We recently got an 8 week old golden female and have had her for about a week. Overall, she has been doing fairly well and is getting better.

The primary problem is that she has been really mouthy, and it is mainly a problem with our two boys (aged 5 and 3). She is constantly going at their pants, ankles, and feet, even when they aren't actively playing with her. They are starting to get fearful of her. She hasn't actually hurt them, but she's bitten too hard a few times, and mainly it scared them.

I've been reading about different techniques, including here, and looking around at some books, but interested in some actual reading material that is more easily relatable to goldens, and that can hopefully prepare us for what is ahead.

I've read on here about playing with her to draw out a bit and then saying "ouch" loudly and stopping playing/leaving the room for 30 seconds. I've heard others about saying ouch or "yipe" and then immediately giving her hand back to you, or pushing it in further to make her spit it out. Both have downsides... like purposely letting yourself get bit, shoving it further, etc. She has already broken the skin once on my wife.

Other minor question... how important is it to have the puppy near you in the crate at night? Read some material about having her sleep near you so she knows you're there. We've been leaving her downstairs in the crate. After we take her out, she barks some when we go back upstairs, but it has gotten a bit better (10-15 mins down to about 5 mins). Neither of us really want her getting used to being in our room. For me, I have lots of allergies, but predominantly mild. I have no problem with dogs generally, but have me breathing stuff I'm allergic to while I'm stationary for 7-8 hours, and I wake up with a mind splitting headache.

Any tips would be appreciate, and would love to start reading up to make us feel better prepared and know we're heading in the right direction.

I don't think you will find a book on mouthiness, but just need to understand it. They are playing, not being aggressive, so encouraging biting just to correct them seems a bit silly to me. If they aren't doing it then great! The best solution we have had with our dogs is if they are bitey as pups is to say "no biting" firmly and replace your hand with something appropriate, like a bully stick. We also did the high pitched sound like a yelp when they would bite and that worked as well. If they don't respond they didn't get punished, but would calmly be put in their crate for a time out. Most puppies get it over time, but it certainly takes time. Just generally, I would definitely not recommend you let your children play with the puppy unsupervised at any time....the puppy can hurt them and they can hurt the puppy very easily.

As for the crate, is she making it through the night without going out to potty? If so (although I'd be surprised) I don't see why the crate needs to be in your room. But you may be dealing with accidents if you don't hear her whine in the middle of the night.

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I definitely understand that she is just playing, but my kids don't necessarily understand that. I certainly don't leave them with her unsupervised.

Mainly interested in recommendations for training goldens, not just mouthiness. Growing up, we primarily had small breeds and never any that were as mouthy. So some of it is new to me.

I did give the breeder a call today and she recommended using the pennies in a soda can, which I'd read of before. She said it worked with the mom when she was a puppy.

For crating, she doesn't yet sleep through the night without going potty, however we haven't had a problem hearing her. She whines/barks if she needs to and I'm a fairly light sleeper. She only had an accident the 2nd night, but think it was where she went out to go potty, then later realized she had to poop.

Puppies will almost always identify the most active person or people in the house as playmates, like their own siblings. This is usually what happens with puppies and children of any age. The puppy has identified your children as playmates and is continuing puppy on puppy play behavior that with your boys. It is going to take time and most importantly consistency for her to understand she can not continue to mouth them. This will probably be difficult but not impossible with two active boys.

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Laura, Jinx, and Rocky
UKC CH Wildfire's A Kind of Magic CGC
http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=474956
Rocky the old min pin who thinks he's a golden

Yes. I walked downstairs to my kitchen and saw my 20 year old son on the kitchen island!!! --On his stomach like he was boogie boarding!!! He had been playing with Rocky (3 months) and jumped on the island because he was nipping him. Rocky had the zoomies. I was like "what the heck are you doing!"

He NEVER nips my hubby. He tries to nip me when I have my pj sweats on. I've been training him to sit and stay. So he will stop when I say SIT! And he will stop when I say NO! STOP! With my finger to his face. I can see that he gets it. I also learned here to distract. Usually, opening the the door to the back yard ..lol.

But he's so darn adorable!! And mommy doesn't want him to grow up. Everyday I brush him and he loves it. It looks like he wants to bite the brush but then it feels so good and he's so loveable that it makes me forget the nipps.

I just told my son...don't run Mr. 20 year old ex football player who just came back from the gym. Tell him NO! SIT! STAY! But then again, that sight, that memory of college boy in his work out clothes stomach down on the island - hands up, feet up, I just love and will never forget!

Happy Holidays!

I really like Nicholas Dodman & Tufts Vet School's book called Puppy's First Steps.

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Jill &
Lush: GCH Am CH Harborview Sweeter Than 'Shine At PoeticGold CGC
Tally: Goldiva Raleigh Tangled Up In Blue CD RAE TDI TT CGC
Copley: BOS Chantilly's Bright Lights Big City RN TDI CGC
Finn: Sand Dancer's Infinite Sky TDI TT CGC
Tango: Topbrass Everlore Talk Of The Town TT CGC(co owned)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poeti...4205285?ref=hl
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Best story all day! My two sons, 20 and 22 years, are home from college this week. The dog is 16 months old. Mom! Mom! The dog is in my bedroom. Mom! Mom! The dog is jumping. The dog has a sock. So, tell the dog to Sit and Drop it. Carry some treats and do some doggie tricks through the day. Don't leave your shoes, phone, and dinner plate on the coffee table. But, no, that makes too much sense.

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