Biting is part of normal canine development, and puppies are generally trained by other members of the "pack", including adult dogs, who teach them to inhibit biting. Allowing a puppy to nibble on everything out of control can lead to behavioral problems in the adult dog; the tender bite given by a puppy weighing just a few pounds can turn into the powerful bite of a 30-pound teenage dog.
If you or someone else in the family is in physical danger or afraid of the puppy, see a certified canine trainer or animal behaviorist right away.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Understanding Why the Dog Bites
Step 1. Find out how puppies learn not to bite
Puppies often do not know how to measure the intensity of the bite, so they bite playfully without understanding the effects on others. They usually understand how hard they are biting while playing with other puppies or adult dogs. Doggies nibble on each other for fun until one gets hurt and lets out a high-pitched cry. The victim stops playing, as does the guilty puppy, who is caught off guard.
The next time the puppy bites too hard and gets the same reaction, he will begin to realize that his bites can actually harm other puppies or people. The dog uses this evidence to change its behavior
Step 2. Identify the dynamics within the pack as the pup grows
Adult dogs tolerate the (sometimes bad) behavior of younger puppies quite well, but become less patient as they get older. It is as if the adult dog thinks that the puppy must know that it is not done. So, according to the age of the dog, the rigor of the correction by the adult dog goes from a simple interruption of the game to a short message. which may include a growl or a snap.
- In the most extreme attempts at correction, the adult dog jumps on the puppy, blocking him with his back to the ground, to teach him a hard lesson; it is not an attitude that the human owner should imitate, except under the direction and supervision of an experienced instructor.
- Thanks to this natural progression, puppies generally learn from adult dogs that biting is unacceptable before they are old enough to cause harm to other dogs or people.
Step 3. Use common sense when training
When choosing a training technique for your puppy, consider the amount of time you can devote to training and the appropriateness of the training method for your situation.
If you have children, it is important that the puppy understands that he should not bite them, but it may not be advisable to let them participate in the training of the animal
Part 2 of 4: Teaching Bite Inhibition
Step 1. Play with the puppy until it bites you
When it does, let out a high-pitched cry, mimicking a dog's yelp. The sound must be loud and sharp, as a real dog whine would be. Get up and stop playing with the puppy to further emphasize that his attitude is not acceptable.
If you train your dog using a clicker, make it sound as soon as the dog takes his mouth out of your hand or releases the pressure
Step 2. Hang your hand when the puppy bites you
Pulling the hand back in pain, although it is an instinctive response, may even encourage the dog to step up the game and keep biting. By shaking your hand, you encourage the puppy to grab, and it will continue to want to bite. An inert hand, on the other hand, is not challenging enough for the game.
Step 3. Play with the puppy again
If he starts biting again, yelp again, or scold him, and retire from the game. Repeat these steps no more than three times in a 15-minute period.
Overwhelming the puppy with too long a training phase will not make him understand the message clearly. The dog will not learn to stop biting and his behavior will remain unchanged
Step 4. Reward positive interactions
If your puppy licks you after biting you or tries to comfort you, praise him and / or give him a treat. He should be rewarded and encouraged to interact positively without biting.
Step 5. Reinforce your reaction with a pause if whining alone doesn't work
When the puppy bites you, yell loudly and remove your hand to signal that you have stopped playing. Then ignore the puppy for 20 seconds. Physical isolation from the pack sends a strong message to the puppy that he has misbehaved. If the puppy bites you again, stand up and leave him alone for 20 seconds.
After 20 seconds, go back to him and start playing together again. You want to let him know that friendly play is welcome, but violent play is not. Play with the puppy until he falls into the same attitudes, and repeat the tactic of ignoring / withdrawing from the game
Step 6. Decrease your tolerance for bite strength
If you start telling him that strong bites are unacceptable, the puppy may try to give more gentle bites. Let him know that even moderate-force bites are not welcome. Continue to discourage the puppy's subsequent hard bites, until he is able to play gently with your hands and control the bite pressure.
Step 7. Be patient and persistent
This process can take a long time, particularly with dogs with high predatory instincts. The method should work effectively, but you may get a lot of bites before reaching the goal.
