our first. I think dippy doo head just realized I was pregnant because only now does she completely lose her mind when I'm around (cuddling, following me everywhere, jumping around wagging her tail like a brand new puppy). Only bad thing? She does this thing when she gets excited where she puts your hand or forearm in her mouth. Doesn't bite at all, but still - she's a Newfoundland. I broke her of that habit when we first adopted her, but now she's not listening to me. Suggestions? Should I just give her a bit to calm down and see if she stops again?

[meggos1988]

Give her a bit to calm down on her own, if she doesn't we use the apple bitter spray, we had to spray it into our puppy's mouth once and now when ever he attempts to bite we spray it at him. We are getting to the point where we just show him the bottle and he stops

[kristhegirl]

You can try making the biting a command or trick itself - I might not use "bite," but maybe "grab" or "pick up." Have her grab everything - toys, shoes, your foot, whatever. Use this in conjunction with a counter-command of "let go" or "drop" or something like that.

This will at least activate differently than just "no" and will give her an idea that it's not always bad to put something in her mouth, she just always has to let it go. Newfies are smart, too, so two new commands could be awesome.

Also, are you feeding her still? The person who controls the food usually controls the dog; I'd be making her sit and wait before each meal just to re-establish listening to you.

[kristhegirl]

(I want to add, I'm sure she's getting food, lol - I meant are you the one who feeds her or is it always your husband or something.)

[CALEO]

Our dog does the same with me when he's excited.

I tell him. "No, we don't bite mommy, if you want to bite something, go get your toy." Sometimes he has to hear it twice but he usually stops and goes to get his toy.

Then I praise him and play with him for a second.

If he doesn't stop he knows "you're going to have to go outside" is a threat and he sits down really fast and is on his best behavior.

[kasiaskis]

When my dog gets excited I can tell that she just needs something in her mouth. I think it's a strange instinct for them. I would say "find your toy" and she would go search around the house for a chew and then focus her excited energy on that.

If you've already trained your dog out of mouthing just keep giving her clear consistent corrections when she does it and try to refocus her energy to an acceptable behaviour. Just have patience even if you feel like she's not listening to you, if you correct her enough times she will.

[cch24]

What a precious girl! She looks too sweet! Our fur baby doesn't have any issues with this but he sure does get excited when I'm around too. Although he has always been a mommas boy he's now always always always up under my feet now and freaks the fuck out when I get home evevryday. It's a lot to handle after a 9 hour work day but very adorable. When our little guy, Benji, was still a pup and wanted to nibble on everything we would grab the bottom of his mouth and put our finger under his tongue and say "no biting". We obviously wouldn't hurt him but put just enough pressure that he knew that was not okay. He hasn't once tried to nibble on us since he was about 12 weeks old, he's 4.5 years old (or should I say 54 months bahahah- gotta love those moms). Another thing I did would be the opposite.. where I grabbed the top of his mouth and kinda put my nail on the roof of his mouth and said "no biting" - again we would never hurt him to where he would yelp but it would be uncomfortable enough for him so he finally understood after a couple weeks. I have to attach a picture because I am just way too proud not to. He's our handsome man and will always be our first big baby!

[kristhegirl]

cch24 HE IS SO CUTE!!!! I'm dying of cute.

[cch24]

Thanks so much kristhegirl He is the apple of my eye I will never love another animal as much as him. Best furbaby EVER!

[negams]

Thanks ladies! kristhegirl spot on! She mostly does it when I'm letting her out after getting home for the day (so food is next). Ironically, dog can't be bothered w toys (but we had to have children lure her to our car to take her home once!). Today was a win, she started and I redirected.

mffrll she's my first newf but she's AMAZING!
Annie w her mini-me

[negams]

cch24 OMG I love it!

[rachydc]

I can't tell if my dog knows I'm pregnant or not yet she's always been a weirdo! Her way or getting excited and greeting us is by immedietly sticking her head in our crotches and keeping it there while not moving. She's also a big cuddle bug. I'm interested to see if any new behaviors develop