The majority of pet owners don’t like dogs who bite, chew and mouth them when playing.
When a puppy is 7 weeks old, something that seems charming is really more uncomfortable and more likely to cause damage. And as a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to train your animal companions the difference between proper and incorrect behavior.
Observe how puppies and dogs play together, and you’ll see they often use their tongues to communicate and explore their environment.
Because of this, they’ll often want to bite or ‘mouth’ your hands when you play with or touch them. In most cases, this is not aggressive behavior on the part of pups, and they have no desire to damage you.
Even yet, it is difficult to entirely stop since dogs and pups are hardwired to engage in this sort of behavior.
The first step to being a good pet owner is to teach your dog to heed simple instructions. Learn how to stop dog biting by reading below:
Why Do Dogs Bite?
Dog biting people is a serious issue that should be prevented by dog owners. When dogs bite, they usually do it because they perceive a danger.
When it comes to domesticated dogs, there’s a natural inclination that’s still present in them. Everyone who owns a dog should know on what to do with a dog that bites people:
• One of the most common reasons a dog bites is in defense of itself (or a member of its pack). The mother dog is just as protective of her pups.
• A dog may bite if you startle it by awakening it or unexpectedly approaching it from behind.
• Running away from a dog, even if it’s only for fun, might lead to a bite as well.
• In certain breeds, running away might cause herding behavior or even aggressive pursuit.
• Anyone who approaches a scared dog runs the risk of being bitten.
• It might be something as grave as being mistreated or abandoned on the side of the road, or it could be something seemingly innocuous as hearing a loud noise out of the norm.
• It’s not uncommon for accidents and illnesses to occur for these reasons. There are times when dogs don’t want their favorite humans around them because they’re in pain or unwell.
10 Tips On How To Stop Dog Biting
1. Enough and Regular Dog Exercise
Dog biting may be prevented by regularly exercising your dog. One of the most effective methods for reducing troublesome behaviors (like dog biting without warning) in a puppy is to get him some exercise.
When pups aren’t given enough mental and physical stimulation, they’ll often misbehave.
Breed and age are also major factors in determining how much physical activity your puppy needs.
Puppies should get five minutes of exercise twice a day, on average, for every month they are old. An average puppy of four months old should get 20 minutes of activity twice a day.
Exercising does not always mean going for a walk around the block. I’m referring to a game of fetch, tug of war, or any other kind of organized play to help your dog burn off excess energy. More energy means a happier and healthier pet!
Jogging is another option for getting your heart rate up but watch out not to exhaust your pup in the process. In the long term, excessive activity might create joint difficulties.
What is the reason behind the biting during exercise or play time?
Don’t worry if you notice that your puppy’s biting gets a little out of hand during fun or exercise. Your dog may do dog biting when excited and this is actually normal.
As a result, it is possible for you to efficiently eliminate their energy despite the difficulty of doing so.
Think about purchasing a flirt pole.
When you use a flirt pole, you don’t have to be concerned about your hands being nibbled, which is a great perk of them.
Alternatively, you may teach your dog how to play a more organized game of fetch. Dogs get both physical and mental exercise when they play fetch.
It’s important to keep in mind that many dogs have been bred for hundreds of years to be very energetic. It is best to do dog biting prevention by giving him plenty of activity.
2. Take your puppy to a trainer to learn how to stop him from biting.
When puppies are bored or want to play, they are more likely to nip and bite. That’s the ideal opportunity to give them a brief brain workout!
They won’t bite as much, and you get to praise them for good conduct as well.
Take advantage of the high-value goodies you’ll need to have on hand throughout this period of your puppy’s life and begin teaching your dog!
As a general rule, you’ll want to focus on a behavior that they’re already acquainted with. Put them in a sit or lie down position and have them “stay” for 5-10 seconds.
Once your dog has calmed down for 5-10 seconds, you have the opportunity to reinforce the behavior with praise and food. Many scenarios call for you to practice your talents and techniques one more time, which might take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.
This is an excellent habit to practice during these unplanned sessions of dog biting training.
