Stop Puppy Biting, Free Puppy Training Tips, How to Train a Puppy
On this page learn how to stop puppy biting nipping fast and effectively with our selection of the best free puppy obedience training techniques to cure this common problem often associated with puppy separation anxiety & teething and mouthing.
If you are after a quick cure then watch the video below or browse the whole page for a selection of free tips.
It is important to remember that it is quite normal for puppies to want to test their teeth on lots of different things as they develop, but you still need to stop puppy biting before it becomes a major problem.
During the early weeks of their life their mum trained them what to bite, how to bite and the force that they should use – but they still need to practice!
You just need to remember that although it may be normal it isn’t always necessary and you can learn how to train a puppy to stop biting quite easily.
In dog and puppy obedience training circles this is training your puppy to understand bite inhibition and making your pooch understand how to control his jaw or bite reflex and have a soft mouth…
Ok so lets get started with the basic principals that you need to understand to stop puppy biting fast and effectively.
How to Stop your Puppy Biting & Nipping
- Always start puppy socialization as early as possible, as it’s a vital part of dog and puppy training.
- Always remain fair and consistent, your puppy will learn faster and respect you as the pack leader and alpha male.
- Remember to tell the whole family to use the same puppy and dog training commands so it won’t confuse your pooch.
- Don’t expect miracles, your puppy will need to be told what is right and wrong – it is your job to train him.
- Never ever use any physical force towards you dog or puppy, showing aggressive behavior towards your pooch will teach him that aggressive behavior is acceptable.
- Reinforce good behavior with lots of treats and rewards. Check out our section on positive reinforcement for more free puppy training tips.
More Tips on How to Stop your Puppy Biting
To stop puppy biting and nipping you need to be able to learn how to train a puppy how hard he should bite.
Your pooch will have started to learn how hard to bite with his mum and siblings in the litter but it’s up to you to reinforce good behavior and ignore or reprimand when he makes mistakes i.e. bites too hard and too frequently.
- Try and learn to anticipate your puppy’s behavior patterns – it is much easier to cure a biting problem that has recently started rather one that has taken root.
- When your puppy starts biting your hand or fingers – say ‘no’ really firmly, you want to startle your puppy so he stops.
- After you have said no, place one finger under his chin and your thumb under his tongue – keep it there for 20-15 seconds.
- This technique really works – when your puppy starts biting you – pretend that you have been hurt and say argh or ouch – without realising it you are replicating what his siblings would do in the litter.
Stop Puppy Biting with Negative Reinforcement
reinforcement – in a nut shell this is a dog training technique often used by some dog trainers where a puppy or dog with behavioral problems gets a negative correction such
as a squirt of water. This technique will normally stop puppy biting in its tracks but it isn’t loved by everyone.
If you have tried the other puppy and dog training techniques and your puppy is still biting…
- Try putting a glove on your hand that has a really nasty taste or smell – your puppy will soon learn to associate the biting with the negative correction i.e. the taste or smell – for more information on this check out our page on classical
conditioning.
- Spray your puppy on the back of the head every-time he bites you as this can work really well and is less extreme.
- Try shaking a can filled with stones ever-time you are bitten – this will startle your puppy into stopping.
We do not condone or use any harsh training techinques we are only stating that they are sometimes used. These dog training methods could be considered harsh and even extreme,
and some dog trainers are split as to whether these techniques should
be used.
In the end it’s up to you to decide how bad the biting is and whether
your puppy could develop more severe behavioral problems which may
actually make him a danger to the public.
If you are still having problems and just don’t know where
to turn, get some free vet advice over the phone or take your pooch to
dog training or puppy training classes.
