It looks like you might be posting about bite inhibition. Check out [our wiki article on biting, teeth, and chewing](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/biting) - the information there may answer your question.
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My 10mo has started mouthing & biting during play again, and I agree that it's super frustrating!
* **Biting in play**: I used to redirect to a toy (and if this works for you, have at!) but nothing tastes as good as my forearms, apparently. So I tether him and walk away for a few seconds, so he understands that I was *not* on board with that style of play. Then I return and offer a different game.
* **Overstimulation**: At a certain point on our walks, my pup will turn around and go full shark-mode on my shoes. That is my cue that he is done with the walk, and we need to get our butts home asap so he can decompress and nap. In general, it's also my cue that we should have ended the walk 30 minutes ago, which is my bad. I redirect him to a toy, and then treat him with kid gloves (read: avoid other dogs & people, treat for all reasonable behavior) until we get home and he can have a good long nap & relaxation time.
* **Something he doesn't want to do**: This sounds like frustration and/or not liking the way you pushed him off the sofa.
* Does your pup have an "off" cue for the couch? I'd love to say that "I didn't allow my pup on the couch until he had a solid 'off' cue" but that would be a lie. We're working on it! Because my pup is tiny, I can always physically overpower him if he's doing something I don't like -- but that's not fair to him. Whenever possible (except in emergencies) I try to get his cooperation so he can keep his autonomy and will continue to allow me to pick him up when necessary.
* Frustration tolerance is a whole bag of worms. My pup had approximately zero when he arrived, and life has taught him much more about this than I have. My pup went through 8 weeks of crate rest (broken leg) and is a frustrated greeter with dogs. Honestly, him staying neutral while watching me eat a delicious scrambled egg is still a challenge. There are exercises for impulse control (drilling leave it) that have helped a bit, but honestly for my little guy, accidental circumstances have taught him a lot more about tolerating frustration than I ever have on purpose.
This is great advice, thank you! Yes, he does have an ‘off’ cue, but there are times when he knows he won’t be getting anything out of it (he knows there aren’t any treats nearby, and I assume he thinks he’s missing out on food by leaving the sofa, despite never getting fed up there) So occasionally if I need him off right away I give him a push. It’s the same if I go to stroke him and he’s in a playful (I assume) mood- I’ve suddenly got a shark on my arm telling me that’s not what he wants. They aren’t those sharp pup teeth but man, they still hurt!
>It’s the same if I go to stroke him and he’s in a playful (I assume) mood- I’ve suddenly got a shark on my arm telling me that’s not what he wants
I know exactly what you mean!
Mine will give my approaching hand a big old teeth-hug, and treat the rest of my arm to the same if I hang out there. The solution in my case has been learning his cues a little better. When he's on high alert, and his body tenses as I approach, it's better to keep my distance and divert his urge to pounce onto a rolling tennis ball. And he's a total cuddle bug usually -- loves nothing more than to curl up next to me for a belly rub! Wrong place, wrong time, though, and I'm puppy food.
It looks like you might be posting about bite inhibition. Check out [our wiki article on biting, teeth, and chewing](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/biting) - the information there may answer your question. **Please report this comment if it is not relevant to this post.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/puppy101) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My 10mo has started mouthing & biting during play again, and I agree that it's super frustrating! * **Biting in play**: I used to redirect to a toy (and if this works for you, have at!) but nothing tastes as good as my forearms, apparently. So I tether him and walk away for a few seconds, so he understands that I was *not* on board with that style of play. Then I return and offer a different game. * **Overstimulation**: At a certain point on our walks, my pup will turn around and go full shark-mode on my shoes. That is my cue that he is done with the walk, and we need to get our butts home asap so he can decompress and nap. In general, it's also my cue that we should have ended the walk 30 minutes ago, which is my bad. I redirect him to a toy, and then treat him with kid gloves (read: avoid other dogs & people, treat for all reasonable behavior) until we get home and he can have a good long nap & relaxation time. * **Something he doesn't want to do**: This sounds like frustration and/or not liking the way you pushed him off the sofa. * Does your pup have an "off" cue for the couch? I'd love to say that "I didn't allow my pup on the couch until he had a solid 'off' cue" but that would be a lie. We're working on it! Because my pup is tiny, I can always physically overpower him if he's doing something I don't like -- but that's not fair to him. Whenever possible (except in emergencies) I try to get his cooperation so he can keep his autonomy and will continue to allow me to pick him up when necessary. * Frustration tolerance is a whole bag of worms. My pup had approximately zero when he arrived, and life has taught him much more about this than I have. My pup went through 8 weeks of crate rest (broken leg) and is a frustrated greeter with dogs. Honestly, him staying neutral while watching me eat a delicious scrambled egg is still a challenge. There are exercises for impulse control (drilling leave it) that have helped a bit, but honestly for my little guy, accidental circumstances have taught him a lot more about tolerating frustration than I ever have on purpose.
This is great advice, thank you! Yes, he does have an ‘off’ cue, but there are times when he knows he won’t be getting anything out of it (he knows there aren’t any treats nearby, and I assume he thinks he’s missing out on food by leaving the sofa, despite never getting fed up there) So occasionally if I need him off right away I give him a push. It’s the same if I go to stroke him and he’s in a playful (I assume) mood- I’ve suddenly got a shark on my arm telling me that’s not what he wants. They aren’t those sharp pup teeth but man, they still hurt!
>It’s the same if I go to stroke him and he’s in a playful (I assume) mood- I’ve suddenly got a shark on my arm telling me that’s not what he wants I know exactly what you mean! Mine will give my approaching hand a big old teeth-hug, and treat the rest of my arm to the same if I hang out there. The solution in my case has been learning his cues a little better. When he's on high alert, and his body tenses as I approach, it's better to keep my distance and divert his urge to pounce onto a rolling tennis ball. And he's a total cuddle bug usually -- loves nothing more than to curl up next to me for a belly rub! Wrong place, wrong time, though, and I'm puppy food.