How To Stop Your Dog From Biting

Dogs bite for a variety of reasons. Discovering the real reason behind why your dog bites is the key to determining the proper way to deal with this behavior. Once you discover why your dog is biting, then you can take the appropriate action to stop this behavior.

Puppies learn at an early age that biting hurts from their brothers and sisters. A puppy that has been removed from the litter too early misses out on this particular lesson. If this is the case, then there are approaches you can take to stop them from biting. When the puppy decides to bite, disengage yourself and walk away from the puppy. Substitute a toy they can play with. The puppy quickly learns that when it bites that play will immediately stop. This negative enforcement will encourage the puppy to choose a less destructive method when playing.

Your Dog Have A Biting Problem?  Click Here to Discover How to Solve It Fast.

For a more positive reinforcement method try using a clicker. The sound of the clicker is followed by a treat. The puppy then associates the clicker with being a good thing. Put your fist in front of the puppy's face and when puppy doesn't nip, you click and treat. This method is simple but requires consistency.  Obedience training courses are also a useful option for training dogs not to bite. Such courses specialize in specific commands that teach the dog the “Off” and “Take it.”  “Off” teaches your dog to immediately let go. The “Take it” command teaches your dog to use his mouth instead of his teeth for taking treats.   
 
Fear often drives dogs to bite. New objects or people can have a very scary appearance to a dog.  The startling nature of the new objects can invoke the fight or flight response. This can lead to dogs biting in their defense as the scary object approaches or makes sudden movements. The best way to handle this is to introduce new objects or people very slowly. Keep tight control of your dog on a leash or muzzle. Let them know that the scary object or person isn't going to hurt them by remaining very calm and reassuring. Don't go too fast introducing new things, go at a pace that your dog feels comfortable with.

Stress is another factor that can cause some dogs to bite. Finding out what stresses your dog out is essential to keeping your dog calm and in control. It may take some observation to discover the cause of the stress. You may need the help of a professional to figure out how to de-stress your dog and keep him from biting. Injured dogs can also often lash out and bite when they are in pain. Dealing with an injured dog is not easy because the dog must trust you enough to allow you to take him to the vet. You should always approach any injured dog with extreme caution. If the dog will not let you close enough to help, make sure you call the vet or animal control to assist you in getting the dog the help it needs.

Abuse is by far the most damaging force that causes dogs to bite. Unfortunately, this is not something that can be cured overnight. An animal psychologist and a dedicated provider for your dog are needed in such sad cases. Overcoming the abuse and regaining trust takes a lot of time and a huge love investment.      

By observing and identifying the cause of your dog's biting, you can take appropriate action to deal with the problem. While some of these causes can be handled with training, don't be afraid to call in the professionals if you feel you can't handle your dog's biting problem.

Your Dog Have A Biting Problem?  Click Here to Discover How to Solve It Fast.