New Puppy Training: How to Curb the Biting Impulse

Teaching a new puppy not to bite can be one of the biggest chores of owning a new pup. They will want to chew and bite at everything in sight, including the leg of your couch and even your hand when you attempt to pet him. I have raised 2 well-behaved large breed dogs over the past 10 years and now we are welcoming a new friend into our home. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share what I have learned in the first few critical months of owning a new pet.

The first few months of owning a new pet are critical and will decide the future of how your pew puppy will act. You must be consistent and firm with him, while being loving at the same time. Some puppies are well-behaved and mild mannered from the start, but other require a bit more attention and training. Simply saying "ouch" or "no" when your puppy starts chewing on your hand during a play session is enough to make some puppies stop everything and check to see if you are alright. Others will ignore your protests and keep jumping on you to nibble on your fingers or hands. This rough play might be cute in the beginning, but when your new puppy grows, his teeth and claws will grow with him. If this behavior is not curbed, it can become quite painful to even play with your new puppy, much less pet him. Never, under any circumstance, strike your pet out of anger. Treat them as you would a child. Sometimes a light slap on the nose is needed to get your pet's attention. Hitting them anywhere else can cause bruising or even break a bone, so always treat your pets with the respect they deserve.

If you have small children in your home then you definitely do not want a puppy that bites, even if it's meant in a playful gesture. Small children don't quite understand that the puppy is playing and become frightened that they are being attacked. Explain to them that your puppy plays too rough and take the puppy to another room to calm down. Never leave your new pet alone in a room with a child unattended - accidents do happen.

Hands should never be used as a toy. This will teach your puppy that chewing on hands is an acceptable thing to do. Instead of using your hands, use a toy instead, after all, that is what they are there for. When you want to initiate a play session, sit on the floor with your puppy so that he won't feel that you are so big and looming over him. Talk softly to your puppy to help it relax a bit; new puppies have a lot of energy and because of this you can get scratched by a sharp little claw or chewed on by sharp puppy teeth. If your puppy becomes more excited when you sit on the floor at his level, start the play session sitting in a chair while leaning over to play. When your puppy starts getting too excited and won't listen, or bites, scratches or does any other unwelcome activity scold him with a firm "no". Don't yell or scream at him, this can cause him to run away and hide in fear. You are simply trying to calm him down the same way a mother dog would with a firm but loving temper. When a puppy is annoying it's mother, the mother will sometimes snarl, snap at the pup, or emit a low growl to tell them that are doing wrong. Simulating the mother's growling noise causes a puppy to become very submissive. This can work with some puppies, but with others you may find that instead of listening to you, your puppy is climbing all over you more than before trying to lick your face. In wolf packs, cubs will lick the muzzle of their mother or other dominant wolves to try to get them to regurgitate food much like a parent bird does for it's offspring.

Treating your new puppy in the same way his mother would will ensure that a special bond is formed between you and your new pet. Remember to be consistent with your expectations, and the rules and limits you set for your new pet. With a little time and training, you can gain a well-behaved new best friend for life.