Is Your Puppy Biting? Why They Do It and How To Stop It.
You love your little puppy but you may have noticed biting becoming more prevalent as you go to play with them or take their toy away. Some consider it just “play biting” but it’s important to teach your dog healthy habits right away to prevent it from going any further. So if your dog is biting, here is why and how to stop it.
Why Does Your Puppy Bite?
Puppies understand the world through their mouths. Like human babies, we touch and grab and feel everything with our hands, puppies use their mouths. Depending on how it tastes, the consistency and feel, the puppy may decide if it’s worth continuing to bite or not. Adult teeth start to come in around 12-16 weeks. Around this time you may see increased chewing on objects such as furniture, carpeting, shoes, and more. You’ll want to give them chew toys to avoid this, specifically teething toys as those help soothe their sore gums. Another instance of biting is play biting. You’ll see your pup nip or bite at other puppies legs to entice them to play. This is actually very important and helps teach puppies a vital skill: bite inhibition. Bit inhibition is how puppies learn how much pressure they can apply with their teeth and what happens when they apply pressure. Depending on the pressure, the puppy being bit may yelp out in pain and leave. This teaches the other puppy that he needs to bite softer to not cause distress and lose his play friend.
How To Stop Your Puppy From Biting
When your puppy tests the waters on you and attempts to bite you, it’s important to show them not to bite you and that you aren’t responding well to it. If your pup attempts to bite you during play, make a high pitched noise and immediately leave and ignore your puppy. You can go to another room and close the door if your pup is especially persistent.It’s important to remain consistent and to not give them mixed signals on biting. Be sure everyone in the household is following the same protocols with you, to teach your puppy not to bite. You have to think of it as negative reinforcement. If they bite you, all attention and playing ceases with this bad behavior and if they aren’t biting then they get your attention and get to play with you (positive reinforcement).Other techniques can be more harsh disciplinary options but it is never suggested as that is introducing your puppy to aggression. This makes it more likely for them to grow up with aggressive behavior. Physical methods are never recommended. If you must use another form of punishment, you can try a water spray, noise alarm, or ultrasonic device to startle your puppy and it will likely stop. When they return to play and aren’t biting, they need immediate praise and gentle play. Gentle play may be necessary until you get better control of the biting. Games like tug of war, may be too aggressive so it’s important to practice your best judgment.
Adult Dog Biting
When dealing with an adult dog, all of these practices work but it’s important to note that all of their sharp adult teeth are in and it can be dangerous attempting to teach this on your own. It would be best to see professional help. Click here for an at home dog training service that can help stop biting in its tracks. Located in Jacksonville, Florida. Follow Come Sit Stay on facebookRelated: Top 5 Tips For Training Your Dog
December 30, 2021 - By : Justin Ingram
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