20 month old Cockapoo

Question
I have a male cockapoo who is very energetic and loving.I have taken him to dog obedience class when he was a 6 mos. old.  He did very well and he is very smart, however, when he wants attention he will bite our socks pants and even us.  His tail is wagging and he thinks he is playing.  I will get a ball and play with him, but then he just starts biting us.  I know he thinks he is playing.  I will speak firmly to him, but he still keeps doing it.  The only way I can get him to stop is to put him in his cage for 10 minutes and then when he comes out he is okay.  The other option is I will hold his mouth shut and then he runs around for a few minutes and then grabs a bone to chew.  How can I get him to verbally listen to me and stop biting.  It is very difficult when he starts to do this to my 9 year old daughter.  Thank you for your advice.  Joanne

Answer
Young Labs, which I know best, and other puppies tend to very bad about biting.  You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting another one or themselves.  I am not even sure they realize that when they are alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten.  At 3 to 4 months they are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking moment biting or chewing.  One thing you can do at that stage is to knot and wet a piece of cloth.  Then freeze it.  The cooling will soothe the gums.  Only let the puppy have it when you are there to watch it.  I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another Lab.  Otherwise they settle for any person they can.  They keep hoping to find one that won't yelp,  jerk their hand away, and leave.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens. Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones.  Avoid things they can chew pieces off and choke on them.  Keep them away from electrical cords. Crates are essential for most young Labs and other dogs.

The pet stores are full of toys that many dogs will quickly chew up into pieces they could choke on or cause intestinal blockages.  If you are not there to watch, stick to sturdy stuff such as Nylabones and Kongs.  Keep a close eye on chew toys and quickly discard anything that is coming apart in pieces.  Rawhide is especially bad because it swells after being swallowed. I don't trust any of the consumable chews.  The dogs just gnaw them down to a dangerous size too quickly.  These problems are the worst with, but not limited to, large, aggressive chewers such as Labs.

I am glad you obedience trained.  Many people make the mistake of failing to do so with small dogs.  Perhaps he needs a refresher course.  With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea. In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year.  Even many urban areas have 4-H.  For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices.  Ask specifically about a dog or canine club.  The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class.  A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/
For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm