I recently adopted a one year old female Newf from a shelter, not a rescue. She also was just spayed by the shelter. I was told that the previous owner's found her " too much to handle". Turns out that she was surrendered by someone that only had her for two weeks. I am not new to Newfies, but am new to this age ( it has been awhile ). She is experiencing horrible puppy nipping. Nothing I do can re-direct her attention away from me. She has only been with me for 2 weeks. The puppy nipping started about day 5. We have had good days, better days and awful days. She is not aggressive though to someone who didn't know what they were seeing, it might seem that way. I would say that no one ever corrected her puppy rough housing behavior. Any thoughts and/or help would be greatly appreciated. I, sort of, remember this behavior....it is normal, correct? In the past, I have always had a adult dog to "correct" the puppy behavior. She is a lovely dog and I want to work past this. I know it will get better but I need some emotional support! Thanks.
One Year Old Newf - Help!
- Thread starter Stella123
- Start date
cjr3bryant
New member
Our Newf was like this. What worked for us was removing ourselves from the situation (yelping, turning our back only got him more excited). We would gate him in the kitchen during the day so when he got too excited, we would gate ourselves in the kitchen and not leave until he had calmed down and done a sit. It took a bit but he learned that being too rough meant the play stopped. He now knows "gentle" and if he still gets a bit too rough we immediately go back to simple commands like "sit" - this basically snaps him out of that crazy puppy behavior. Hope this helps!
NinaA
New member
First of all, Congratulations. To find a Newf in any situation outside of regular rescue is unusual. Second, you need to sign up for obedience school. Go to and complete at least two or three levels. Third, practice, practice, practice. You have a wild indian on your hands. Structure and discipline will go a long way. Also, the walking on a leash that goes with this will wear your pup out some, but they need to play a lot. Your heading into the terrible teen times, and it can get a little rough for everybody. Don't allow children around your pup unsupervised. Make sure that he gets nothing withhout working for it. Sit for everything including food and attention. Then down. All day and every day should involve training no matter how simple. Keep pup on a leash in the house and if need be keep pup attached to you (tethering). It sounds like a lot of work and it is, especially since you don't have another dog to help, but it will be well worth it in the long run. Good luck to you.
Thanks NinaA - I have a dog trainer and I am doing everything she is telling me to do. We train everyday and are walking 3 times a day for a mile each time. We play fetch in the yard and in the house. She is doing great with everything but the puppy nipping-rough housing. I just can't wear her out! I have the toys that hold treats and she pushes that around the house, I have done the peanut butter filled Kong.
Would it be okay to go to doggie day care one day a week for the dog socialization and exercise? She and I are together 24/7 and I don't think it is a good thing at this stage. Once she reaches the adult years, I am fine with us being together most of the day. Right now, it isn't healthy for either of us, in my opinion. She is a beautiful Landseer and I am grateful to have rescued her from the shelter.....well, right now, mostly grateful....
Would it be okay to go to doggie day care one day a week for the dog socialization and exercise? She and I are together 24/7 and I don't think it is a good thing at this stage. Once she reaches the adult years, I am fine with us being together most of the day. Right now, it isn't healthy for either of us, in my opinion. She is a beautiful Landseer and I am grateful to have rescued her from the shelter.....well, right now, mostly grateful....
Darwinsnewfie@1855
New member
In my experience with Ella, she was exactly the same way. Nipping nipping and more nipping at that age but never aggressive, even tho some could of perceived it that way. Ella is around 18months now and she hasn't nipped since October. I tried all the things mentioned above and felt like nothing was working or that I was failing her, but then it just stopped. Now she very soft mouthed, even when taking treats. Keep up the hard work and I bet you'll be telling us how great she's doing in a couple months. I think your almost over the nipping stage, but it can get trying when there's a hundred pounds of slobber nipping at your hands lol.
Brandie&Maggie
New member
Oh my gosh. We adopted Ruby (from a rescue) when she was 16 months old. She was insane. She'd clearly never learned about the mouthing either.
For weeks (months even) I was covered in bruises from her nipping and jumping. All "play" but very very rough.