3. Teach your dog to leave it
It’s easy to entice your dog’s attention with a simple sit and a reward of some kind.
Make sure your dog can’t get to the reward by closing your hand around it. You may expect your dog to lick, bite (hopefully not), or paw at your hand where the reward is to get to the food. When this occurs, just say “no” (without yelling or seeming harsh).
Give a fast “yes” and a different treat to your dog after he demonstrates restraint or quits trying to grab the goodie.
It is important to repeat an action as many times as necessary until your dog has internalized the notion. You may then use the cue phrase “leave it” after that. Introduce the word as soon as your dog starts moving.
How to train your dog to “Leave it”
• Whenever your dog’s attention is drawn away from the reward you’re holding, say “leave it” right away. Reward with another goodie after saying “yes” or “good.”
• Next, you’ll want to keep the reward in your hand and work on a “leave it” with your dog. After that, you can try telling your dog to leave a treat that you’ve placed on the ground. Block their reward with your hand and say “no” if they lunge.
• Give your dog a “yes” and reward him with a new goodie after he’s calmed down.
• Keep practicing, practicing, and practicing some more. Put on some slippers, stockings, toys, and whatever else you can think of and ask your dog to “leave it.”
An important part of the training is teaching your dog to comprehend the meaning of the phrase “leave it.”
• A great ‘leave it’ technique can assist your dog stop biting, as you can see. Give your dog the “leave it” command if they start biting your flesh, and praise them when they stop. It’s true what they say: “Practice makes perfect!”
4. Train your dog with “Yes” and “No”
‘Leave it’ is all about teaching your dog to distinguish between ‘yes’ and ‘no’. You may further reinforce your pup’s ‘yes’ and ‘no’ responses by teaching additional actions.
You may assist your puppy to learn the difference between yes and no, for example, by teaching him the sit habit.
You give your dog a goodie and a “yes” when he sits. It’s possible to tell them “no” if they continue to stroll about or leap (hopefully not). Say “yes” and give them a treat after they’ve mastered the sit command.
As time passes (and believe me, it does), your pup will get a better understanding of yes and no. When your dog begins to bite at your hand, you’ll be able to say “no” with confidence.
5. Don’t be frustrated
Every dog owner should have a long patience to raise their dogs well.
It might take some dog owners a longer time compared to others depending on your training approach, your dog’s health and your dog’s past. Getting irritated will just make matters worse.
Having said that, it’s important that you try to keep your frustrations in check while spending time with your pet. Don’t let training sessions become a source of frustration.
When you’re irritated, your dog probably feels the same way. And pups won’t learn if they’re irritated!
So, if you see that a certain puppy habit (like biting) or scenario is becoming too much for you to handle, you may want to seek professional help. Take a break and let your dog relax in their kennel or sleep place while you collect your thoughts.
When you’re coping with a puppy bite, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and distraught. If you need to take a break, do so, and then go back to work.
As a general rule, you should try your utmost best not to show any signs of frustration while around your dog. They have a good grasp of how you feel.
Never use dog biting spray on your dog as it can traumatize your dog.
6. Tug of War to stop puppy biting
Dog biting someone can cost you a lot of money for hospital fees. Puppy biting may be swiftly eliminated with this game, which uses redirection.
A game of tug of war might help your dog learn the difference between acceptable and unacceptable chewing.
It’s very natural for pups to use their mouths to learn about the world around them! So, as dog parents, it’s our job to make sure our pups only cling on items that are safe for them to do so.
Puppy biting may be difficult to overcome but keeping chew and tug toys on hand will help! The easiest way to avoid hand chewing is to approach your dog with a toy in hand, according to many dog owners.
Give a fast “no” and replace yourself with the tug toy/chew toy if your dog begins biting you. “Yes” and further praise should be given after your dog engages the toy.
Puppy biting may be reduced by teaching your dog to play tug. Just keep in mind that these habits might take a lot of time and effort to change.
7. Reward your dog for being obedient
For many puppy parents, saying “no” and correcting undesirable behavior is all they know how to do.
