Anonymous
04/20/2026 10:06
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the responses.
Update: It's been 3 more weeks and he's gotten slightly better with the biting, which gives me hope. We haven't used the spray bottle, yet, but are not opposed to using it if he doesn't continue on this trajectory. What we've been doing (kids too) is saying no sternly and getting up and leaving every time he bites or tries to get rough with us. We praise him when he's calm and biting his chew toys. I also started leading him to where I want him to go with "high-value" treats instead of picking him up, or picking him up with a high-value treat in my hand when I need to do that. That's helped with the biting/growling when being picked up. Probably better for my back, too.
Someone suggested putting aluminum foil on the couch and chairs and that has totally worked to keep him off the furniture. Just one long piece that's easily movable if we want to sit down. He doesn't like the sound or feel of it. We also have washable pads on the furniture so if he does go on there again we can toss it in the washing machine. But the goal is to keep him off there entirely while he's potty training.
Making some popcorn for when the freaks start calling you "abusive" for using foil as a deterrent, since water is "abusive" and all...
Glad you're coming up with a workable strategy, OP. Puppies grow up. You'll get through this.
Anonymous
04/20/2026 09:55
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
OP here. Thanks for the responses.
Update: It's been 3 more weeks and he's gotten slightly better with the biting, which gives me hope. We haven't used the spray bottle, yet, but are not opposed to using it if he doesn't continue on this trajectory. What we've been doing (kids too) is saying no sternly and getting up and leaving every time he bites or tries to get rough with us. We praise him when he's calm and biting his chew toys. I also started leading him to where I want him to go with "high-value" treats instead of picking him up, or picking him up with a high-value treat in my hand when I need to do that. That's helped with the biting/growling when being picked up. Probably better for my back, too.
Someone suggested putting aluminum foil on the couch and chairs and that has totally worked to keep him off the furniture. Just one long piece that's easily movable if we want to sit down. He doesn't like the sound or feel of it. We also have washable pads on the furniture so if he does go on there again we can toss it in the washing machine. But the goal is to keep him off there entirely while he's potty training.
Update: It's been 3 more weeks and he's gotten slightly better with the biting, which gives me hope. We haven't used the spray bottle, yet, but are not opposed to using it if he doesn't continue on this trajectory. What we've been doing (kids too) is saying no sternly and getting up and leaving every time he bites or tries to get rough with us. We praise him when he's calm and biting his chew toys. I also started leading him to where I want him to go with "high-value" treats instead of picking him up, or picking him up with a high-value treat in my hand when I need to do that. That's helped with the biting/growling when being picked up. Probably better for my back, too.
Someone suggested putting aluminum foil on the couch and chairs and that has totally worked to keep him off the furniture. Just one long piece that's easily movable if we want to sit down. He doesn't like the sound or feel of it. We also have washable pads on the furniture so if he does go on there again we can toss it in the washing machine. But the goal is to keep him off there entirely while he's potty training.
Anonymous
04/18/2026 22:21
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
I’m a DP and I agree that it’s abusive. Do better. Don’t be a lazy pet owner.
You're probably not a DP, you're probably sockpuppeting.
Do what you need to do to train your dog. What's actually abusive is adopting some rigid mentality of pseudo-moral correctness that results in a trainable puppy becoming a full-grown dog with terrible manners who's then labeled as "untrainable" and passed off to rescuers like me.
Watch how dogs correct dogs. A spray bottle isn't "abuse" at all. It's a puppy, not a child.
So, can we take a spray bottle to you every time we don't like what you do? Child, dog, what ever its not ok.
Anonymous
04/18/2026 22:21
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
I’m a DP and I agree that it’s abusive. Do better. Don’t be a lazy pet owner.
You're probably not a DP, you're probably sockpuppeting.
Do what you need to do to train your dog. What's actually abusive is adopting some rigid mentality of pseudo-moral correctness that results in a trainable puppy becoming a full-grown dog with terrible manners who's then labeled as "untrainable" and passed off to rescuers like me.
Watch how dogs correct dogs. A spray bottle isn't "abuse" at all. It's a puppy, not a child.
That's not training and many of us have been able to train our dogs without abusing them with spray bottles and things like shock collars. This is a normally puppy behavior. They are three months old and trying to figure things out.
Anonymous
04/18/2026 16:48
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
I’m a DP and I agree that it’s abusive. Do better. Don’t be a lazy pet owner.
You're probably not a DP, you're probably sockpuppeting.
Do what you need to do to train your dog. What's actually abusive is adopting some rigid mentality of pseudo-moral correctness that results in a trainable puppy becoming a full-grown dog with terrible manners who's then labeled as "untrainable" and passed off to rescuers like me.
Watch how dogs correct dogs. A spray bottle isn't "abuse" at all. It's a puppy, not a child.
You are creating problems that whoever ends up with that dog will have to correct . I would not call it abuse, but it is probably not a good choice. It has taken me a full year to get my rescue dog to act normal about things like using a sprayer on the bath, using a spray on topical medication etc. I have never seen a dog spray another dog with anything, so you might want to reconsider that line of reasoning.
Anonymous
04/18/2026 09:18
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
I’m a DP and I agree that it’s abusive. Do better. Don’t be a lazy pet owner.
You're probably not a DP, you're probably sockpuppeting.
Do what you need to do to train your dog. What's actually abusive is adopting some rigid mentality of pseudo-moral correctness that results in a trainable puppy becoming a full-grown dog with terrible manners who's then labeled as "untrainable" and passed off to rescuers like me.
Watch how dogs correct dogs. A spray bottle isn't "abuse" at all. It's a puppy, not a child.
Anonymous
04/18/2026 05:31
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
It’s absolutely abuse.
Anonymous
04/17/2026 23:15
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
I’m a DP and I agree that it’s abusive. Do better. Don’t be a lazy pet owner.
Anonymous
04/17/2026 13:05
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
No, a spray bottle with water isn't abusive, and you're a mess. Sleep it off instead of shiteposting after midnight, maybe?
Anonymous
04/17/2026 00:41
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Its extremely abusive.
Anonymous
04/16/2026 12:36
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
It’s not absusive, but it is also not effective. A dog trainer can help with positive reinforcement strategies. Also you need to really deep clean (enzyme cleaner) the couch or they will continue to re-mark
Anonymous
04/16/2026 06:55
Subject: Re:12-week-old puppy biting and growling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was about to try the spray bottle to keep him off of the couch. He has pooped and peed on it already and that has to end. Maybe I'll try for the biting too.
To the person saying that was abusive, umm... it's a dog, not a child, and it's water.
Yes, it is abusive. Would you like it if someone constantly sprayed you with water? These behaviors are normal for a 3 month old puppy.
You're unhinged.
While the behaviors may be "normal for a 3 month old puppy" interacting with puppies, they're not acceptable behaviors for a dog interacting with children.
The good news is: puppies are trainable. The bad news is: wackos like you think nonviolent training methods are "abuse" and don't train their dogs.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 20:53
Subject: 12-week-old puppy biting and growling
So I am just going to guess since he’s 12 weeks and you mentioned kids playing with him that your dog is wildly overstimulated. He needs forced quiet time when he gets like this. On weekends we would have the puppy do crate time every other hour or so and that gave him calm chill out time without getting too worked up by the kids.