Consistency and time made it better. I kept treats on me at all times. Most of the time, distracting with a treat and playing a game of "sit, down, sit, down, stay" worked to break the behavior. If that didn't work, a time out in her crate was next. A few times I just had to leave the room until she calmed down. Once or twice I had to just put her on the floor and hold her there so she didn't hurt herself running around.
Yelping only made her more crazy. Turning away pissed her off. She bit my butt more than once trying to get my attention. So we stopped those things and used the techniques above.
It got better. She's still very rough at play and will occasionally accidentally get a hand in her mouth when going for a toy, but she stops right away when that happens.
All this was combined with lots of exercise and training of course.
As far as you being together all the time, I actually think that is a good thing right now. She needs to bond with you. After a few months then explore other options. I could never put Ruby in doggie daycare as she is too dog focused and doesn't understand "back off" signals. She'll get hurt when she just wants to play. But I only learned that after watching many interactions in a more controlled space. We let her play with other dogs before and after training class. FWIW, I'm a stay at home mom and we're together most of the day, although she doesn't get as much attention as the toddler does.
I think it's something about the landseers......Ruby is still kinda nuts. Everyone says "3" is the magic age....That's in 2 weeks. I'm not holding my breath...
For weeks (months even) I was covered in bruises from her nipping and jumping. All "play" but very very rough.
Consistency and time made it better. I kept treats on me at all times. Most of the time, distracting with a treat and playing a game of "sit, down, sit, down, stay" worked to break the behavior. If that didn't work, a time out in her crate was next. A few times I just had to leave the room until she calmed down. Once or twice I had to just put her on the floor and hold her there so she didn't hurt herself running around.
Yelping only made her more crazy. Turning away pissed her off. She bit my butt more than once trying to get my attention. So we stopped those things and used the techniques above.
It got better. She's still very rough at play and will occasionally accidentally get a hand in her mouth when going for a toy, but she stops right away when that happens.
All this was combined with lots of exercise and training of course.
As far as you being together all the time, I actually think that is a good thing right now. She needs to bond with you. After a few months then explore other options. I could never put Ruby in doggie daycare as she is too dog focused and doesn't understand "back off" signals. She'll get hurt when she just wants to play. But I only learned that after watching many interactions in a more controlled space. We let her play with other dogs before and after training class. FWIW, I'm a stay at home mom and we're together most of the day, although she doesn't get as much attention as the toddler does.
I think it's something about the landseers......Ruby is still kinda nuts. Everyone says "3" is the magic age....That's in 2 weeks. I'm not holding my breath...
Bailey Boy
New member
Bailey did the same thing we kept toys at both the front and back door so we would have something to put into his mouth. We gave the no bite command and put the toy in his mouth, he ended up having the softest mouth even when taking treats.
I feel like I should start my posts with " Dear Diary"....lol...
We have had good days, better days and awful days. Last night was 3 hours of her barking at me like a crazy Newfie. The nipping is much better, now it is just a grab at my sleeve for the most part. She gets so excited that it is almost like she is going to hurt herself. I crated her and let her out when she calmed down. It ended up being 3 hours of in and out of the crate. I think she finally fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion. This morning after a good walk ( a mile ) she started in again.
Unfortunately the weather here stinks....my yard is a glacier so playing is confined to the house which I know isn't enough. She has not learned recall yet so taking her somewhere with clear ground and playing fetch isn't possible unless I use a 50 or 100 foot lead.
Thoughts? Suggestions? My thanks...as always.
We have had good days, better days and awful days. Last night was 3 hours of her barking at me like a crazy Newfie. The nipping is much better, now it is just a grab at my sleeve for the most part. She gets so excited that it is almost like she is going to hurt herself. I crated her and let her out when she calmed down. It ended up being 3 hours of in and out of the crate. I think she finally fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion. This morning after a good walk ( a mile ) she started in again.
Unfortunately the weather here stinks....my yard is a glacier so playing is confined to the house which I know isn't enough. She has not learned recall yet so taking her somewhere with clear ground and playing fetch isn't possible unless I use a 50 or 100 foot lead.
Thoughts? Suggestions? My thanks...as always.