Part 3 of 4: Teaching Good Habits
Step 1. Encourage the puppy to play with other puppies and adult dogs who are social
Playing with other vaccinated dogs is a normal component of puppy growth. Not unlike your childhood, youth is a time for a dog to explore and learn. By regularly playing with other well-trained dogs, who do not need to take action to teach bite inhibition, your puppy will be encouraged to play by the rules with other dogs and with you.
You could enroll your puppy in a training course, where he can learn essential behaviors while having fun
Step 2. When he bites you, replace your skin with his favorite chew toys
Grab a toy or a bone and make it bite. This tells him that he should only use his teeth on toys or bones, not on your skin.
Step 3. Engage in other forms of play
Getting the puppy to play with your hands can be fun, but it can also give him the wrong idea. Encourage other forms of play where the puppy doesn't have to nibble on your fingers, hands, ankles, and feet.
- Teach your dog the fetch game. Stick to the same rules when playing.
- Teach him tug-of-war. Stick to the same rules, to discourage your puppy from biting you when he gets close to your hands.
- Fill him with new and interesting games to keep him busy all the time. A bored dog is more likely to get your attention by biting you. Change the games often, so the dog is less likely to get bored.
Step 4. Use repellent to deter dog bites
Before starting to play with your dog, spray repellent on areas of the body and clothing that the puppy likes to play more violently in. When the dog starts biting, stop all movements and wait for him to react to the unpleasant taste. Praise him and keep playing with him when he lets you go.
- Among the repellents you can use bitter apples, balsamic ointment, tea tree oil, white vinegar. Alternatively, you can spray a breath freshener into the puppy's mouth when he bites you - both the taste and the noise will act as a deterrent.
- Spray the repellent on your body and clothing (only if the spray does not damage the fabric) for at least two weeks. After two weeks, the puppy will probably have developed a strong sense of disgust towards your hands and ankles.
Step 5. Make sure the pooch gets plenty of exercise
A very active puppy (exercising until he gets tired) will be less violent while playing. Above all, you will prevent them from developing bad habits. A tired puppy is often a well-behaved puppy.
Step 6. Don't pay him back with the same coin
Sometimes you may be tempted to physically punish your puppy by slapping, hitting, or waving your fingers in his face. This type of intervention can have two results: encouraging the puppy to continue playing violently, or making him react in a very aggressive way. Avoid other physical punishment methods that could scare or intimidate the puppy.
If you are considering this type of surgery, you should seek help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist veterinarian
Step 7. Don't discourage normal forms of play
Getting bitten every time you go out to play with your dog may not be pleasant, but you definitely want to establish a real bond between you and the puppy, and play is one way to do that. Don't give up playing together just because the little dog hasn't learned the rules yet. If you teach him the difference between right and wrong, and don't quit the game completely, you will both benefit.
Part 4 of 4: Avoiding Bites While Playing
Step 1. Have your dog take daily walks
Find out about your puppy's vaccination status before taking him for a walk in public areas frequented by other dogs. Don't forget to keep him tied on a leash, to ensure his safety.
Step 2. Replace your hands with chew toys
Give your puppy the opportunity to bite into the most suitable toys. Praise him for using the toy.
If your puppy is wary of the chew toy, try rubbing it with tuna oil or peanut butter to make it more eye-catching
Step 3. Give your dog a break if he starts playing violently
If the puppy starts misbehaving, stop playing, even if he hasn't bitten.
Advice
- Seek professional help if the above methods have not had any significant effect.
- Permanent dentition begins to appear around 4 months of age. It would be best to complete training before this time, as permanent teeth can cause more damage than milk teeth.
- Even small dogs when they bite can cause problems; do not neglect the education of a small dog just because it will always remain small in size.
- Allow well-trained adult dogs to correct puppies in their own way. Although correcting by an adult dog may seem harsh in the eyes of humans, adult dogs are very adept at teaching puppies the most appropriate behavior.
- Kindergartens for dogs are a good opportunity to teach bite inhibition in a controlled environment.
