There can be many different causes if you have a Labradoodle biting problem.
It can be anything from a lack of education and socialization. To hidden physical pain and behavior problems.
Preventing your Labradoodle from biting starts in the home. The keywords are upbringing and spaying/neutering because all Labradoodles need the correct upbringing, and most would benefit from spaying/neutering.
In most cases, you are able to pinpoint the exact reason and address it so that the Labradoodle will stop biting completely.
In the absolute worst of cases, euthanasia can sadly prove to be the only solution, but that is not until you have talked with both vets and dog behavior experts!
Luckily it is very rare that it has to come to that point, as the reason for the biting can usually be identified and corrected without it having to cost a fortune.
But let’s take a look at the different biting/chewing situations there could be.
My Labradoodle Bites on Everything
Dogs and puppies, in particular, can have a tendency to bite or chew on anything they can get their paws on.
This is a natural part of a dog’s behavior that you will have to change if you want your dog to function in your family.
Basically this means that your Labradoodle or puppy has to learn what it can and can’t bite on.
The best way to do this would be to buy different types of chew toys, balls and so on.
I’ve made a list of some of my favorite toys that I’ve ever purchased for my dogs.
You can find it here.
Besides buy different things for the Labradoodle, also make sure that you are activating your dog, and just as important, teach it to active itself!
This means that the dog will use its’ energy on that instead of chewing up your entire house.
My Labradoodle Chews on the Walls
Some grown dogs and puppies also have a tendency to bite on the walls or the wallpapers of your house.
This is of course also something that we’re not interested in, so this is also something you want to wean your Labradoodle of doing.
As with before, a good solution here is also to make sure that your dog has different types of chew toys, bones and so on, so those toys become the dogs’ entertainment and not your walls.
Besides the previous advice, I would also recommend trying out the Grannicks Spray Repellant.
The spray should be used on those areas of the walls that your dog has a tendency to bite on.
Usually, that’ll make most dogs stop biting those surfaces pretty fast, as the taste and smell is quite intense for Labradoodles’ fantastic sense of smell and taste.
My Labradoodle bites its leash
Another labradoodle biting problem can be that your labradoodle is always biting its’ leash when you are out for walks.
This is most commonly because the dog is very excited or perhaps frustrated, and they end up directing those emotions towards you as the leader and leash-holder.
Sometimes the reason for this could also be that your Labradoodle is getting bored if you are training exercises where it is supposed to be on a leash.
It could also be because of the mood of the dog handler that the dog will try and bite the leash.
For
If this is the issue and you are not able to find a solution yourself, try consulting a dog behavior expert and hear their advice in your specific case.
The 5 Main Reasons a Labradoodle Bites
1. Territory and Property
Protecting their property is a very common reason for why a Labradoodle will bite.
And in this situation, the property can be anything from the dogs’ favorite toy or its food, or perhaps its territory or even a human being!
Usually, this is mostly seen with guard dogs like Rottweilers and German shepherds who will bite to try and protect their property.
But this behavior is also seen among every other breed of dog, including Labradoodles.
To avoid this kind of property-related biting it’s important that you begin the correct education as early as possible.
The best example of this is probably the aggression that’s related to food and feeding time.
This can be avoided by teaching your Labradoodle to wait until the food bowl is placed on the floor.
You should also teach the dog to either sit or lie down while it’s waiting for the bowl.
While getting nearer to placing the bowl on the floor, try giving your Labradoodle a treat so that it will learn that there is nothing wrong with humans being near its food bowl.
If you have kids in the house you should also teach them not to bother the dog while it’s eating, or just enjoying a treat, its’ chew toys and so on.
The dog should be allowed to have some time for itself once in a while.
2. Fear
When a Labradoodle finds itself in a strange and new situation or is confronted by a stranger, it will usually divert its’ fear towards those people in the situation.
This could be the mailman, paperboy or perhaps the vet.
This is also the reason why you should never seek out dogs you don’t really know, to try and pet them, as you can never tell how a dog will react.
It’s also very important that you teach your kids not to approach dogs they don’t know.
Dogs can also bite out of fear if they are surprised, if for example, your child sneaks up on it to try and give it a scare, or if they are disturbed while they are sleeping.
