Dog Playing

Question
Isabelle--6 months, neuter, goldendoodle
Macy---5 years, neuter, golden retriever   both female


Our first mistake was perhaps loving our new goldendoodle to much and not showing punishment.  Shes around 6 months old now, my parents are thinking about giving her away if i don't make her a good dog fast.  We have another golden retriever that is 5.  When they play the puppy always bites the older dogs neck, heels, or ears, really anything so she can be the one to get the ball.  The older dog is use to letting go of the ball right when she gets it now just because she knows the big puppy is coming at her.  My siblings think the biting is fine when there playing outside together but then when were in the house they all seem to yell at the puppy when she bites.  I don't know if I like them biting at all but i just want to get to a point where the little one will lay off the older dog. Is this kind of play normal in dogs or should i punish them for it.  This is our 4th puppy so far its the best one so i think so far we just didn't train it alot, i am the only child at home anymore because all my siblings are in college and was young when our other dogs were trained so I guess iam looking for some help on what to do. If you could please send me information of what you think about this matter i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your time

Jessie

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 and jerk their hand away, or growl "Bad dog." and clamp
their mouth shut.  Then offer a chew toy.  They keep trying despite hundreds
of corrections.   Another good technique is to quit playing and go away.   Be
sure to praise them when they are playing nice and not biting.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens.

Much of how you handle this depends on the 5 year old dog.  If she seems to be enjoying it, let them at one another.  Right now I have an 11 month old Lab and a 5 year old one contesting a rubber toy.  Some dogs by 5 years old have lost interest in puppy games.  If yours doesn't seem to welcome the younger one, give her a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' every time she starts toward the older one, and distract her with a toy.  We have a 13 year old too, and she hates the puppy.