5PotatoChips
New member
First of all congrats on your Newfie! We adopted a 7 1/2 year old male landseer a year and a half ago and I had heard that they tended to be smarter and more energetic. I don't know about the smart part, but he has so much more energy than our other Newfies! (Despite his age he acts like a puppy.)
He knew how to walk on a leash nicely and that was it when we got him. He would bark and bark and bark for anything he wanted and he was stubborn and mouthy! We ended up doing a modified timeout whenever he started barking at us. We gave him a firm "no" and turned our backs on him. Once he was quiet for 10 seconds we then continued with whatever we had been doing. (Sometimes we would completely leave the room, making sure there was a closed door between us and him.) It has worked very well, but a word of warning: the behavior will probably get worse before it gets better. There were times when we were standing there for five minutes with him barking nonstop. (And let me tell you, five minutes is an eternity when your Newfie is barking right behind you and somehow seemed to have found the perfect echo spot!)
He is doing really well now, but it took time and patience. The other thing we did was teach him "speak" and "quiet". "Speak" was easy, "quiet" much harder, but it seemed to help curb some of the barking behavior as well. And he liked the training!
Ok, this is way longer than I thought. When the weather is bad we do obedience training, find it games with their toys, ect. Scent games are really good too. It'll wear out a dog much faster as it causes their heart rate to go up. Our dog behaviorist will do them with her former police dog and it wears him out in a half hour.
Good luck and savor those good days! It won't be long before they are all mostly good ones!
He knew how to walk on a leash nicely and that was it when we got him. He would bark and bark and bark for anything he wanted and he was stubborn and mouthy! We ended up doing a modified timeout whenever he started barking at us. We gave him a firm "no" and turned our backs on him. Once he was quiet for 10 seconds we then continued with whatever we had been doing. (Sometimes we would completely leave the room, making sure there was a closed door between us and him.) It has worked very well, but a word of warning: the behavior will probably get worse before it gets better. There were times when we were standing there for five minutes with him barking nonstop. (And let me tell you, five minutes is an eternity when your Newfie is barking right behind you and somehow seemed to have found the perfect echo spot!)
He is doing really well now, but it took time and patience. The other thing we did was teach him "speak" and "quiet". "Speak" was easy, "quiet" much harder, but it seemed to help curb some of the barking behavior as well. And he liked the training! Ok, this is way longer than I thought.
When the weather is bad we do obedience training, find it games with their toys, ect. Scent games are really good too. It'll wear out a dog much faster as it causes their heart rate to go up. Our dog behaviorist will do them with her former police dog and it wears him out in a half hour. Good luck and savor those good days! It won't be long before they are all mostly good ones!
Great point! Look up "extinction bursts". This is a classic behavior and those who aren't familiar with it tend to give up too soon thinking their dog is getting worse.
Bailey Boy
New member
Hide and seek. Bailey loved playing this game so much. It was a really fun game with Bailey although he didn't fully get the concept he thought if his face was buried so he could see you then we couldn't see his big ole hairy body. LOL My Annie loved tag which was a fun game too she would bump my leg with her nose and take off running for me to chase and tag. Scent games are fun too and a way to teach basic commands i.e sit, stay, watch, come leave it and drop it. Little 15 minute training sessions worked great too and there is always grooming. All mine love to be brushed and combed.
I am yet again at my wits end. I think things are getting worse rather than better. I am even considering taking her back to the shelter, even though it was a horribly filthy place. Turning my back only gets me a nip on the butt. Crating her works until she comes back out and then she starts barking and nipping again. I put her back in and repeat. This is happening about 5 or 6 times a day. We are walking, training, playing fetch. I would think she would be exhausted. I am, just from the stress. I keep telling myself it will get better, that one day a switch will flip and this will stop. She is 13 months old today. I have had her for 3 weeks. I don't want to give up, she is a sweet dog but I am not sure I have another 5 months in me until she matures more.
Angela
Super Moderator
Have you considered finding a behavior or training person?
Possibly no one else on here would agree with me but as a last resort I would try a muzzle.