To avoid these fear-related bites, you should socialize your puppy as early as possible.
This will allow it to get used to as many different situations as possible that includes new strange people, other animals, and new places.
Hereby the risk of an anxiety disorder or other behavior issues is lowered a lot, and this can in turn also means that your dog is much less likely to attempt to bite.
If your dog has any general form of anxiety, you should try and find a behavior expert, or perhaps try some Calming Treats.
I’ve previously had great success with the Zesty Paws Calming Bites.
3. Pain
Pain can cause even the kindest of dogs to bite.
If your Labradoodle has hip dysplasia, inflammation of the middle ear, or any other painful health issues, this is also often the cause of a Labradoodle biting problem.
Also, remember to tell your kids not to touch your dog in the areas that are the cause of the pain.
If it feels like your Labradoodle is becoming more and more sensitive, and just generally seems more short-tempered, I would strongly advise you to contact your vet and have it examined.
4. Hunting Instinct
A Labradoodle is by nature a hunting dog, so there are still a lot of instincts in the dog regarding hunting.
When a dog is running and in a general hunting mood, you should be careful with running or biking beside it, because you might end up being a part of its “hunt”.
If a dog makes you a part of its “hunt”, the best thing you can do is stand and face the dog without looking it directly in the eyes as the dog might see this as a challenge.
Be very observant of the dog and its movements while always avoiding eye contact.
Usually, the dog will then approach you and smell you before continuing onwards as it now just thinks you’re kinda uninteresting.
If the dog, on the other hand, knocks you over, you should curl yourself into a ball and protect your face, your hands, and your neck, as these are all areas a dog would usually aim for.
And then just stay calm.
This is also something you should teach your kids.
5. Maternal Instinct
Even the most well-behaved bitch might bite when they have puppies.
You should be careful and respect the maternal instinct in a Labradoodle who has just become a mom.
Again if you have any kids, it’s important that you inform them about the situation, and that they should be very careful around her at this time.
And to be especially calm and cautious if they are handling her puppies.
Make sure that the mom and her puppies have a safe spot in your house where they can get their required peace and quiet.
Warning Signs
By knowing the most common reasons that cause biting problems, it is also much easier to avoid the biting from happening.
Usually, before biting, a labradoodle will display one or several warning signs.
The most common signs are:
- Growling
- Pulling its ears back
- The hairs on its back are raised
- The white part of a dog’s eyes becomes easier to see
- Yawning or any other behavior that displays the dogs’ teeth
Another sign is also unsociable behavior, like for example if the dog freezes completely by the slightest touch, or that it’s’ sending you quite intense stares.
These are also signs that the dog is ready to bite.
How To Stop Your Labradoodle From Biting
As I mentioned
Besides basic education and training, playing and being active with humans are also very important, as it strengthens the bond between the dog and its’ owner.
Playing and exercising also has the benefits that they burn some of that energy that most Labradoodles have.
A good idea is though to avoid aggressive games like wrestling or other games where dominance is a deciding factor.
A Few Things You Should Do:
- Train your Labradoodle properly, so it knows all the basics commands like sit, stay and so on.
- Socialize your Labradoodle as early as possible, so that it knows what it means when its’ meeting new animals or humans is unknown situations.
- Make sure your dog is vaccinated.
A Few Things to Avoid:
- Dont let your Labradoodle roam around wherever it wants. Especially in areas where it’s unsupervised near any strangers, and especially children.
- Allowing your dog to get too close to strangers, not even while under your supervision, if it has a tendency to bite.
- Overwhelm your Labradoodle while socializing it. Meaning its’ first meeting with new people and animals shouldn’t be at a rock concert or at the state fair.
In the end, I would also like to add a few products that I’ve had quite good experiences with when training a dog not to bite.
The first is the PetSafe Spray Bark Collar.
And also a good old Dog Muzzle, which is generally great when training a dog.
This was a list of some of the most common reasons and solutions I’ve encountered in all my years as a dog owner.
Hopefully, this has helped with your Labradoodle biting problem.
If not, let me know, as perhaps I or somebody I know have had your exact problem, and we will try and help you with it.
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