As puppies begin to teethe they start to chew on and explore objects with their mouths. Eventually, those razor-sharp puppy teeth will find their way to your fingers, limbs and clothing. It might seem cute now, but without intervention, it won’t be so adorable when those puppy teeth become adult dog teeth!
Here are a few tips to help you start training your puppy to stop biting.
Teach bite inhibition
When your puppy bites hard, let out a high-pitched yelp sound. This mimics what littermates and moms do, and will help teach your puppy how to control the force of their mouthing. If this excites your puppy or they don’t stop the nipping, discontinue.
Biting means “Game Over”
Puppies use their mouths when playing. If your puppy is nipping, end the game immediately. Don’t yell at them or use physical punishment (they want a reaction) ignore them and walk away.
Redirect to something else
When your puppy starts biting at your hands or objects they shouldn’t, offer them a chew toy instead. It’s a good idea to keep a toy close by at all times so you can redirect your puppy as soon as they start nipping.
Give your puppy a break
Puppies have a lot of energy! If you notice your puppy is biting excessively or more than usual, they might need a walk or a nap.
Reinforce the behaviour you want
Replace your puppy’s undesired behaviour with ones you want like “sit” or “leave it.” Remember to reward your puppy when they perform the appropriate behaviour
Enroll in puppy class
A well-trained puppy leads to a well-behaved adult dog. Enroll your puppy in training classes so you can both learn the skill to help set your puppy up for success!
Enjoy a puppy who’s as Good As Gold with our Platinum Puppy Training Class!