I have a now 4 1/2 yr old who was the Newf from hell (and I have had Newfs since 1988! He was awful, his breeder suggested I put him on Melatonin 5 mgm daily which he has been on for over 3 1/2 yrs now and it helped a lot to calm him down (did not make him sleepy).
Possibly no one else on here would agree with me but as a last resort I would try a muzzle.
I have a now 4 1/2 yr old who was the Newf from hell (and I have had Newfs since 1988! He was awful, his breeder suggested I put him on Melatonin 5 mgm daily which he has been on for over 3 1/2 yrs now and it helped a lot to calm him down (did not make him sleepy).
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Hi Angela, I do have a trainer and even she is at her wit's end. I got my first Newf in 1980 and have had two and three at a time - 8 Newfs of my own and about 5 fosters. I vaguely remember this kind of behavior in the past and as I mentioned before I always had an adult dog to help me. The trainer suggested muzzling and I really don't want to....again, I have no idea what has happened to her in the past year.
She is great at training and I have been taking her to dog friendly businesses ( Lowe's, Home Depot ) to train around people. She is very good.
Her behavior kind of reminds me of the "terrible two's" in kids.....or almost sort of a boredom. Okay, I'm bored you need to entertain me now.
It is so bad that when she falls asleep, I am afraid to move because I don't want to wake her.
You all must think I am a wuss. I am just so happy you are here for me to vent to. Maybe I am too old for puppyhood...lol....
She is great at training and I have been taking her to dog friendly businesses ( Lowe's, Home Depot ) to train around people. She is very good.
Her behavior kind of reminds me of the "terrible two's" in kids.....or almost sort of a boredom. Okay, I'm bored you need to entertain me now.
It is so bad that when she falls asleep, I am afraid to move because I don't want to wake her.
You all must think I am a wuss. I am just so happy you are here for me to vent to. Maybe I am too old for puppyhood...lol....
Brandie&Maggie
New member
I say keep at it. It's only been 3 weeks. She's exactly like my Ruby - never taught self control and too smart of for her own good. She's testing her boundaries. Give her another month.
I had very similar issues when we brought Ruby home. I was covered in bruises and was so frustrated. The first time I took a shower and she didn't poop in her crate, I called the rescue to crying happy tears because I was so excited. (Ruby was also only partially house trained).
But in her moments of calm I could see the potential in her. She's still crazy - don't get me wrong. (See my other post from yesterday). As I sit her she's barking in my ear looking for attention. But she's much better and super snuggly most of the time.
Ruby is also very mouthy in general, and not soft about it. She chews like a puppy. The best thing I did was get her some antlers to chew. They don't splinter and she loves them. She will lay and chew them for a long time. It really seems to help her give her mouth something to do.
Believe it or not, I think you're in an even better place than we were if you can take her in public. I still have a very hard time 18 months in. Ruby is just so reactive to EVERYTHING.
At the end of the day, if you can't handle it, please get her into rescue instead of taking her back to the shelter. There is no shame in that! But get her in someplace where they can manage her and find her the best place to be.
I had very similar issues when we brought Ruby home. I was covered in bruises and was so frustrated. The first time I took a shower and she didn't poop in her crate, I called the rescue to crying happy tears because I was so excited. (Ruby was also only partially house trained).
But in her moments of calm I could see the potential in her. She's still crazy - don't get me wrong. (See my other post from yesterday). As I sit her she's barking in my ear looking for attention. But she's much better and super snuggly most of the time.
Ruby is also very mouthy in general, and not soft about it. She chews like a puppy. The best thing I did was get her some antlers to chew. They don't splinter and she loves them. She will lay and chew them for a long time. It really seems to help her give her mouth something to do.
Believe it or not, I think you're in an even better place than we were if you can take her in public. I still have a very hard time 18 months in. Ruby is just so reactive to EVERYTHING.
At the end of the day, if you can't handle it, please get her into rescue instead of taking her back to the shelter. There is no shame in that! But get her in someplace where they can manage her and find her the best place to be.
NinaA
New member
I think you can do it, but it will take a lot of patience, because you do have to retrain her. Sounds like you're on the right track though. When you think you can't stand it any longer, just think about me. I am Newfless and I miss my girl so much. I would love to be in your position. You can do it and it will be well worth it. You'll see.
