How to Stop a Dog from Nipping

Nipping is a normal part of puppy behavior, but when it's your ankles the puppy (or dog) is nipping at, it's certainly not a desirable behavior. Breaking a puppy or adult dog from nipping is not difficult but it will take time and discipline to accomplish. Re-train your dog and teach him not to nip with these training cues.

What Not To Do

Do not yell at or hit your dog for nipping. This will only make him nervous and more inclined to act out by nipping even more. Calmly stop what you are doing, look the dog in the eye, say his name and firmly say 'no', then return to what you were doing as though nothing happened. This training step may need to be repeated several times before the dog understands the nipping is undesirable and will not get your attention.

Regular Exercise

Every dog needs to be walked regularly and if your dog is not getting enough exercise he may be nipping out of sheer frustration and pent up energy. Daily walking and play sessions are essentials for a dog's mental and physical well being. Exercise time reinforces the bond between you and your dog and gives you more opportunities to reinforce the no-nip training.

Reaction to Children

Parents who adopt a puppy for their children often find themselves in a predicament with kids who want to play with the puppy but all the puppy wants to do is nip at the children's feet and ankles. The natural exuberance of children during playtime excites the puppy and the excitement manifests as nipping. Change this nipping behavior by always keep the puppy on a leash around children and never leave them without adult supervision. Hold onto the leash while the children are around and if the puppy begins to get excited and start nipping, pull him in to arms length next to you. Keep him close until he calms down, then give him a little leash so he can play with the children. Repeat each time he nips and he will learn that he does not get to play with the kids if gets out of control and nips.

Negative Consequence and Positive Rewards

Any time your puppy or dog nips, there should be an immediate negative consequence (no hitting or yelling) so the dog will begin to associate nipping and not getting his way. Be generous with positive rewards and reinforcements too. When the puppy or dog goes through playtime without a single nip, give him praise and a treat. If his nipping seems to be directed at one person or group (like only children) have the nippee(s) become more involved in the dog's care and training, dogs almost never bite the hand (or ankles) of those who feed him.