How to Train a Puppy Not to Bite Feet
Puppies naturally have boundless energy and curiosity about the world. At this stage of life, everything is a game. Along with this comes a tendency to nip or bite whatever is nearby. The behavior is part of their playing and learning about everything (and everyone) around them. It may seem cute at first, but as the puppy grows, biting will become a problem. Luckily, with a little patience, it is fairly easy to teach a puppy to redirect all that energy in a more acceptable way.
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Instructions
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Say "Owww" in a high-pitched voice, or let out a yelp, while pulling your foot or hand away quickly. Your puppy will recognize this as how he would sound and act if he was hurt.
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Place a chew toy in front of the puppy's nose immediately. When he bites into it, praise him profusely and give him lots of loving attention. He may be teething and trying to soothe himself by biting. In any case, you are redirecting his behavior to an acceptable outlet.
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Yell out "Owww" once again and leave the room as you next step, if the biting behavior continues. When you disappear, the puppy will begin to understand that no one will play with him if he bites.
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Repeat these steps consistently. Be persistent. It will take longer for a puppy to learn a new behavior than an adult dog. Make sure everyone in the family also follows the plan.
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Hold your puppy still, by the scruff of the neck, if after a week or so he does not accept the chew toy as a substitute and persists in aggressively biting you. This simulates the way his mother might correct him.
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Force the puppy into a prone position gently but firmly, and roll him on his side if he is still resisting you. Do this with one hand right behind the ear on the upper neck, and the other hand on the puppy's hip. Hold until he becomes still.
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Take your puppy to obedience school when he reaches 6 months of age. At this stage, he will be ready to learn more about how to behave around people and other dogs plus many other useful things.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't ignore the biting behavior. The longer the habit continues the more ingrained it will become and the harder to change.
If your puppy is teething, make a soothing chew toy. Tie a cloth or small towel into a knot, saturate it with water and freeze it. Give the frozen chew toy to the puppy to chew on to help soothe his gums. Don't let the puppy have the cloth when alone, to avoid possible choking if he swallows part of the material.
Be consistent, and don't engage in play fighting as it will confuse the puppy. Make sure other members of the household avoid it as well.
Never hit a puppy. This only instills fear and can destroy the healthy relationship you are looking for.
Make sure your chew toy is safe. Even a tough-seeming toy may be torn into small pieces and swallowed, leaving your puppy with an upset stomach or worse. A toy with a squeaker device inside could be dangerous as well. Supervise your puppy when he is using it, or get a virtually indestructible toy, such as a Kong.
Don't use the hold-down technique on a shy, fearful puppy. This should be used only on a dominant, aggressive puppy to make him understand that you are in charge.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit puppylove image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
