STOP BITING
KEEP UNWANTED NIBBLING AT BAY WITH THESE TIPS.
THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AGGRESSIVE, FEAR-BASED BITING AND NAUGHTY PUPPY BITING. PUPPIES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR PUPPY BITING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE TEETHING -- AND IT CAN HURT! NOT ONLY ARE PUPPY TEETH SHARP, BUT AN ADOLESCENT DOG MAY NOT KNOW HIS OWN STRENGTH, AND CAN CAUSE BRUISING AND BREAKING OF THE SKIN. PUPPIES WHO LEAVE THEIR MOTHER AND LITTERMATES TOO SOON ARE OFTEN TERRORS WHEN IT COMES TO BITING BECAUSE THEY NEVER LEARNED FROM OTHER DOGS THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS. A MOTHER DOG AND THE OTHER PUPS WOULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM THAT BITING IS UNACCEPTABLE BY YELPING OR EVEN BITING BACK.
IF YOUR DOG IS AGGRESSIVELY BITING -- GROWLING, SNARLING, SHOWING TEETH -- YOU NEED TO CONSULT A SKILLED DOG TRAINER RIGHT AWAY, AS IN IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS BEHAVIOR AND CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
TO STOP A YOUNG PUPPY FROM SIMPLY BITING, FIRST DETERMINE WHY SHE’S BITING. IF HE’S TEETHING, OFFER TEETHING, OFFER TEETHING TOYS OR FREEZE WET WASHCLOTHS FOR HI, TO CHEW ON. IF HE’S BITING DURING PLAY, SMEAR A THIN LAYER OF PEANUT BUTTER O YOUR HANDS AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO LICK IT OFF. KISSES ARE GOOD, TEETH ON SKIN IS BAD. PRAISE HIM HIGHLY FOR LICKING YOU AND GIVE HIM TREATS.
WHEN A YOUNG PUP BITES, PULL YOUR HAND AWAY QUICKLY AND SAY “OW!” IN YOUR MOST CONVINCING, LOUD, HURT VICE. MAKE A SOUND LIKE A DOG YELPING IN PAIN. YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE SHOCKED LOOK ON YOUR DOG’S FACE! OFFER YOU HAND AGAIN, AND IT’S LIKELY THAT SHE’LL BE MUCH GENTLER THE NEXT TIME. YOU MAY HAVE TO REPEAT THIS QUITE A FEW TIMES BEFORE HE GETS IT FOR GOOD. YOU CAN TEST HER BY OFFERING HER A TREAT AND THEN “YELPING” WHEN YOU FEEL TEETH ON SKIN; DOG TEETH SHOULD NEVER COME IN CONTACT WITH HUMAN SKIN.
FOR AN ADOLESCENT DOG WHO’S BITING FOR FUN, USE A BITTER TASTING SPRAY ON YOUR HANDS AND ARMS. YOU CAN FIND THESE PRODUCTS AT ANY PET-SUPPLY STORE. SOME DOGS DON’T MIND THE TASTE, BUT MOST WILL BE REPELLED BY IT.
REDIRECT THE BITTER’S ATTENTION ONTO SOMETHING THAT IS OK TO BITE, LIKE A CHEW TOY. IF THE CHEW TOY IS FILLED WITH FRAGRANT FOOD, YOUR DOG IS MORE LIKELY TO WANT TO CHEW IT THAN CHEW YOU.
IF YOU HAVE A BITER ALWAYS PRAISE HIM WHEN HE’S NOT BITING! MANY DOGS ONLY GET ATTENTION WHEN THEY’RE BEING NAUGHTY, SO THEY LEARN TO BE NAUGHTY ALL THE TIME. PRAISE YOUR DOG WHEN SHE IS BEING GOOD AND REMOVE YOURSELF FROM HER WHEN SHE’S BEING BAD. PUNISHMENT USUALLY DOESN’T WORK AS WELL AS PRAISE.
REMEMBER IF YOUR DOG IS REALLY BITING, GROWLING, SNARLING AND SNAPPING, IT’S A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN IF SHE’S JUST BEING A BOSSY YOUNGSTER. AGGRESSIVE BITING AND RESOURCE GUARDING (GUARDING FOOD AND TOYS) SHOULD ALWAYS BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY AND REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION.