My 10wk old maltipoo barks and bites us

Question
I just got an 8wk old maltipoo. We have had her 2wks. I am trying to crate train her which is going very well. The only problem I am having is that everytime I take her outside to relieve herself she does her business then she starts running away when I am about to take her inside. She starts barking, growling and tries to bite me.
When my kids try to play with her in the playpen area she jumps on them and starts biting them pretty hard. They are now afraid of her and not as happy as we thought we were going to be with our new puppy. I am not sure if I made the mistake of letting her walk around my house the first week we got her and let the kids play with her in the living room. The past couple of days I have not taken her out of the playpen area only to relieve herself. Please help! Is barking, growling and biting normal for a puppy?

Thank you.

Answer
Dear Hayde,

Thanks for writing. First off, attach a leash on her when you take her outside. That will prevent her from practicing "chase me" game.

What you describe is play-biting, a normal puppy behavior.

Mouthing and biting are normal, puppy-to-puppy play behaviors. Play biting is a stage of development and will usually pass unless the people inadvertently increase the behavior by inappropriate play. Instead of wrestling with puppies, children and adults should play games like hide-n-seek, fetch, or find the treat.

Play-biting becomes a nuisance when puppies nip and bite human parts or clothing. Examine your play behaviors and make sure you're not contributing to the problem. If you use your hands to tumble your pup or if you get down on the floor and play rough with your pup, you are telling her that you play just like another puppy would play. Yikes! Puppies bite other pups!

There are several strategies to reduce play-biting. Some tips work well with puppies under 6 months and other methods are better for older pups.

The most successful methods involve redirecting the behavior. For instance, with very young puppies use "Ouch-Withdraw" to teach them about jaw pressure. Say "ouch" when you feel the needle teeth sting, and then ignore the puppy for 10-15 seconds. Re-engage by offering your puppy a suitable item. Praise her for biting the item.

There are many good books about raising a puppy. Here is a link to a list of my favorites. http://howsbentley.com/links/books.php

Have fun with your new pup!

Alan J Turner
How's Bentley Dog Training in Memphis
http://howsbentley.com