How to Teach Your Puppy to Stop His Puppy Biting

Puppies don't know when they do something wrong. Everything a puppy does is natural to him. It's our job to teach a puppy how we expect him to behave. A pup can learn just like an adult dog, but you have to be patient, consistent, calm and take the time needed to help him learn what's appropriate behavior. Puppy biting needs to be stopped before it gets out of hand. It's not hard to teach your puppy to stop his biting and understanding why they bite will help you with your training.

Puppy biting is a big part of how a puppy plays. In his world, he interacts the only way he knows how and that's with his teeth and mouth. What's an acceptable part of play with his siblings isn't acceptable with us. Play fighting with his siblings is an everyday activity that teaches him about bite inhibition and the best way to teach a puppy to control his biting is by continuing the education he was learning from his litter mates. Puppy biting is only a problem if you don't correct the behavior.

Puppies are just like kids and need to play for proper and healthy development. They don't bite to be mean and their only desire is to play. The bonding process grows each time you play with your puppy and it's extremely important to interact with them during play. However, the little daggers we get attacked with can and should end a play session really fast. The best way to teach a pup that puppy biting isn't acceptable is the same way he would learn from his mom and siblings.

To break puppy biting, please remember you don't have to use force and hitting him is not an acceptable way to teach him not to bite. Punishing a puppy for doing what is a natural behavior to him risks creating a pup who won't bond with you and can become aggressive or afraid of you as he grows older. Give him respect if you want to earn his trust and respect. Puppies get excited when they interact with us through play and we are the ones who control a behavior with consistent training.

To stop puppy biting, yell "Ouch or Ow" in a high pitched voice that mimics a puppy's cry or yelp if he is bitten too hard by one of his siblings. When he bites your hand or finger, don't try to jerk your finger or hand out of his mouth. Jerking your hand from his mouth is what tears your skin. He doesn't know he hurt you unless you tell him in a way he understands. He's not doing it to be mean, so be patient with him. His mom and siblings already taught him about biting through play and yelping in pain when you're playing with him teaches the pup not to bite so hard. If the puppy doesn't release his grip when you cry out, open his mouth to remove a finger or hand. When he has removed his teeth from your hand, get up immediately and leave the room for a few minutes. The pup will learn that the one thing he wants to do stops when he bites too hard. Playing is what a pup lives for and when he sees you leave, he will quickly learn to control his puppy biting so you will continue playing with him. Stay consistent and make sure everyone in the family understands how to teach the puppy to not bite.

Another method you can use to stop puppy biting is with a spray bottle. It's a humane way of correcting that will surprise the pup. A more dominant type of personality may not respond to your painful cry. If he doesn't respond when you cry out, squirt him in the face. As soon as he removes his mouth from your hand, get up and leave the room.

When you are teaching your pup to stop biting, make sure to have something you can give him in exchange for your hand. A chew toy or treat is a good alternative to substitute for your hand. It's also important to not play with a puppy using your hands or feet. You're teaching him these are acceptable chew toys, in the puppy's mind. Always play with your pup using an appropriate toy like a tug of war toy or a braided rope toy. Teach him how to play with a ball or any other chew toy. When you take away something, you should have an acceptable replacement for him to play with. Puppies put things in their mouth to find out how they taste and what the texture is like. It's one way they explore and discover things in their world. Experiment with different toys to find his favorite.

Puppy biting should be stopped as soon as possible so your puppy doesn't get the wrong idea and think it's alright to bite. It may be cute when he's young, but as he gets older, his bite gets stronger and it's no longer cute. Be consistent, calm, patient and respectful when dealing with puppy biting or during any training session you have with your pet. Puppies can learn anything you want to teach them and puppy biting can easily be stopped when you take the time to teach him how you expect him to behave. If you don't teach, you can't expect him to learn. A puppy isn't a mind reader. Good communication is the key in any relationship and that includes your interaction with your puppy.

Training Your Puppy About Biting, Perfect Paws

How to Stop Puppy Biting Behavior-Train Puppy Not to Bite, puppy-training-at-home.com

How to Stop Puppy Biting, Dog Obedience Advice