How to Train a Puppy to Have a Gentle Mouth

Puppies have notoriously sharp teeth, and if you have recently acquired one of these cute but mischievous little creatures, then you are also probably aware that they have a tendency to bite a lot when they are young. Just from observing them, it is probably obvious that the puppy does not intend to hurt you. He just does not seem to understand his own strength. This is exactly the problem. Dogs often use their mouths to grab things and learn about them. Moreover, when their teeth start coming in, they have a natural instinct to chew on just about everything. At first, they do not understand how much pain and damage they can inflict. Eventually, however, they will learn. Learning takes time, but there are ways to help speed up the process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Frisky puppy with sharp teeth
• Great deal of patience

1. Have your puppy play with other puppies as often as possible. You will notice that they tend to nip at each other quite often, and that periodically one of them will yelp out in pain when bitten a little too hard. You will also notice that usually the puppy doing the biting will back off when he hears the yelp of his victim. Obviously, this play must be closely supervised, but as along as it does not go too far (do not allow them to draw blood), this is the natural way that puppies learn how to control the strength of their bite.

2. You can also follow the same principle when you are playing with your puppy alone. Whenever your puppy bites bites you, let out an exaggerated yelp. The puppy will get the message that he has hurt you. As soon as this happens, step away from the puppy and turn your back to him. This will let the puppy know that you are dissatisfied. Remember that the puppy is still learning and did not mean to hurt you.

3. If your puppy's nipping problem becomes too severe, there is another trick you can try. Immediately after he bites you, take his collar in one hand and firmly hold his lower jaw with your other hand. Quickly insert your thumb into the front of his mouth, placing it underneath his tongue. Press down firmly, but gently. This activates a natural reflex that prevents the puppy from being able to bite down. It is not painful, but the puppy will find it very unpleasant. Hold his mouth in this manner for several seconds, and repeat every time he tries not bite you. Once again, do not be forceful. The puppy will usually get the message after a few times.

4. There is a commercial product called Bitter Apple that is harmless, but has an unpleasant taste to dogs. Spraying this substance on your hands before playing can also help reduce biting incidents until your puppy gets up to speed.

5. If the problem continues to get worse, and you are unable to make any progress, then your best route is to contact a professional dog trainer. These specialists can often accomplish wonders in just a short amount of time.

Tips & Warnings

• Puppy training can be tiring for both owner and puppy. Just remember that the situation is temporary. Your pet should grow out of this annoying habit within a couple of months.
• Until your puppy learns to use his mouth gently, limit his interaction with small children. This is for the safety of both child and pet.