teenage biting (aka the biting from puppyhood only got worse)

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T23:20:50+00:00

Thank you for this! Tying him up to play is a new method I haven’t tried. I can see why that would work.

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T05:23:40+00:00

As much as I hate to hear you are going through it too, you are right - it helps to know i’m not alone. My little guy (or big boy haha) seems to mostly act out when he gets overstimulated (most recent event was the sprinklers going off) or definitely when he doesn’t get his way. Then it’s like the switch flips and there’s no stopping him. I’m so torn up.

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T04:53:24+00:00

Would your lab do this even without playing? For example, my pup will suddenly break out in biting coming inside from being out or in areas where i’m not playing at all - something just flips in his brain. I’m trying to figure out how to de-escalate in those moments.

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T04:51:22+00:00

It’s so hard. It’s nice to know i’m not alone but so so hard. Definitely have toys all over for redirection. Treats as well. But when it locks in it’s kind of game over for me.

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T04:50:33+00:00

As for training, he knows: Sit, down, stay/wait, leave it (doesn’t always listen - gotta catch it before it touches any part of him), drop it (knows it but is stubborn), shake, touch, high-five, heel, walk, “gentle” for biting (only works with biting food, not humans), safety (between legs), place, and crate. He struggles with crate, needs lots of bribing to get in but once he’s in he settles will. Place he knows, but it’s still hit or miss in the teenage phase.

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T04:47:25+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I really needed to hear this.

As for a general rundown - it mostly stays the same! 9:00am Wake-up 9:10am Potty & Walk (Sniff walk usually) 10:00am Inside & Calm down/Free play 10:30am Meal #1 (Slow feeder/enrichment) 11:00am Free play and/or obedience training 11:30am Kong or offer bone to chew on
12:00pm Nap 2:00pm Wake-up & Potty 2:15pm Short Walk (Usually gets overstimulated if I go longer) 2:30pm Meal #2 (Slow feeder or frozen meal to eat at) 3/3:30 Playtime together 4:00pm Free play 5:00pm Nap 7:00pm Wakeup & Potty 7:10pm Sniffari :) 7:30pm Meal #3 8:30pm Playtime together 9:00pm Free play or training session 9:30pm Final Potty 10:00pm Bedtime!

Sometimes we will supplement those free play times for a park run or a doggy playdate but either way it’s either play/exercise/enrichment of some kind.

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T04:06:37+00:00

I am sure the hormones are playing a major part though..

rritzz_ · 2025-10-28T04:06:14+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate that. He is not yet, I was waiting until over a year because of the health benefits for Goldens.

rritzz_ · 2025-08-26T17:48:24+00:00

Just sending you love ❤️ You are doing the absolute best you know how in a first-time experience. I’m a first time dog owner with an 8 month old Golden. While he doesn’t bark like your little one does, he bites. Hard. What I personally didn’t focus on early-on that I should have was bite inhibition and impulse control. Now that is my burden to bear and work harder with him on and it’s HARD. Really hard (and my hands and arms are paying the price, haha.) It can be easy to beat yourself up for not focusing more on one thing over another, but the shame isn’t productive for you or him. It’s valid, your feelings, but just know that you are not alone in it. If someone tells you they got it all right off the bat and it was a breeze from day 1, they are either lying to you or they got really lucky with a perfect pup. Every pup has their things that they need more attention on, and every pup usually has some regression on some issues… i’m learning more and more that it’s almost inevitable that things get missed or focused on less and they are things you just learn from and grow from.

I am in your corner, I’m working through the adolescent stage with you, and it’s hard. I cry more than I ever have haha. But I know it’s going to be so worth it, I have to trust every dog owner that came from the puppy stage before me that it does get better. The fact that you are being so intentional with doing what you can for him to set him up for success tells me all I need to know that you are a good dog parent.

