A dog or a puppy normally passes through the stage when they bite or chew on anything they can get their young teeth on. This is very similar to a human baby's teething stage, or on the oral stage of a child's psychological growth. A puppy's teething can cause his gums to itch or hurt, and chewing on things relieves the discomfort.
In teaching your dog not to bite, you must identify the triggers that cause this, then concentrate on correcting these things. The following are tips on how to discourage the biting reflex while the puppy is still young.
1. Socialize your dog at a young age. When your dog is well socialized, he becomes more sensitive and considerate towards others, be they humans or other dogs. Biting might seem cute and harmless when your puppy is still very young, but it'll be neither when your dog is older and much stronger.
2. Consistency is the key to taking out this bad habit/behavior. Every time your dog bites, give him a big "NO" in a strong, firm and stern voice. Then immediately walk away and ignore him. This will slowly be ingrained in your dog's mind when you do this every time he bites.
3. Correct him, then reconnect. A moment after you correct your dog and when he has calmed down, pet him and gently stroke him. Tummy tickles are usually a great way of reconnecting with your dog. However, make sure not to excite him too much and this time make sure that you position your hands and arms away from his mouth.
4. Avoid Roughhousing. Remember always never to play roughly with a dog that is inclined to bite. Roughhousing encourages this behavior and it establishes biting in your dog's mind. Never let your dog misbehave in anyway. If you let him do so, your puppy may get the upper hand and grow up with very bad behavior.
5. Do not strike your dog when correcting him. It is not wise to strike a pup for being disobedient or aggressive. Just give him a stern NO warning whenever he strays out of bounds. Punishment through physical actions is the easiest way to breakdown any trust and respect that your pet has for you, and trust and respect are the foundation for a successful training program with your dog. Scolding or beating a dog will not stop it from biting; it will just scare and confuse him.
In difficult cases where your dog is very stubborn and continues to bite, you may then try the water spray bottle method. Keep a water spray bottle handy and squirt your dog's face with water while saying NO in a strict and stern voice whenever he bites. This will leave an impression on your dog. But do make sure that the nozzle is set to spray before doing this. The aim here is to startle your puppy.
On the other hand, praise your dog whenever he does something right. Treats can also help promote positive behavior and give him an incentive to behave at all times.
If your dog is really proving to be hard to control then it is advisable to get professional help. People who have experience with different dogs can help your dog become a good member of society.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that more than 4.7 million people a year are bitten by dogs. These high incidents of dog bites result to various medical bills, law suits, and sometimes euthanasia for the dog. These cases might be avoidable if dog owners take safety precautions such as training their dogs not to bite.
Training a dog to refrain from biting can vary by the breed, age, and personality of your animal, just as with anything else you teach him. Here are some tips to help you teach your dog not to bite:
The younger the dog, the easier the training will be. Because mouthing, nibbling, and nipping come naturally to a puppy, an owner must be firm to stop this behavior when it starts. Even though it may begin as a cute nuisance, it can turn into a bad habit if not contained from the get-go.
You can start giving verbal commands to your dog when he is four weeks and older. When the puppy tries to bite, a gentle but firm "No!' followed by a slight squeeze of the muzzle will train him not to bite anymore.
It is important not to squeeze the muzzle too hard or too high up. Doing so can cause the puppy to bite its tongue or damage the delicate odor receptors that are high up in the snout. A dog's ability to smell is one of its most important assets!
Squeezing your dog's muzzle isn't intended to punish him, but to let him know that the behavior isn't acceptable. By squeezing, you associate the verbal command with something the dog can readily understand: discomfort. Regardless of their age, dogs find having their muzzle squeezed uncomfortable.
Other than verbally discouraging your dog or using soft physical restraint to remind your dog, socializing your dog may help to train him or her. Socialization can and should begin at as early an age as possible, and your dog should be around other animals and people as much as possible. Socialized dogs are tranquil and confident dogs. Timid dogs that are unused to unfamiliar people or dogs are much more likely to bite.
While still young, socialize your dog with other dogs preferably those that are non-aggressive. Being exposed to other dog breeds will help him cope up with territorial behavior.
While it is natural for a dog to nip and bite, the know enough not to do this too hard to their littermates. They will nip each other while playing, but they learn early on not to press too hard. This natural instinct can be used in training dogs not to bite by teaching them to extend the scope of the pack to include family members, frequent visitors and other pets.
When introducing your dog to other household pets, restrain both your dog and your other pets. They will learn to gradually approach each other naturally.
Keep an eye out for uncomfortable body language, growling, ears that stand up straight or other signs of possible anger. Have the dog sit down, rub it's back area, and extend your hand to the second animal, and then convey the second animal's scent to your pet. Allow them to get to know each other slowly.
Many dogs can be trained to curb thier urge to bite by the time they are four and a half months old, but it may take your dog longer than that. It varies by breed, and each individual dog within a breed is different. And you know that saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"? It's not exactly true, but training an older dog to stop biting is much more difficult than it is to teach a puppy.
Some dogs never fully let go of the biting instinct, and in this case, the dogs must be carefully watched by their owners. If your dog is a biter, then you must insure that it cannot get close enough to bite a person or another animal.
If you apply these dog training techniques with patience and persistence, your dog should gradually let go of his tendency to bite. While it may take some patience on your part, it's well worth it in the long run.
Both Noah Schettini & Lee Dobbins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Noah Schettini has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dog Care, German Shepherd Dogs and Dog Care. Want to Keep your dog from biting? Then Go Here: . Noah Schettini's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
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