When a puppy nips or bites, their teeth can leave a lasting imprint on your skin. Although biting is often thought to be a teething behavior, nipping, mouthing and biting in young dogs is generally a form of social play. Teething is more likely to involve gnawing or chewing household objects. When dealing with a puppy that is biting you should follow a few of these informative tips.
The most important survival lesson for a puppy to learn is that biting causes pain.
When a puppy’s teeth meet your skin, keep the following in mind.
- Make sure to provide ample opportunity for play, without biting involved.
- Respond the same way a puppy playmate might – let out a yip or a high-pitched ouch, it is ok to be dramatic.
- If you have no success with the ‘ouch’ and the biting continues, immediately stop the play session and leave the room.
- Do not punish your puppy by hitting, swatting, holding the muzzle or yelling (play biting is natural for a puppy, learning how not to bite is the lesson we hope to teach)
- Children can only play with a puppy using a toy, this rule also applies to any adult who cannot play reasonably with a puppy.
- Children need to be supervised and should immediately stop playing with a puppy who attempts to bite or mouth.
- Use only large soft indestructible toys for you play sessions.
- Reinforce the sit and stay commands so you can take control during your play sessions.
- Stop play at the first sign of over arousal.
- Never allow your puppy to mouth human hair, clothing, scarves. Shoes, pant legs or gloved hands: because these articles cannot feel this inadvertently trains the puppy to bite harder.
- Our hands, feet, and clothing are not toys.
- Social play with people should involve controlled games such as retrieving, hide and seek as well as long walks or light jogging.
- Although wrestling and tug-of-war games can be fun, they may lead to play that is too rough or rambunctious.
The aim is to set your puppy up for success and by setting a few ground rules you should be able to enjoy this very special time with your new family addition.
Written by The Fairmont Animal Hospital Team