Do's and Don'ts



Do use a toy when you play with your puppy. Don't use your hands. This causes your puppy to view your hands as something to play with. That means biting to a puppy.

Do buy several toys for your puppy to play with. Rotate toys so that your puppy will not get bored and go looking for something else.

Don't buy toys that resemble things he's not allowed to chew. Buying chew toys that look similar to a child's toy or your shoes might confuse your puppy. Praise him for playing with his toys. Keep children's toys out of reach. Try spraying a nasty tasting chew deterrent like "Bitter Apple Spray" onto those items that are off limits.

Do make sure toys are strong and durable. Latex squeaky toys are a bad choice for your puppy. His sharp teeth will tear latex to shreds in minutes. Small pieces are a choking hazard. Ropes, Kongs, and hard rubber toys are good choices. Some puppies don't like the smell of rubber. Put the toy in your pile of dirty clothes overnight and it will smell like you.

Do buy a Kong. Kongs are great for occupying a puppy when you can't play with him. Put some soft treats in the hole and as your puppy plays with it he is gets a yummy reward.

Don't allow your puppy chew on your fingers, hands, pants, shoes or anything that is attached to you. Keeping these areas "off limits" will make it easier for your puppy to learn bite control.

Not Biting Allowed

When your puppy bites you during play time, give a dramatic "Ouch!" and perhaps a "Eeh- Ehhhh!". Redirect your puppy's attention to his toy. If he goes for the toy, give him lots of praise. If he comes back to your hand, pick him up and calmly place him in "time out". This can be his kennel or play pen as long as it's in a quieter spot. Give him a treat and 2 or 3 minutes to relax.

By removing him from the play area, you let puppy know that play time ends when he bites. By being calm and giving him a treat when you place him in "time out" you reinforce the lesson that the kennel or playpen is a good thing. Not punishment.

When you are playing with your puppy, don't wrestle or rough house. This tells him that it's ok to bite you. He'll be confused later when you correct him for biting. No wrestling.

Teach your puppy to fetch. Avoid tugging games, which can encourage your puppy to bite hard. If your puppy will not release his toy, you have a couple of options. Offer him another toy or a treat. He must open his mouth to get the other toy. There's no tug of war and puppy is rewarded for releasing his toy.

Try letting your arm become a noodle. Keeping a tight grip on the toy, relax the rest of your arm and don't tug on the toy. You might actually move toward your puppy. Just don't let go. He'll get bored and go looking for something more entertaining.

Finally, try to keep the play at a sane level. Puppies get really excited and forget their manners. This is going to happen to you. If your puppy gets overly excited, calmly pick him up and put him in "time out". Remember, if playtime ends every time puppy bites you, he will soon learn to control himself.