The Secrets Of How To Stop Puppy Biting

It's common for puppies to engage in nipping, playful biting and mouthing. Clearly, it's important to stop puppy biting as soon as possible. Nipping and biting can also happen with older dogs who haven't been trained not to bite or nip. The methods we give can also be used with older dogs. For a comprehensive guide on stopping your puppy biting and other kinds of behavior problems, check out Secrets To Dog Training by Daniel Stevens. You have to understand that puppies and dogs explore the world with their mouths and that it's natural for them to mouth and nip. This is how they play with their siblings and explore their environment. Puppies learn bite inhibition by playing with their siblings because a sibling will yelp loudly when bitten. If they continue to bite they are isolated by their siblings and so they learn fast. If a puppy is removed too soon from its siblings, this can be one reason why he hasn't learnt bite inhibition.

Any puppy will need to readjust and relearn when he enters his new home. Humans are much more easily hurt than other puppies. He needs to learn how far he can take it. You have to decide what you will allow. You may choose to accept tooth contact if there is no pressure. Or, especially if you have a large breed, you may choose not to allow any contact with your puppy's teeth.

Clarify Your Boundaries And Be Consistent

Whatever boundary you decide upon, as soon as your puppy goes beyond it, you should squeal loudly and shrilly as if you are in pain. Then, immediately turn away from your puppy and walk a few paces away from him. Keep your face and eyes averted from him. Don't speak to or touch him for at least twenty or thirty seconds. This is so the puppy can experience the social isolation, just as it would with its siblings. Make sure that everyone else who comes into contact with your puppy does the same as you do.

If everyone doesn't treat your puppy consistently, it will be very difficult for him to learn bite inhibition.

Chews and Toys As A Distraction

Also helpful is to always have a tasty chew such as rawhide bones, pigs' ears or squeezy rubber toys available when you are playing with him or stroking him. This will provide a distraction from your fingers as a chew toy!

Correcting

When you are playing with him, if he starts snapping for your hands or face, immediately correct him with a firm "No!". The idea is to startle him. As soon as he stops snapping, praise him and redirect his attention back to the chew toy. When he grasps the chew toy, again praise him and give him affection.

The cold shoulder technique we have described is much more effective than any physical force which is usually counter-productive. If your puppy is getting really excited and making repeated attempts to nip you, in spite of using the cold shoulder technique, then the "time out" method is needed. Put him in his crate or in a small room by himself and leave him for five minutes.

After five minutes you can bring him back and start playing again. You can always choose non-contact games like fetch and frisbee. Try to keep your play low-key so that he does not get too excited. In all circumstances avoid rough play because this will just encourage nipping.

For further information on typical dog behavior, including a comprehensive resource for training how-to's and lots of detailed information on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors, check out Secrets To Dog Training. Written by Daniel Stevens, a professional dog-trainer, it's an absorbing guide that deals with all the subjects a responsible dog-owner could ever want to know about - well worth a look. To visit the Secrets To Dog Training website, just click on the link below: