Help! My Puppy is Biting!

by:  Robin Sockness
MyBestBuddyDogTraining.com 

While it won't heal those punctures on your hands and ankles any faster, it may be comforting to know that if your puppy is biting, you're not alone. In fact, mouthing and biting are normal (but not desirable) behaviors and essentially all puppies will bite. The good news is that as your puppy gets older much of the nipping and mouthing will disappear, particularly it you don't encourage it through aggressive play. Fortunately, most biting done by puppies is playful and there are several ways you can discourage your puppy from choosing you as a target.

Avoid aggressive play. Wrestling, "boxing" at the puppy's mouth with your hands, and tug-of-war can get your puppy over excited and teach him/her that hands are appropriate chew toys. If you do play these games, the game should be over as soon as the puppy begins to get over stimulated.

Redirect the puppy to appropriate toys. Virtually all puppies will need to chew on something, so make sure there are plenty of acceptable chew toys available. If your puppy attacks your hand, ankle, or clothing, offer him a favorite toy instead. When he goes for the toy, give him lots of praise and attention.

Practice the high yip (“Ouch!”). When play between puppies gets too rough, the one being bitten will give a high-pitched, piercing yip. This will startle most puppies and cause them to stop biting for a moment.  You can mimic the high yip, then withdraw your hand and substitute something else.

Keep your fingers curled. Many puppies will not bite at a closed hand as they will an open hand

Use time-out. If your puppy gets too riled up, won't listen to you, and immediately starts to bite again after you've tried some other approaches, then isolating her for a brief period may be needed.  Or leave the room for 30 seconds, then resume play upon return.

DO NOT punish the puppy in an attempt to get it to stop biting!   At best, the puppy no longer bites those family members who can have punished it but instead directs his biting toward those who have no control, for instance, children! 

Supervise play between kids and puppies. Many children are not able to use these techniques on their own and will need your help. Puppies learn quickly and may discover that young children can be intimidated by rough play and biting. Kids also like to do things that get puppies overexcited. Adult supervision will be needed until the puppy and the child learn how to play appropriately.

After all the puppy socialization and handling exercises, your dog will be unlikely to want to bite because it likes people. However, should your dog snap or bite because it has been frightened or hurt, one hopes that it causes little if any damage because it developed good bite inhibition during puppy hood.    
 

Like Us on Facebook
Follow on Twitter