Puppies are undeniably cute and generally fun to be around. They are soft, fluffy, playful, have big soulful eyes and…OUCH! – sharp dagger-like teeth!
Puppy teeth can be painful and can even bruise and break the skin. Teething can be one of the most challenging behaviors to deal with. Yes, puppies are a lot of work, requiring a lot of patience and understanding in the beginning, but getting them started with training will help them grow into a well-mannered dog.
Why do puppies mouth and nip?
Exploring –
This is a new world to them! Since they do not have hands, they explore using their mouths.
Playing –
It is natural behavior for dogs to mouth and nip each other during play, puppies generally learn the proper rules of engagement from their peers. When they get too rough, a yelp or whine from their playmate can stop the play -telling them to be more gentle.
Human skin is a lot more sensitive than a dog’s. We have to teach our puppies “bite inhibition” when dealing with people, which is learning to control the force of their bite. Guiding them to play gently with us is an important training step in raising a well-behaved dog.
Teach your puppy to stop biting:
Remove your attention-
If your puppy begins to play roughly or nips at your skin, the best option is to hold your arms out of reach and ignore the puppy. If the puppy continues, get up and leave the room for a few minutes. Resume play if the puppy has calmed down. Timeouts can also be useful if the puppy gets too excited or over-stimulated.
Reward when they play gently-
Encourage your puppy to use a soft mouth and play with gentle interaction by praising, giving a treat or even just continuing the play.
Provide appropriate chew toys-
Without proper toys to chew on, a puppy will look for something else to mouth on, namely you or your belongings. If the puppy is tempted to mouth at your hands or feet, keep substituting a toy.
What to Avoid:
Playing with your puppy can be very rewarding for both of you. But there must be limits and rules.
Do not get rough with your puppy-
This stage in their life is a continual learning process. Aggression towards the puppy can cause high levels of fear and/or future aggression from the dog itself.
Avoid playing with your hands in their mouths or face-
Do not encourage your puppy to mouth roughly by sticking your hands in their face. What may start out as innocent play can escalate to rough inappropriate biting. Rough behaviors are often carried on into the dog’s adulthood.
Do not discourage your puppy from playing in general-
Playing is a big part of their enjoyment and a great way to build their relationship with you. Teaching them to play appropriately and gently is the goal.
If mouthing issues continues, feel free to contact our Miami dog trainer.
Sign up for our puppy training lessons today!
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