Training Methods To Stop Biting Puppies

How do you stop a puppy developing the bad habit of nipping you or�"even if playfully�"biting you? When puppies are having mock-fights with each other (an echo of their days as hunting dogs), they use their mouths, so it is not unsurprising if, in the spirit of some doggy fun, they bite you. Although this behavior is done without the slightest idea of aggression nor malice, it might grow into a habit hard to break unless your puppy is trained to go for a better social skill. So what needs to be done is to channel�"or to "redirect"--the puppy's energy onto chew toys, to teach the dog to be more gentle with people, and to eventually stop biting puppies.

The two things that need to be done to stop biting puppies is to foster acceptable behavior and to help train the dog away from undesirable behavior. The former can be done by redirecting the puppy's tendency to nip and bite. For starters, give the dog items meant for biting; you will need to bring these along whenever you play games with her. So as you or the child tries to pet her on the head, extend to the puppy the toy with the other hand. Stay consistent with this to help the puppy get accustomed to the ideas that people and petting are wonderful, which at the same time will help her mouth to be occupied when she is being petted. But watch out how long you pet her, since she might get distracted and turn and nip you.

If you want to wean your dog away from negative behavior, demonstrate that nipping leads to results that she dislikes. One strategy here makes her see that if she is nippy or biting, she loses her friends, especially you. Whenever she strikes, look the puppy in the eye and make an abrupt, quick (not long-drawn out), loud noise. Then get up and pretend not to notice her. Leave her in the room if she is that stubborn, but return in a few minutes to check if she is calm already. Then try the petting and chew toy method again.

Here are some last few things to remember before you go grab a chewie and train the puppy. Your still-delicate puppy must not be left alone when she is tethered as she might wrap the leash around herself and get injured.

If you honestly think that all of the methods explained above did not do much, then you can always try yet one more. Get some cotton gloves and apply some bad tasting substance more or less near the spot where the dog bites. Eventually the puppy needs to learn that "hands literally leave a bad taste in the mouth." This method may prove successful on the condition that the puppy gets a bad tasting result every time she tries to chomp on your hand.