How to Train Your Dog Not to Bite

The good news: If your dog bites you or a member of your family, it means that Fido views you as his "pack". He's a member of your family; you are a member of his.

The bad news: Your dog bites and you need to train him to stop.

Training your dog to stop biting is tough, but possible. The earlier you start training, the better. Here are some tips on how to go about training your dog not to bite.

When your puppy gives you a gentle bite while playing, it's hard to view it as something that is forming a biting habit for him. But when he's not so tiny and his jaw is stronger, this pattern will continue and he can start doing some harm. So take care of your little guy's "play" biting now.

The first step is to get the entire family to agree to some ground rules; if the puppy senses dissention in the ranks, he won't learn to stop biting. Get everyone in the house to consistently and firmly apply anti-biting "protocol" with your puppy. When a puppy first comes to your home and he starts play or aggressively biting, he is trying to get a sense of where he ranks in his new "pack". If everyone sticks to the basic training rules, then the puppy will learn where he fits into the family dynamic and that place isn't as "The Family Biter".

Second, when your puppy does bite you, react. Even if he's biting with more gum than tooth, act as if he is really hurting you and that him hurting you is unacceptable. How? A loud "No!" should do the trick. Slowly pull your hand away. Jerking your hand away is viewed in canine world as retreating. If there is any aggression behind that bite, that's exactly what he wants you to do. Slowly and calmly removing your hand will signal that you are in control, but what he did is unacceptable.

Third, after reacting, get up and go somewhere else. It's a bit of Pavlovian response; if your puppy equates biting with the end of play time, he won't bite.

Fourth, if possible, let your puppy interact with other dogs. Other dogs will react to biting in a similar way to the above, and that will reinforce your training. If bitten, the other dog will decide to find another playmate, again teaching your puppy that biting equals lack of playtime.

Of course, biting and chewing are a natural part of being a dog. So it is important to redirect that instinct to "acceptable" biting and chewing. Unfortunately if you break your dog of biting you, your furniture or favorite shirt might be the next target. So be sure to supply your dog with ample chew toys to play with. Train him to take out his biting urge on a chew toy, and he won't chew on you or your belongings.

Of course, not everyone has their dog from puppy hood on to train him not to bite. The training program above is a first step to getting your dog to not bite. In adult dogs, remember that the reason for biting is frequently fear. You will need to gain the trust of your dog. This doesn't mean giving into him, he obviously needs boundaries. But follow common sense techniques. If you avoid sneaking up on your dog and startling him, it will go a long way until he trusts you. And by all means, do not kick or hit your dog, as that's the quickest way to get his instinctual reaction to kick in- and you will be bitten.

Finally, if you cannot train your dog to not bite, talk to your vet for suggestions. Among them may be a referral to an animal trainer or animal behavioral specialist. They have had more experience with biting animals than you have and can likely get your dog to stop.