Any responsible dog owner will want to know how soon can a puppy be taught to refrain from play-biting or nipping. Puppies nip and bite with gusto during their games and mock-fights, but their prick-point little teeth also can easily deal damage on human skin. The pain factor is not the only issue to consider; eventually, if the puppy does not learn how to stay on top of this destructive behavior, he can grow into a rather unpredictable dog that will use his mouth when playing and even when trying to tell others what he needs. While the intention can be dismissed as harmless, the damage on the other hand can be worth a second thought, and before the law, a dog bite is a dog bite. If trained while young, there is all the chance for you to teach your puppy or young adult that mouthing is simply not allowed at home.
Yelp and Ignore
The most useful and simplest method in order to stop biting puppies is known as the "Yelp and Shun" method.
The next time around your puppy bites you, try "yelping" in a loud high-pitched voice. When the dog releases your hand, pretend not to notice him, and interrupt the activity you and the puppy were busy with. This type of reaction is a copy of the behavior that the dog's littermates also demonstrated whenever he used to get out of line. Soon enough, your puppy will become aware that using his teeth on his human alpha leaders cause these people to stop paying attention to him. End result: you get to stop biting puppies.
Other strategies for training your dog are:
Trade
Here you need to approach your dog with a chew toy, ready to praise and pet the dog if he redirects his chewing to a more acceptable object.
Instant Muzzle
The next time your puppy makes an attempt for your hand, move quickly and enclose his muzzle with your fingers, effectively holding his mouth closed for some moment. This unwelcome surprise is sure to drive home the point to your dog promptly.
Experts think the only biting that does not require as much forehead knitting is soft biting on bare hands. When the puppy does this to you, stay still and simply divert the puppy's attention to other appropriate objects.
Other kinds of biting, like for example the sort aimed at some trouser's leg or shoelace, can be broken through distractions like a thrown toy or a simple clap. Whatever happens, dog trainers agree that the dog must not be called to or talked to, since the only way to reinforce positive behavior is to either leave him if he misbehaves, or praise him when he plays with a suitable toy.
In sum, play biting and mock fighting using bites and nips can grow into serious dilemmas later on. As early as now you as owner ought to flesh out what works best for your dogs' problem, and employ it to train your dogs towards more suitable play, and for you to stop biting puppies.