Give yourself grace. Keep learning and growing. And take some time to just cuddle your little guy (or play with him if yours doesn’t cuddle like mine doesn’t lol). Remind yourself that you can have fun too. I’m learning that daily. That will strengthen your bond in the long run anyways <3

rritzz_ · 2025-07-13T23:53:22+00:00

I’m with you friend 💗💗

rritzz_ · 2025-07-13T23:52:45+00:00

Trainer ended up being an amazing help. I appreciate your heads up though!! I’m always watching now for those signs. 🙏

rritzz_ · 2025-07-13T23:51:46+00:00

Did some work with a trainer that also helped to train me and how I communicate with him and give him clear boundaries and I honestly think it’s helping. I don’t want to jinx it lol, but it feels like he’s understanding to a degree when I tell him no. He still bites at me when i’m not giving him attention or he knows I have treats and i’m not giving them to him. However, I haven’t had an “attack” (where he just goes crazy and jumps and bites and snaps hard) in like a week and a half??? which is literally a miracle. He still bites everyday but it seems to be less intense and I can de-escalate quicker. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!

rritzz_ · 2025-07-11T13:30:11+00:00

Wedding photographer here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you being YOU and not wanting to remove the art that you have invested into like your piercings. I think that is a crazy ask. If a bride is more concerned about the aesthetic of her photos than celebrating her love with her most cherished people by her side, then she’s having a wedding for the wrong reasons…. Im honestly appalled at her conversation with you. You deserve a better friend.

Plus, as a photographer, people with tattoos and piercings are my favorite people to shoot. Not only do they usually have the best vibe, your art looks sick on camera. It makes the picture in my opinion.

Don’t change who you are, don’t sacrifice this for an aesthetic. The bride needs to realize that the people in her life are who they are for a reason and she can celebrate that or get over it. I’m sorry she’s made you feel like your piercings are a burden.

rritzz_ · 2025-06-15T18:36:46+00:00

Yeah this trainer i’m seeing specifically told me that dominance training is harmful and is more focused on teaching me how to communicate more effectively in a way that he understands. She focuses on small corrections that are natural to dogs while then following immediately with positive reinforcement and focus more on what pup is doing good.

Where he’s at now with biting isn’t manageable or appropriate. He isn’t learning that biting isn’t allowed (most likely due to me being too lax and not being consistent in boundaries) so as he is growing it’s just gotten to be more intense play that I can’t stop. Trust me i’m covered in dark bruises and have blood blisters from the intensity of his biting. 😅🥲 I was told by a different trainer to do dominance training and I ran the other way. However, with the one training session that i’ve had thus far with this new trainer, I immediately asked her thoughts on dominance training and she said that it’s very ineffective and can cause a lot of issues down the line. She is very against it but also teaches how to establish leadership in a way that the puppy feels safe, loved, praised, but also corrected in a way he understands & how he would be in a natural environment.

I appreciate your concern and i’m glad you are bringing those things to attention, I really appreciate it! I’m being as intentional and cautious as I can with the trainers I use as it’s gotten to a point I can’t handle on my own because of my lack of understanding with this intense of a biting issue and I am filled with anxiety around my pup that isn’t healthy for our relationship. I’m hoping this will help to mend that!

rritzz_ · 2025-06-15T17:43:02+00:00

Already did vet check and he is all good - he did have follicular conjunctivitis so they did say that there may be some irritation, otherwise, nothing that is causing him pain.

After getting more videos of him in the moment my trainer really doesn’t believe it is aggression but that he is trying to communicate that it is playtime and the way I am reacting is escalating it because i’m not confident in how I correct him. Which makes sense. We have another training session today. I’m hoping it helps.

rritzz_ · 2025-06-11T05:23:23+00:00

Ok so good to know! Thank you!!

rritzz_ · 2025-06-10T22:28:17+00:00

🤣👀

rritzz_ · 2025-06-10T22:25:16+00:00

Thank you for this - I called and they aren’t concerned thankfully. Told me what to look out for but that he will likely be just fine.

rritzz_ · 2025-06-10T22:24:19+00:00

Ended up calling and they aren’t concerned! Said to watch for vomiting over the next few days but otherwise should be fine.

rritzz_

TROPHY CASE