Solving the problem of biting and rough play: How to effectively train your puppy in bite inhibition.
There are roughly 28 tiny razors in a puppy's mouth, and they love to nip your fingers and toes. Even though your puppy doesn't intend to hurt you when they "play bite," they still lack self-control, which can lead to unpleasant surprises if you're not careful!
Teething in puppies is normal and essential for their development, but it's crucial to begin training early to avoid issues later.
You will feel much more at ease going on adventures with your puppy once you have overcome your fear of being bitten. What is the best way to stop a puppy from biting you? Continue reading to find out exactly what you can do to prevent your puppy from biting your hands, feet, fingers, or toes.
WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE PUPPY BITING PHASE?
Although it varies greatly between breeds and personalities, your puppy's biting phase will typically last six to nine months from birth.
The answer is unquestionably no if you're wondering if your dog is too young to begin training. In order to teach your puppy that human skin requires gentle mouthing rather than enthusiastic chewing, bite inhibition training should start as soon as possible.
Why do puppies chew and bite objects?
Puppies use their mouths to learn and explore the world, just like babies and toddlers do. Like human babies, they experience some discomfort during their teething period. They are relieving their frequently sore gums and accelerating the teething process by chewing whatever they can get their hands on. Therefore, don't take it personally if you're wondering, "Why is my puppy biting me?"
You can aid in the process of teaching your puppy to stop biting by giving them lots of chew toys. By doing this, you make it very evident to your dog that they are ideal for munching (instead of hands and feet).
Teaching the Inhibition of Puppy Bite
Learners of bite inhibition are less likely to develop into adult dogs that bite, which has far more serious consequences. Puppies can learn bite inhibition with chew toys, but there are many other ways to support them.
Even if it takes some time, you should be well on your way to learning how to stop puppy biting if you adhere to the straightforward advice below!
Teach Your Puppy to Be Kind
Your puppy will engage with people and other dogs more gently if you teach them to control the force of their bite. Puppies naturally nip at one another, and when they are being too rough, their mother or playmate will yell loudly. Their families also engage in this behaviour.
It's a fantastic trick that you can also perform! Here is a quick five-step "cheat sheet" that addresses the aforementioned advice:
- If they bite too hard, make a high-pitched "ow!" sound. When your puppy is happily chomping your hand, it's usually the last thing on their mind, so you want to let them know they're hurting you. When they clamp those teeth down, you have to be completely consistent in order to accomplish this.
- Quietly turn around.
- Leave
- If they back off, give them a treat and verbal praise.
- Repeat as needed.
Keep in mind that your puppy is not attempting to harm you during the entire process. Even if they do, it's unintentional, so quietly end the game, move on, and start over when you're ready.
Show your puppy that when they bite, playtime is over:
You must demonstrate to your puppy that any biting indicates the end of playtime, which is why the "walk away" phase is so important.
Teaching them that biting has no effect is the best course of action. Your puppy will be deterred from biting you in the future if you give them a calming signal.
If your puppy bites your hand too forcefully, you can also stop playing with them for a predetermined period of time. Simply step away for a short while, then re-engage and stop if they repeat the behaviour. (Punishment and yelling won't work because they will frighten your puppy and may cause them to lose faith in you.)
Start by preventing your puppy from coming into contact with your skin in any way if you're worried that they might not be able to distinguish between soft and hard bites. Try ceasing play as soon as you feel their teeth on your skin if you choose this strategy.
Take a break for a predetermined amount of time if this occurs (not too long, though, as your puppy's attention span is short!). After that, carefully start the game over, ready to stop right away if necessary.
Give Your Puppy a Skin Substitute:
Chew toys are an excellent way to distract your puppy from your skin, especially your hands and feet, when used appropriately. As previously mentioned, chewing is a crucial aspect of your puppy's development. However, biting your hands and feet is a common issue, so the more you can anticipate your puppy's biting behaviour, the easier it will be to stop it.
When the biting begins, you can quickly divert their attention to a chew toy if you have one on hand. By doing this, you're telling your puppy that it's acceptable to chew or bite the toy but not your hand. Even if you have a lot of toys close by, keep in mind that your puppy won't instinctively clamp down on the toy rather than your skin. It may seem strange, but you will need to put the toy in your puppy's mouth and encourage them to bite into it!