There are some very good things your puppy is doing when you take a step back and look at their actions.
Is it fair to say that you’re rewarding good conduct and moments in time?
To help you overcome puppy biting, you must remember to applaud the times of progress. Your dog should be praised and rewarded when they approach you without nipping!
Reward your dog if you catch them chewing on a toy rather than your shoes or hand! Reward your dog when they lick your hand instead of biting it.
The importance of praising a puppy’s accomplishments cannot be overstated when it comes to training.
As a puppy parent, it is your responsibility to instruct your dog in the manner in which you like them to act. If you don’t tell them, how can they know what’s going on?
Be sure to acknowledge and reward your dog’s accomplishments so that he or she understands your expectations of him or her.
8. Make Your Dog Stop Biting With A Timeout
Using basic timeouts in combination with your dog’s ability to grasp the word “no” may be effective. I’m not implying that you’re punishing or scolding the pup by calling a timeout, but rather a break from what the dog wants.
Positive reinforcement is important, but sometimes you have to deny your dog what he wants. When a dog bites, it’s because they want to play and interact with us. As a result, if they are unable to do so, you should remove yourself from the situation.
Place them in a playpen, leave the room, or put them in another room for five to ten minutes.
Consistently using this strategy will teach your dog that if he or she bites, then fun is over.
To be clear, in most circumstances, the crate should not be used as a punishment tool like a timeout. Your dog’s cage should only conjure up images of happy times and circumstances.
9. Never make yourself enticing to your dog
It’s possible that you’re unwittingly increasing your dog’s desire to bite you. To be clear, I’m not implying that your dog attacking you was your fault; rather, I’m suggesting that you take steps to lessen your vulnerability to attack.
Do your best not to yank your hand away from your dog’s mouth as fast as possible. Dogs, in general, are fascinated by motion. As a result, if you yank your hand or foot away, your dog may believe you’re being fun.
Let go of your hand if your dog begins biting. Redirect your dog to chew toys or teach him using the other ways we’ve discussed in this post.
Keeping them covered is another approach to lessen their allure to their bite target.
Setting your pup up for success may make or break your success as a pup parent. Which one of you is to blame if your 4-month-old dog finds something you don’t want for him to chew on?
It’s a good idea to keep the skin covered while your pup is at home if you’re aware of the intense biting period.
There are several ways to do this, including wearing socks, long sleeves and trousers, and more! Every little thing helps when the puppy biting period is at its worst.
10. Socialize your dog to other dogs
Other dogs may be excellent tutors for a puppy. Dogs are extremely good at teaching one other what is appropriate play behavior and what is not.
Just a little reminder when it comes to socializing your puppy: always be on hand to keep an eye on them! Keep an eye on the action and be ready to step in if things become out of hand or violent throughout the play.
Be conscious of how the other dogs are reacting to puppy biting, since certain dogs have a lesser tolerance for it.
Your puppy will rapidly learn how much biting and nipping other dogs can handle as they play with other dogs. Many puppy owners have found that the more socialized their puppy is, the less likely it is to bite.
Bonus Tip: Provide a healthy treat for your dog to chew
If your dog constantly does biting and nipping, chews may not be the answer, but they may certainly assist!
Your dog’s need to munch will be satisfied and their energy expended with the correct chew.
However, we choose Yak Cheese Dog Chews, Bully Sticks, and Beef Tendon Chews among the numerous available alternatives (these are a personal favorite for puppies).
Final Thoughts
Remember to be patient with yourself and your dog when training on how to stop dog biting, and you’ll both benefit. Despite the fact that their improvement may seem to be sluggish, any improvement is better than none at all!
Stay constant as you strive to train to stop your dog from biting you. Your dog will get confused if there is any inconsistency in the environment.
For your consideration, we thank you for taking the time to read and benefit from the information we have given. Let us know if you think we’ve overlooked anything in the comments section below.
Your feedback will help us improve our service to other dog owners, so please don’t hesitate about telling us what you think!
