A Guide to Stopping Your Dog's or Puppy's Biting

The excitement of bringing a new puppy or dog into your home should not be dampened by any negative habits they may exhibit.

You and your dog should enjoy the process of acclimating a new canine to your house. The first obstacle you should tackle is teaching your dog proper manners.

Regardless of breed, it is usual for a young dog to explore its environment by mouthing and biting anything it can get its mouth on. When playing, puppies naturally mouth and bite each other, and they will do the same to humans since they view us as another member of their group.

When one dog bites or mouths another dog, the pain isn't particularly severe because of the thick skin under the fur. Unfortunately, people do not have the same tough skin as dogs do, thus it is crucial that you train your puppy to never use its sharp teeth on a human. Read also: How to Look for and Hire a Pet Sitter

Your puppy's natural biting instinct must be lowered before you can instruct it to quit biting. Usually, a puppy will learn to quit biting from its mother and the other puppies in its litter, but now that it has come to depend on you, it will be up to you to teach it these and other important lessons.

While play biting may appear endearing and innocuous when your puppy is small, it is anything but when your dog is fully grown and considerably stronger. It is imperative, then, that puppies be taught self-control and to refrain from biting well before they turn four months old.

As part of their playful antics, pups often bite and mouth one other. Your puppy's biting response can be considerably reduced if he is exposed to other puppies and well-socialized adult dogs early on.

When playing, if one puppy is too harsh with the others, they will all swat at him. As a result of this form of socialisation, your dog will be able to manage its biting instinct.


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Teaching your dog to be comfortable around other dogs and giving it an outlet for extra energy are just two more benefits of socialising.

Puppies who are exposed to other puppies at a young age develop greater social skills and, as a result, make better companions for their human families. Lack of socialisation is a common contributor to destructive and hyperactive behaviour in puppies.

Lack of socialising can lead to anxiety and aggression in puppies. When confronted with a novel scenario, dogs frequently exhibit aggressive behaviour. It's more common if they haven't been properly socialised.

A dog's best chance for being a well-adjusted member of both its human community and the family it lives with is to be exposed to as many humans as possible, especially young ones. Typically, dogs will recognise their owners and treat them differently from strangers, as well as from youngsters and adults. Consequently, socialisation with people of all ages, including children, is crucial for your dog.

In most cases, it's best to introduce your puppy to as many young people as possible as soon as possible. It's ideal if you can do it before it turns four months old. One possible explanation is that some mothers are simply not comfortable letting their young children interact with big canines or fully grown puppies.

Especially with larger dogs or dogs of notoriously aggressive types, this is something to keep in mind.

If you want your puppy to stop biting, one of the best things you can do is earn its trust and respect. The ability to identify and address problematic behaviours early on in the training process will be crucial. Read also: Using an Electric Dog Training Collar to Train the Recall            

By using praise and treats, you can earn your dog's respect and cooperation. Distract your puppy if it starts to bite you or something else you don't want it to. Give your dog a bone, chew toy, or other suitable item to gnaw on.

When your puppy actually chews on the chewable material, praise it. When your dog obeys your commands, be sure to praise it. It is crucial that you never strike or slap the puppy.

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The most surefire way to lose your dog's trust and respect is to physically punish it. An efficient training plan must be based on mutual trust and respect. It is not effective to scold or slap a dog in order to prevent it from biting; instead, this will only cause the dog more fear and bewilderment.

Avoiding bites is a primary goal while training a puppy. If you don't address your dog's biting problem when it's still a puppy, it will only get worse. Biting can be a hazardous and destructive behaviour for an older dog, even if it seemed cute and playful when your puppy was small.