Do you want to get your dog to stop biting? Puppy nip is a way for them to have fun, get attention, and to learn how to stop biting you. The good news about puppies is that they almost never nip. Avoid getting frustrated and resorting too harshly to corrections or punishments. This could cause problems in your relationship. You should also teach your puppy the importance of human skin. Let her try things and give feedback (say “yipe!”). If your puppy bites too hard, you can remove your attention. She will quickly learn that humans are sensitive and she will respond with her teeth to any nips.
How to train a puppy not to bite
You’re likely to have felt a pinch from your puppy’s puppy teeth. Sometimes, those razor-sharp puppy teeth can make it seem like you have welcomed a baby shark or alligator into your home.
You may be ready to let the baby shark, four-legged, stop biting, but it is important to remember that a puppy’s natural behavior of using their mouth and teeth to communicate and play is how they communicate.
Although you might wish your dog would “grow out” of the biting, there are steps you can take to reduce their aggression and redirect it to other appropriate targets.
How to get your puppy to stop biting
There are many reasons why puppies may nip. You may nip to release energy, get attention, interact with your environment, or help with teething. No matter what the reason, nipping can be very painful for the receiver and is something pet parents should try to stop.
There are several ways to stop biting your tongue before it becomes a problem.
Use teething toys
You can distract your dog by redirecting their biting behavior to chew toys that are durable and safe. This will help them learn what is acceptable and not to do it again.
Make sure your dog gets enough exercise
Different breeds and sizes have different exercise requirements, so make sure to check with your vet. Puppies and dogs use their playtime to release extra energy. Your pup might resort to biting if they have too much energy. Extra nips can be prevented by having your dog exercise and expel excess energy.
Being consistent
It takes patience, consistency, and practice to train your dog. Your dog will soon learn the best behavior if you use the right training techniques. It may be easier to let your dog do a little bit of nipping, but be consistent with your cues. This will ensure that your dog knows the boundaries.
Using positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is a way to help your dog establish preferred behavior. Praise and treat your dog when they obey your commands to stop biting, as well as when you give them a toy to chew on their own.
Saying “Ouch!”
If your puppy is too excited and starts to nip you, please say “OUCH!” with a shocked tone. Then stop playing with them. As they did with their littermates, your puppy should realize that their play style is not acceptable. If they stop playing, you should reinforce them with praise, treats, and/or resume play.
Every interaction you have with your dog should be considered a learning experience.
Every interaction with your dog is a learning opportunity. The following video is by Petco trainers. It contains more helpful tips and tricks to train your dog to stop biting.
What happens to puppies when they stop teething?
Teething is not a major factor in your dog’s bite habits. All of your dog’s puppy teeth should be gone by six months. By then, all 42 adult teeth should be in place.
This may reduce some of their chewy behavior, but it is important to teach and reinforce desired behaviors. Just because your pet stops teething doesn’t mean they will stop playing-biting, doesn’t mean that you can stop them from doing so.
