They are adorable, sweet and cuddly WITH tiny little razors for teeth!
If you are dealing with puppy biting,
this blog is for you!
To be on the receiving end of a puppy bite or nip is not the fun one imagined when thinking about adopting a new pup. But it’s all part of the experience with a growing and curious canine.
So why is the puppy biting or nipping you in the first place?
Puppy Biting: It’s Not Personal!
It may be hard to believe in the moment, but when your puppy bites or nips you, it is not personal. It is a natural canine behavior.
Chewing, gnawing or mouthing happen as your puppy is teething to help relieve the pain of emerging adult teeth.
Having said that, this does not mean you should like or encourage this behavior.
Whether it’s mouthing, nipping or play biting, it is important to teach your puppy what is acceptable when it comes to biting. Teaching your puppy to learn to control his biting – called bite inhibition – will help him to grow up into a well-mannered dog who can successfully control the force of his bite!
Using harsh, aversive techniques does not help teach
proper K9 bite inhibition. In fact, punishing your puppy
may limit progress and actually encourage
a biting response out of frustration, fear or pain.
Puppy Biting: Teaching Bite Inhibition
Bite inhibition does not stop a dog from biting. Rather, it teaches a dog how to control his jaw pressure in different situations. If you observe a pup with its mother or littermates, you will see them quickly react when he bites too hard.
So how can you teach – and encourage – bite inhibition by your puppy or dog?
Teach Your Puppy to Be Gentle when Mouthing You
Puppies are going to mouth each other, objects and even you. It is normal canine behavior. But always encourage gentle mouth contact. But what if his bite is too rough?
- Immediately let him know when he is biting too hard with a quick, consistent verbal correction. Do not yell at him or harshly raise your voice. A high-pitched correction may encourage his excitement, so try a quieter, lower-pitched correction.
- Use cues to encourage mouth control like “leave it,” or “drop it,” or even “ouch!”
- Redirect your puppy (and his mouth) to age- and chew-appropriate toys.
Not all puppies or dogs respond the same way to every correction. Find what works best for you and your pup and use it consistently.
But what if your puppy does not “get” the idea? Withdraw your attention, stop all interaction and quietly walk away or place him in his crate for a “time-out.” He will quickly learn that nipping or biting ends both playtime and your company … game over!
The “secrets” to effectively training bite inhibition involves:
- Doing it in the moment it happens; and
- Doing it consistently every time so the puppy can learn quickly and easily.
Also, use enthusiastic verbal and treat rewards when your puppy stops biting or uses a soft, gentle mouth. Positive reinforcement will go a long way to encouraging and nurturing proper social behaviors into lifelong habits.
Reach Out for Professional Help!
If you are having difficulties in modifying puppy biting, or are feeling frustrated, reach out to a local force-free and fear-free trainer to help! Again, nipping and biting are natural dog behaviors, but your puppy must understand what is acceptable and what is not. Especially as they grow up to be bigger and stronger! Don’t wait until it’s too late and someone has gotten hurt!
ARKANSAS BEAR CREEK GOLDENS AND DOODLES
We are a small family breeder located in the heart of the Ozarks in Northern Arkansas. We strive to raise healthy, happy, well-socialized, quality Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Mini Labradoodle, and Aussiedoodle puppies.
All our puppies come with a health guarantee for their first 12 months of age.
Please text or call us at 870-404-0127 or 870-404-1189 or use our Contact Form here for more information about upcoming litters.