Oh, Nina....I have been where you are. The grief consumed me. I lost my Jaz in August. She was 9 and I had her for 6 years. We were inseparable. I have had a lot of Newfs over 30 plus years and they were all special but that Jaz was just something else. After 6 months of grieving I got my new girl. I know you are right....but boy I miss my angel. This girl will come into her own and we will be fine. Something about the Landseers......
R Taft
Active member
OK.... Sorry you are doing it so tough and that she is a bit of a wild child. I am a behaviour trainer and this is what I get a lot of. Dogs that people give up on
It takes time and time is not days, but weeks and sometimes months....
Firstly I do most of my training for bitey dogs with luring off.... No you are not rewarding the nipping, you are teaching the "off"
The dogs goes to nip, you hardly move where the dog is nipping, but with your other hand you have an awesome treat and get to that nose and when the nose follows the awesome treat you say "off"... It means you have to carry treat the whole time and if you have other family members they have to do the same.... Now you are trying to get to you saying "off" when the dog moves towards you and rewarding the actual dog not biting you... this takes time and also timing.... I had the puppy from hell myself as she was a singleton, no littermates to teach her about mouthy ness... everything that moved was fair came.
So dogs mouth goes toward whatever part of you .... get the treat out towards the nose, it has to be good, as the dog moves away from you say "off" and as soon as you find the dog following the treat instead of going to bite, say a happy "yesssss" and throw that treat or if the dog is gentle feed the treat out of your hand
.
The more you do this and it will be done often, you will get to the bit where you say "off" when you see the dog going to nip/bite and you say "off" and don't even need a lure, Again say a happy "yesssss" and reward.... I give a couple of quick treats when they do it the first few times without luring as they have to know they did well..... Luring is putting a treat in front of the nose and getting the dog to follow it in the direction you want.
I love lure training and clicker training combo as dogs get it... it is uncomplicated for them.
You have to do lots of it.... often and stay pleasant and happy.
When you gat angry and frustrated or even yell, things get worse.... Same as time out.... a lot of people do time out but yell at the dog. A Dog time out means say nothing either put the dog away ( best if you leave a open ended leash on ) and say nothing, do not interact, even when they get let out.... It is the total ignore that is the dog language of you were bad. If you talk they are thinking that they are still engaging with you... silence is best for the dog
It takes time and time is not days, but weeks and sometimes months....
Firstly I do most of my training for bitey dogs with luring off.... No you are not rewarding the nipping, you are teaching the "off"
The dogs goes to nip, you hardly move where the dog is nipping, but with your other hand you have an awesome treat and get to that nose and when the nose follows the awesome treat you say "off"... It means you have to carry treat the whole time and if you have other family members they have to do the same.... Now you are trying to get to you saying "off" when the dog moves towards you and rewarding the actual dog not biting you... this takes time and also timing.... I had the puppy from hell myself as she was a singleton, no littermates to teach her about mouthy ness... everything that moved was fair came.
So dogs mouth goes toward whatever part of you .... get the treat out towards the nose, it has to be good, as the dog moves away from you say "off" and as soon as you find the dog following the treat instead of going to bite, say a happy "yesssss" and throw that treat or if the dog is gentle feed the treat out of your hand
.
The more you do this and it will be done often, you will get to the bit where you say "off" when you see the dog going to nip/bite and you say "off" and don't even need a lure, Again say a happy "yesssss" and reward.... I give a couple of quick treats when they do it the first few times without luring as they have to know they did well..... Luring is putting a treat in front of the nose and getting the dog to follow it in the direction you want.
I love lure training and clicker training combo as dogs get it... it is uncomplicated for them.
You have to do lots of it.... often and stay pleasant and happy.
When you gat angry and frustrated or even yell, things get worse.... Same as time out.... a lot of people do time out but yell at the dog. A Dog time out means say nothing either put the dog away ( best if you leave a open ended leash on ) and say nothing, do not interact, even when they get let out.... It is the total ignore that is the dog language of you were bad. If you talk they are thinking that they are still engaging with you... silence is best for the dog