Puppies start biting as a way to connect and play at about four weeks old. While this seems cute, those cute little teeth get bigger. It is important to start early with dog obedience training to help your puppy understand that biting isn't an acceptable behavior. Puppies get confused when owners laugh and think their puppy biting is cute. It is also important to remember that puppies that bite are not being vicious. Therefore, punishing and yelling will not be an effective dog obedience training method.
Dog Obedience Steps to Stop Puppy Biting
The first thing you have to do is to teach your puppy that biting is not considered playtime. Therefore, when your puppy starts "playing" by biting your ankles and hands, let him know that what he is doing hurts. To do this, you can cry in pain. This will be a surprise to your dog, and will likely have him stop in his tracks. This will only last a few seconds, though.
You will want to stop playing with him immediately. Show him that when he does this, playtime is over. If you keep playing, he will only get confused and think he is supposed to continue biting. Remember, the goal is to end the connection between biting and playing. Understand that this will take a few times before he has any idea what you are doing. Hang in there, as this will work eventually.
Another dog obedience step to break the connection between biting you and playtime is to make a loud sound when
your puppy bites you and then immediately give him a chew toy. If you do this enough, he will eventually learn that biting you is not fun, but chewing a toy continues playtime.
If your puppy does not respond to your voice, try to shake a can with a few pennies. You can use a clean soda that is taped over the opening or an empty water jug with a few pennies. Shake it next to him and see "No bite." This will reinforce your command. When he stops biting, praise him and give him a chew toy.
Try to eliminate games that involve biting, such as tug of war or playing tackle games. If you play these types of games with your puppy, it could be harder to get him to break the habit. Be sure to have a lot of chew toys around the house during this stage. Rotate his toys so he does not get bored with them.
If you have kids, be sure they understand that when the puppy starts biting, playtime is over. If your kids are small, they will probably not have much to do with a biting puppy anyways. For older kids, make sure they stop playing immediately and leave the room. Your puppy will soon associate biting with the kids leaving and not playing anymore. He will soon stop biting.
Dog obedience training is an important part of raising a puppy. Stop the biting early on to avoid problems when he is older and bigger.
Author Resource:-
Anthony Petrozzella is the founder of Pet Food Cafe. He started the company to help promote a healthier lifestyle for our beloved pets. Have you researched what you're feeding your cat or dog? Visit www.petfoodcafe.com
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