Keep a treat on hand because rewards are a great way to reinforce the message. Give your puppy a treat and make noises of gratitude as soon as they begin to relax. (They should be able to recall the proper grip strength for the next time because they are excellent at measuring pressure with their mouth.)
Additionally, as we previously stated, the play session ends right away if they continue to nip despite the toy or treat!
Alternatives to biting and chewing include the following:
- Play that isn't direct, like fetch
- Many opportunities for socialization will help your puppy learn to play rough with other dogs instead of you.
Get Your Puppy Moving:
Your puppy is an enormous ball of boundless energy, and they use their mouth to learn about a world that piques their curiosity! They are therefore hardwired to bite.
Getting rid of all that pent-up energy is therefore your top priority if you're trying to figure out how to get your puppy to stop biting, but how?
Fortunately, there is an easy and cost-free way to stop a puppy from biting. Go to the closest open area and begin wearing your puppy out because they love running more than anything else. Even better, make training sessions a part of your puppy's everyday routine. This is a great way to let off steam and teach your puppy valuable skills that they will use well into adulthood.
Spend some quiet time with your puppy:
In relation to fatigue, all puppies require occasional downtime, just like people do. Not even a puppy can be insanely happy all the time!
Your puppy will benefit greatly from having regular "quiet time" during the day. After they've returned from a walk, you might want to give them some peace because they won't be in the mood to wreak havoc (yet).
That "quiet time" is a crucial time to help them concentrate, not a sign of laziness. Puppies may start to experience anxiety if they are not given the opportunity to unwind on occasion.
If your puppy struggles to calm down, you might want to get them a crate. These are practical tools that let your puppy retreat for some much-needed rest and relaxation.
Sign up for Puppy School
You can encourage your puppy to stop biting at home in a number of ways, as you can see. However, we strongly advise going to puppy school for the best boost. Your dog will learn all they need to know about controlling their unruly biting tendencies here.
Stop Your Puppy from Leaping Up
As you can imagine, as you walk, some very enthusiastic dogs will want to jump up on you. Even though this is typical playful puppy behaviour, you'll want to stop it, but how? (If your puppy is biting and jumping, this advice will also be helpful.)
Try teaching your puppy that you will reward them if they walk politely beside you while you hold a valuable treat next to your leg. When teaching your puppy to walk on a leash, this approach works incredibly well.
Give Them a Break
After your puppy goes on a biting rampage, gently place them in a designated "time-out" area so they can calm down. Keep your cool while doing this to avoid making your puppy associate the area with punishment. Let your puppy out once more after they have calmed down, but not before.
The Importance of Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is essential to any puppy training program. Remember this so that when your dog is calm, you can reward the desired behaviour with a "good dog," a treat, or a cuddle.
It should go without saying that you should never, ever hit or physically punish your dog. Consult your veterinarian or dog trainer if they bite aggressively on a regular basis.
Get Rid of Needless Distractions
Keep in mind how difficult this entire process is for your puppy. When you're playing together, avoid adding pointless distractions, moving too quickly, or making disorganized or obtrusive movements. You are attempting to ensure that their attention is only on your hand and the pressure they are applying with their jaw. They won't be able to detect your cues if there is excessive movement or noise.
What Should I Do If the Biting Continues?
You might be wondering, "When will my puppy stop biting?" if you've tried everything mentioned above and your dog still bites. It's probably time for puppy school if you are! The best way to teach your dog how to be courteous with their mouth is to give them the opportunity to interact with other dogs.
By six months of age, your puppy should be able to control their behavior with a little perseverance and consistent training. Your next course of action should be to hire a skilled dog trainer or dog behavior specialist if this isn't the case for your dog.
How to Prevent Your Puppy from Being Agitated
One thing to keep in mind is that puppies enjoy playing. Remember that your puppy will base its reactions on your behavior because it's very easy for them to get excited and go a bit overboard. For instance, your puppy will return the same amount of energy (and probably a little more!) if you play with them in a slightly aggressive manner. This can hurt a lot if they haven't learned to control their bite.
To avoid agitating your puppy, which makes them bite more often:
- Don't wave your limbs in front of your puppy's face.
- Instead of ignoring your puppy completely, teach them to play gently.
- Steer clear of jerking; this will only make your puppy want to jump forward.
- If your puppy bites you, you should never hit them because this can make them fearful and make them bite more forcefully.
Although it's not always a "simple fix," puppy biting and chewing can be stopped before they become second nature with (a lot of) patience, positive reinforcement, and obedience training along the way.
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