How to Stop Your Puppy From Biting

Part of training a puppy is getting your puppy to stop biting. While this behavior may seem cute in small dogs and puppies, if it is not controlled early on it can lead to a number of problems when the dog becomes older. Teaching your puppy to not bite is generally very easy, though it may take time as with any form of training to get them to completely stop what they are doing.

Most puppies bite, and bite frequently. That is their way of playing, and the way that they will play with their mother and litter-mates. These bites are generally not meant to be threatening in anyway, and are just the dogs’ way of playing. However, though the biting, nipping and mouthing of a puppy may not hurt and may seem cute, it is negative behavior that should be discouraged.

Your Puppy's Biting Problem? Click Here to Learn How to Stop This Nagetive Behavior. 

Allowing your puppies to nip and bite on your hands or other body parts while playing leads them to believe that it is acceptable for them to bite on your skin. They will continue this behavior when older as well, only then there is the potential for serious harm. When your puppy first comes home, you need to immediately begin to discourage such behavior, so that they know biting skin is not acceptable.

To train your puppy to stop biting, you must remain consistent in your actions. When your puppy nips or bites at you, even if it is very soft and does not hurt, give a sharp yelp or ouch, to let them know they have hurt you. This is similar to what the mother and litter-mates will do if the puppy becomes too rough. If the puppy does not stop and continues to keep biting, give another sharp yelp and leave the room, leaving the puppy by himself. Your puppy will quickly realize that biting leads to being left alone and not having someone to play with anymore. You must remain consistent with this, and do it every time the puppy bites, regardless of how gentle the bite is.

In some cases, you may need to use other training methods as well to get your puppy to stop biting. One that you may try is using an off command to teach your puppy to get down if they are biting you. The first time that your puppy nips or bites, use the off command and gently push the dog down. Continue this each time that they start to bite. These two training methods can work very effectively together if you use the yelp/walk away method whenever the puppy bites and use the off command when you see the puppy is getting ready to bite. Your puppy will learn very quickly that biting is not acceptable behavior, and will result in a lack of attention from you.

There are some puppies that are going to be very stubborn and will require physical action to get them to stop biting. You should never, ever hit your dog to punish them for anything, but there is a physical method you can use to deter biting. When the puppy bites, firmly (but not roughly) grab their muzzle in your hand. Place your thumb inside the mouth on the roof the mouth and hold their mouth. This is uncomfortable, though not painful, for the puppies and can help to deter those puppies from biting that are a bit more stubborn.

Your Puppy's Biting Problem? Click Here to Learn How to Stop This Nagetive Behavior.