How do I get my puppy to stop biting?

Dogs are everywhere. That’s why it’s essential to protect yourself from other dogs biting. While some dogs are friendlier than others, any dog can bite, regardless of size or breed. Even the best dog can if they’re traumatized or scared.

Children and adults should learn to stay in the safest possible environment with dogs. However, it’s crucial to recognize that the pet owner is responsible for their pet’s behavior. It’s not difficult to prevent your dog from biting someone by taking the right steps. Making sure the biting behavior stops as soon as you notice it is essential to teaching your dog not to bite. Here are some tips you can try to help them learn to stop biting.

Slowing down the biting

The first step to stopping your puppy from biting is to limit the behavior. It is typical for puppies to talk to themselves during play. However, this meowing can quickly turn into biting. People can exploit this behavior to stop puppy biting and teach your puppy what is acceptable biting.

If a puppy is grabbing at your finger or hand too much, gently remove your hand and imitate the howl sound. When the puppy lets go, hold her off for about 10-20 seconds before resuming play. It is crucial that you do not avoid the bite. This could trigger your puppy’s desire to chase after her and make the situation worse. If the yell doesn’t work or you don’t feel comfortable making the sound, you can substitute an exaggerated “Ow!” or other yell. Don’t yell more than 3 times in 15 minutes.

When you reach this point, you are ready for an adult time-out for your puppy. The goal of this is to teach the puppy that calm play continues and rough play ends. Once you have stopped the aggressive bites, you can repeat the procedure with less aggressive bites. You will be able to show her that chewing with her mouth and not chewing is okay. Anything else is not.

Redirect

If you want to teach your puppy that touching human skin is not acceptable, you will likely use the redirection method. To use this method, move your hand away from the contact whenever your puppy tries to bite you. You can then offer him treats or an object to chew on.

You can also help your puppy’s urge to bite things by playing non-contact games like tug-of-war or fetch. Just be careful not to let the tug-of-war get too violent. You need to teach your dog to follow the “leave it” or “sit” commands to ensure that you can get something out of his mouth without the consequences of a puppy biting aggressively.

Distraction

In addition to mouthing other people, puppies also talk to objects in their environment. This is usually to encourage curiosity. There are several ways to teach your dog not to chew on furniture in your home. In addition to puppy-proofing your home, provide exciting and safe chew toys that your puppy can enjoy. The choice of toys should be based on the degree to which your puppy chews and is destructive. For example, if your puppy can chew a plush toy to pieces in 2 minutes, you may prefer toys made of rubber or plastic.

Hide-it toys are great for distracting puppies from eating other things. These toys not only keep your puppy busy, but they also provide mental stimulation as they figure out how to best get the treat. Another way to distract your puppy is to have play dates with other puppies or vaccinated adult dogs. Not only is this a way to keep your dog playing in a dog-friendly environment, these dogs will also help teach your puppy that a bite is not too strong.

End playtime

If your puppy bites during play, make sure he/she understands that this is a sign that playtime is over, without exception. Punishing or yelling at your dog for biting may seem like a way to get your message across; however, it produces the opposite result. Instead of showing your dog that your behavior is not acceptable, he/she learns that biting gets attention and will continue biting.

Instead, put your puppy down and then walk away. Put your hands in your armpits so that you are less pushy and make it clear to the puppy that you are not to pay attention to him. This will make them realize that what they are doing can affect your attention, and they will be aware of behaviors that cause you to walk away.

Ankle Biters

Puppy biting doesn’t always happen during playtime. Dogs are often fascinated by people’s feet or ankles while they’re out walking. This is especially true for herding breeds. Train your puppy not to bite your heels and keep a toy that you love in your pockets. If she starts biting your heels, stop moving and bounce the toy around until she grabs it. Another approach is to have her stop moving as soon as she bites. When she lets go on her own, give her a toy or treat. Be sure to praise your dog when she stops biting your heels. The goal is to show your puppy that positive things can happen when bad behavior stops.

Biting and nipping are normal behaviors for puppies, but they are not acceptable for adult dogs. Be aware that most dogs surrendered to shelters and rescued from their owners are between 18 months and two years of age. This is when “cute” puppy behavior becomes annoying to the owner. By taking a few simple steps now, you can prevent this bad behavior in the future and enjoy a peaceful and happy relationship once your puppy’s coat grows out.

Conclusion

Puppy training takes persistence and dedication. Your puppy may not immediately understand what you are trying to teach him. However, it is best to keep your puppy calm and focused no matter what. Yelling or screaming at him can frighten him or cause him unnecessary stress, which can result in the very behavior you are trying to prevent. If you suspect that your dog is having trouble mastering the art of not biting, consider consulting a professional trainer. Dogs that bite are a risk to you and others—and at the end of the day, it is up to you to make sure your dog is safe around you. With a little patience and a lot of consistency in your training, you will be able to help your dog stop nibbling and biting before it becomes a problem.