Cross Breeds

Are golden retriever puppies supposed to be really hyper?

My 9 week old golden is extremely hyper and bites our hands, feet, etc. We firmly say no and ignore her after she bites, but she just doesn't care! She actually gets angry when we tell her no and keeps trying to bite us. We love her to death and we do spend a lot of time playing with her ( we are home most of the day). We give her a lot of attention. She is my 2-nd puppy and I knew that puppies are hyper, but she is extremely hyperactive, she never stops! Is that normal or is she a poor bred puppy with a bad temperament? Spraying her with cold water doesn't work, she loves it!

Public Comments

1. Nowadays they usually are. When I was younger they were not so much, but quite a few problems have been bred into the breed. I fostered a golden pup similar to what you describe and it was quite challenging. These dogs need early training, but not the harsh, correction based training. Find a good positive reinforcement trainer in your area. You'll need to learn some management techniques with your pup, too.
2. same thing with my freind. he bites us ALL the time and takes shoes and everything. golden retrivers are usually very hyper
3. Most goldens I've known have been pretty active but always settle down. Try contacting local golden rescues or breeders and see what they say. They will definitely have experience with the breed and get some fresh ideas with the biting. Good luck!
4. Golden pups are not supposed to be off the wall. She needs discipline. What she is doing to you is called mouthing and it should not be tolerated. Remember she is just a baby so how you discipline her will count too. I would get a spray bottle filled with cool water and when she play bits at you give her a spray Right in the face and tell her no. When she calms down a bit give her a toy that is apporitate for her to chew on. Also you can hold her muzzle gently and tell her NO BITE! Then give her a chew toy. Golden are bred for hunting and they retrieve water fowl. So mouthing is part of their make up but what they bite or chew is totally up to you. ADD: LOL Well that figures! I strongly suggest puppy kindergarden classes. she can go now they start the pups at 8 weeks old. Look for a good training class to sign up for. They do calm down so just be pacient with her ok.
5. Most large dogs are on the hyper side when there puppies. Yes, they chew, and there teeth are just so sharp (till they lose them) that it seems like there biting you. The biting stops and they will be come more playful as they age. I have a golden retriever and I wouldn't trade her for the world. Hang in there, she is worth it.
6. spraying her isnt gonna work cause goldens love water! you need to enroll her in obedience classes!
7. All healthy puppies are energetic. It is just part of being a puppy.
8. Yes. 9 week old puppies are SUPPOSED to be like this. The whole puppy-biting thing at this age is actually very important. Google "bite inhibition" or check out this book "Before and After You Get Your Puppy" by Dr. Ian Dunbar. All this biting she is doing now----if properly addressed and handled---will mean that as an adult she will MUCH MUCH less likely to ever bite a human even under horrible circumstances. Good bite inhibition means an adult dog that will hold back even when accidentally hurt by a human---say you shut the dog's tail in a car door or have to pull porcupine quills out of its face. Please read up on it and see how to use this to train the pup so that years from now you'll still be seeing the benefits. BTW Other than that, a GR is high energy and stays puppyish for a couple of years.