How to Get a Puppy to Stop Biting You
Puppies bite. They use their mouths to learn about the world. They use them in play. But they have to learn that biting humans in never OK. To teach your puppy not to bite anyone, you must teach it not to bite you ever. When puppies stay with their litters an appropriate time, they learn how hard is too hard to bite another puppy because, when one puppy bites too hard, all other puppies turn their backs and walk away. You must use these same techniques to teach your puppies not to bite you.
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Things You'll Need
- Appropriate toys
- Leash, 2 to 6 feet long (optional)
- Bad-tasting spray (optional)
Instructions
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Use appropriate toys, such as stuffed toys and rope toys, to teach your puppy how to play with you. Tug and fetch are both fine games. But when the teeth hit human skin, the game has to end.
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Scream "ouch" when your puppy's teeth touch your skin. Pretend that it really hurt, even if it didn't. Make it very dramatic so your puppy will remember. Offer the puppy a toy. If it starts playing with the toy, continue the game.
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Storm out of the room angrily if your puppy continues to bite you rather than the toy. Head into another room and close the door. Again, be dramatic. If you are in the middle of something and can't leave, keep a small leash attached to your puppy. Choose a small dog leash that can be cut to just a couple of feet. Grab the leash and swiftly walk with your puppy to a timeout area, such as a crate or bathroom. Leave your puppy in there for a few minutes before returning to finish the game.
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Teach your puppy a leave it command. Though the more dramatic exit is more effective, you can teach your dog a command for the future. To teach leave it, fill your hand with treats. Give your puppy one and say "take it." Repeat a few times. Then, close your fist and say "leave it" firmly. Ignore all puppy behavior such as nipping, pawing and barking. When your puppy backs away from your hand and looks at you, say "good, take it" and give the treat. Practice until your puppy can back away from an open palm. Until your pup can do this, it isn't ready for you to use the command in a biting context. Wait until it understands the word.
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Spray your hands with a bad-tasting spray, such as Yuck or Bitter Apple, if all else fails. Reapply each time playing with your puppy so it thinks your hands taste terrible. Just wash hands well before eating.
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Tips & Warnings
Give your puppy enough exercise and mental stimulation. A puppy who isn't receiving adequate exercise will be much more difficult to train.
Don't punish your puppy physically for biting. This can be interpreted as a play behavior or an insecure behavior. Instead, teach your puppy benevolently like its mother and siblings would. This will build a bond based on trust and respect.
References
- Photo Credit Chris Amaral/Digital Vision/Getty Images
