Simple Tips for Training Your Puppy Not to Bite
Training puppy not to bite doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. Of course, some puppies will take longer to catch on than others, but with consistent reminders it should not take very long for them to understand what you expect from them.
Depending on the age that you acquired your new fur baby, you may have a little bit more work cut out for you. However, there are a few simple tips to keep in mind that will make your training sessions significantly less stressful for both you and your new pup.
Don’t Yell at Your New Puppy
When training puppy not to bite, it’s certainly very tempting to yell at him every time he takes a bite out of your forearm- it’s only instinct to react like this when you’re in pain.
However, it will be more effective if you channel your instinct to yell into a loud, high-pitched yelp instead. By doing this, you are reacting much like a mother dog would. It may take several yelps to get your point across as some puppies will continue to test the boundaries.
Sometimes, you may have to roll him on his back and tell him, “No bite,” in a very low, almost menancing tone. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate- make it a theatrical performance to be proud of!
After you have made it clear that it hurts when he bites you, leave the room and do something else. Read a book, do some dishes- anything, just don’t resume playing with him immediantly otherwise he will not understand that you are not going to tolerate biting.
Allow Your New Puppy to Socialize
Make sure that you are allowing your puppy to do what he does best- play with other puppies. When you took him away from his litter, you took on the responsibility of teaching him some very important life lessons.
It will make your life much easier while you are training puppy not to bite if you make play dates so that he can let out his pent up energy by rough-housing with other dogs rather than your feet while you’re sitting at the computer.
As long as you let him play with other puppies from an early age, he will learn how to inhibit his biting more effectively than if you were to tackle the task alone.
Be Consistent
No matter how you decide to go about training puppy not to bite they key to success is remaining consistent in your methods. If you choose to tell him, “No bite,” make sure that you use the command in the same tone of voice every time.
Likewise, if you decide to try out ignoring him after he bites you, make sure that you don’t give in to his cute antics before you have had time to make your point.
Some Final Words
It is important that you train puppy not to bite before he gets older than four months. Aside from the fact that by this time he is probably getting fairly large, the first four months of a puppy’s life is when they learn the majority of their social manners from.
You will find that it will be much easier to implement what behavior you expect out of him in a social setting if you start early, as an older dog has already started to develop habits.
Training puppy not to bite may not seem necessary when he is still very small and his play-biting isn’t nearly as painful as it is cute.
However, just imagine what would happen if a full grown Great Dane still thought it was OK to bite.