Do you have a biting problem with your new puppy? When puppy training, biting may become a training priority if your dog has a tendency to get carried away when chewing. Puppies use biting not only for eating and protection, but also as a vital component in their play time. Often, a puppy is not biting as a method of aggression or attack but merely because it is natural to them. However, you don’t want your puppy to confuse skin as appropriate for biting even when they are playing. During puppy training, biting can be discouraged or eliminated altogether if done properly and early.
While puppy training biting, chewing, mouthing, and nibbling are expected behaviors for young dogs and are generally not serious. A dog, like a baby, experiences much of its new world by tasting and exploring with their mouths. In their own way, puppies use biting for communication as well.
A dog can bite for a variety of reasons including playing, asserting dominance, hunger, over-stimulation, fear, teething, protection or herding. While a puppy’s chewing may seem cute and harmless at first, in order for training to be successful, you must teach him not to bite as a puppy. If you wait until the puppy gets older, it will be significantly harder to train him to stop. Consider enrolling your puppy into a kindergarten or play group so that they get their biting needs out while playing with other puppies.
Start training early. When a puppy gets carried away, you should respond the same as another puppy would. If a puppy hurts one of its litters then the injured puppy will yelp and withdraw to lick the wounded area. Let your puppy know that his biting hurts by saying ‘Ow” firmly or whining like a hurt puppy. If that does not work, repeat, and then try the puppy training biting and isolation technique. Basically, the next time your puppy tries to bite, respond with a firm “No” command, pretend to be hurt, and then simply walk away. This will show your puppy that if he hurts someone then his play time is over.
Even when the bites become softer and less aggressive, continue this process. This will help establish that biting is not okay or acceptable. Praise or reward your puppy when you notice he has refrained from biting you. If these tactics still do not work, consider enrolling your puppy in a professional puppy training – biting inhibition class for further teaching opportunities.
Some puppy training experts believe you should not discourage your puppy from biting, since it is natural to them, but instead redirect them to chewing something more appropriate. Even if your puppy is not biting humans or other animals, biting can also be a problem when it is destructive to your furniture or other personal property. Provide a variety of chewing distractions such as bones, toys, ropes, and other dog toys. When you notice your puppy grabbing something they should not, it is a great time to teach a “Drop it” or “Leave it” command.
This type of puppy training can be even more imperative if your dog bites out of fear or aggression instead of merely when playing. At this point you will need to step up your puppy training; biting of this magnitude is never acceptable. Occasionally you will want your dog to interact with other adults, children, and pets so it is vital that you train your dog right away. If you cannot take your puppy out to a dog park or with people and children without him biting, you are running the risk of being sued or having animal control take away your pet. Utilizing punishment as a training technique can make the dog even more aggressive. Proceed cautiously and seek out the assistance of a dog training professional once your puppy starts displaying violent or aggressive behavior.
If your puppy is biting then the good news is, you have a perfectly normal puppy! The problem is not that he is biting and chewing, but how to properly train him. If you can restrict a pup’s natural inclination to chew towards their toys or teach them not to apply pressure when playing then you are building a foundation for a long and happy life with your new puppy. As with most puppy training, biting is simply another opportunity to train your canine early to ensure a successful pet and owner relationship throughout your life together.
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