How to Train a Puppy Not to Bite Kids
A dog or puppy that bites people, especially children, will often be confiscated and destroyed, depending on the local laws. But why do puppies or dogs bite kids? It's usually because they are afraid of them. They make a lot of noise and sudden movements. Sometimes a dog or puppy is frightened by this behavior and bites to defend itself. Your job is to let the puppy know that there's nothing to be frightened of.
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Things You'll Need
- Doll
- Bitter apple spray
- Collar or chest harness
- Lead
- Dog chew toys
- Muzzle (if necessary)
Instructions
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1
Yelp as if in pain whenever the puppy's teeth touch your skin. In "The KISS Guide to Raising a Puppy," trainer Liz Palika explains that puppies teach each other not to bite through play by yelping. Make your yelp loud enough to startle the puppy, or at least enough so that the puppy looks at you.
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2
Wait one second. If the puppy is still not mouthing you, then give a dog chew toy. Over time, this helps the puppy learn what is acceptable to chew. Since puppies have such short attention spans, the puppy thinks you are rewarding being still rather than the initial bite or chewing on you.
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3
Get a doll that looks somewhat like a child and move it around in front of the puppy like a child. Talk in high, squeaky child's voice. Reward good, calm behavior. Only when the puppy is calm in the face of a moving doll do you proceed to Step 4.
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4
Take the puppy out to meet children that you know are good with dogs. Puppies are highly impressionable between 8 and 14 weeks of age. This is a great time to introduce all sort of new situations and noises so that the puppy doesn't become frightened of them.
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5
Use bitter apple spray (also called training spray) on your hands if the puppy is still play-biting you. Although play-bites do not hurt an adult, they can hurt a child. The bitter apple spray is not poisonous--just foul tasting. Always offer praise for when the puppy stops play-biting.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a muzzle if you are not confident that your puppy will keep his mouth off of children. If your puppy loves to play and yelping is not getting his attention, just get up and leave the room as soon as the teeth touch your flesh. This is enough of a deterrent to a puppy.
Never hit your puppy. This only teaches him to be frightened of people. Never leave a dog or puppy unsupervised with children under 12 years old. Never let the puppy play with the doll as if it's a chew toy.
Resources
- Photo Credit Image from Wikimedia Commons.
