Puppy and child

[HEATHER SPIRKO]

I have a 12 week old lab puppy who is really good usually but at least daily he gets in a mood where he just starts jumping and lunging at my 6 yr old and biting at him. I have tried to have my son help me with training so the dog respects him but he still is continuing with this behavior. He only does this to my son not to my husband or I, only now and then when he’s excited and playing but it’s daily to my son. Please help

 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there, 

Welcome to the forums!

Does this happen usually at the same time each day? Is it in the evening? after eating?

How much sleep is your 12 week old puppy getting during the day and night?

Recalling these past events, is there any pattern? What was your child doing at the moment? 

Does it ever happen when your child gets near his toys? The food bowl? When the puppy is chewing on something?

When he nips and lunges you or your husband when he's excited and playing how is he playing? What games? How does the biting start?

Is there any growling?

In the meanwhile, if you toss a ball or some kibble (keep these readily accessible in your pocket) away from you son across the opposite side of the room, can you redirect your puppy quickly so that your son can leave the room?

Another option is to use a gentle collar grab and show a treat as you accompany the puppy away from your son to a confined place to chill with a chew toy/stuffed Kong. At the end of this article is the guide to habituating to gentle collar grabs: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/exercises-to-teach-puppies-to-tolerate-touch/