My pup - Max - is about 5 1/2 months old and going through teething so I get it that he's going to be a bit more bitey than he was a few weeks ago. But at the moment it seems that everything we do to discipline him just makes him bite harder.

He knows what 'no' means - I know this because he stops doing things he shouldn't when I say it. But when it comes to biting saying 'no' makes it worse. I've also tried yelping, grabbing his cheeks and pushing him away. It all makes him bite harder - especially the yelping.

And when I grab him by the cheeks he twists his head so he can bite my wrists and wraps his paws around my arms.

Has anyone else come across this situation? Is there another form of discipline I can try? Or should I just put him back in his crate when he gets like that? That's what I'm doing at the moment because I just can't take the scratches and bites all over my arms and still be calm.

Any help would be great because I'm just at a complete loss. From what I've read he'll grow out of it eventually, but I don't want him to form any bad habits of ignoring my discipline in the meantime.

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I've also tried yelping

Yeah thats not gonna help.

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grabbing his cheeks

You should see how nasty my dogs get when I grab their cheeks

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pushing him away

I think you just named 3 things I do with young working dogs to make them more confident and cocky

Does he like toys? Redirect his attention to something he CAN bite. Teething pups like to bite.

http://leerburg.com/bitingpuppies.htm

Oh, Mike is so, so funny, and so, so right!

Bitey puppies. Joy. Not. Too bloody!!!

Redirects are the only way at this time if you got the kindof dog you describe. They DO work, you just have to stay on it constantly when the dog is out. Go buy a buncha more toys, don't know what you have now...

Oh, and have you been marking Ob with this lil guy? A quick, focused marker/training session when he's getting all riled up is a big plus and can get his focus like nothing will.

What is his purpose in this life? Pet? WOrk? Sport?

Hang in there. IT does get better. Thank you for the reminder of psycho puppy.

Toys, toys, toys. Exercise (puppy level). Chasing balls/toys. Gloves don't hurt either.

Fill a kong with cream cheese and freeze it for him. It will soothe his teething.

Your puppy sounds familiar. The 3 things Mike mentioned are what gets a confident puppy going and just makes his prey drive higher (you're the prey ), so I learned with my pup, a painful lesson . Keep things calm and him exercised and focused on toys instead of your hands.

I need to find me one of those "arms" like they use at the shelters to test for food aggression and stuff.

I have taken to wearing a long sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt on top of that in the house.....Ember does not redirect real well yet, she will, but she likes to bite the human. We spend time chasing the bite rag. At least I have one second to see her coming.....hee hee

Carol, how about these: http://www.hexarmor.com/products/item/veterinarian/hercules-r8e/

Hey, they would work! Help keep play time less painful

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Carol, how about these: http://www.hexarmor.com/products/item/veterinarian/hercules-r8e/

Hey, they would work! Help keep play time less painful

Those would work....

Only thing is...she targets hands right now so I tried my bunker gloves (firefighting gloves) and it made her NOT want to let go, she redirects better without gloves on....

It is hard to concentrate on redirects while you have needle teeth latched onto your skin....but we get er done. YOUCH...

Rhonda,

Have you tried using food as a redirect. Something that he absolutely loves? Cut up raw sirloin works really well.

Then once he is off you, and had his treat, then present the toy to him again.

I made some ground turkey, egg mixed with some THK and then formed them into tiny balls and froze them. I take enough out for the day and I use those with my pup. Work great for any kind of training as well......

 Quote: Carol Boche

Only thing is...she targets hands right now so I tried my bunker gloves (firefighting gloves) and it made her NOT want to let go, she redirects better without gloves on....

I hadn't foreseen that but it makes total sense. It's like these dogs are born knowing what a sleeve is....or anything that remotely resembles a sleeve

 Quote: Carol Boche

she redirects better without gloves on....

Why are you redirecting a working pup? This is the only age where they can get used to biting and gripping human flesh without hospitalizing someone or dealing with law suits. Teach her to grip properly on skin while she's still small enough to do so

Make sure somoene has a video camera! :p