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So your Dog has the Habit of
Nipping & Biting
Biting and chewing is common in puppies up to one year of age.
In order to teach a puppy not to bite, he first has to understand he has boundaries. There has to be a firm rule that the pup is never allowed to wrap his teeth around anyone's hand, even if it's only during play. There's no point in sending a mixed message that biting is okay in some circumstances and not in others. Puppies simply aren't sophisticated enough to figure out the difference, so it's up to us to be consistent.
Make sure that everyone in your household understands why this is necessary and agrees to the rule from the start.
Tip One: The firm "NO"
The firm "NO" is the first step in teaching your puppy not to bite. When your pup tries to use his teeth on you, immediately wrap your hand around his muzzle and say "No" in a loud, firm voice. Your hand shouldn't be tight enough to cut off his air supply, but it needs to be snug enough to show you're in control. You will need to repeat this correction each and every time your puppy tries to use his teeth on you.
Tip Two: Time Out
When the firm "NO" isn't enough by itself to settle your puppy down, you need to follow up with a time out. This means confining him to his crate or gating him in another room. This teaches him that you are in control, and that he will not be rewarded with more attention when he bites.
Tip Three: Avoid Rough Play and Teasing
A rousing game of tug-o-war may be a lot of fun, but this is exactly the type of play that will engage a more aggressive puppy's primal instincts. Holding a toy just out of his reach to encourage him to lunge for it can also make him frustrated enough to bite.
Keep playtime in control by opting for games that don't involve power struggles.
Tip Four: Bitter Apple
Bitter Apple is a spray product that discourages dogs from chewing just about anything you spray it on. You can use it on your furniture, your carpeting, and even your hands. When your pup's tongue comes in contact with the flavor he will immediately pull his mouth away.The best way to use this product during training is to spray it on your hands, give it a few seconds to dry and then have casual contact with your pup. There's no need to encourage him to actually chew on you. Just pet him, and let his natural instincts to use his mouth on your hands lead him to the Bitter Apple. He immediately connects the unpleasant flavor to putting your hand in his mouth, and you have maintained consistency by not encouraging him to chew or bite.
You can repeat this training as needed and even combine it with the firm "NO" and time out if necessary.
Tip Five: No Hitting
If you want your pup to control his behavior, you also need to keep control of yours. Although the urge to give your dog a smack when he bites may feel like a natural reflex, avoid it at all costs. Hitting your dog will only feed into his aggression and his natural instinct to protect himself, and will in turn lead to more biting.
When your pet bites, resort to the first two tips offered. This punishes your dog in acceptable way, and removes you from the situation long enough to regain your composure.
For more help get Free Online Seminars and Free Training Course on PoodlePuppies
Biting and chewing is common in puppies up to one year of age.
In order to teach a puppy not to bite, he first has to understand he has boundaries. There has to be a firm rule that the pup is never allowed to wrap his teeth around anyone's hand, even if it's only during play. There's no point in sending a mixed message that biting is okay in some circumstances and not in others. Puppies simply aren't sophisticated enough to figure out the difference, so it's up to us to be consistent.
Make sure that everyone in your household understands why this is necessary and agrees to the rule from the start.
Tip One: The firm "NO"
The firm "NO" is the first step in teaching your puppy not to bite. When your pup tries to use his teeth on you, immediately wrap your hand around his muzzle and say "No" in a loud, firm voice. Your hand shouldn't be tight enough to cut off his air supply, but it needs to be snug enough to show you're in control. You will need to repeat this correction each and every time your puppy tries to use his teeth on you.
Tip Two: Time Out
When the firm "NO" isn't enough by itself to settle your puppy down, you need to follow up with a time out. This means confining him to his crate or gating him in another room. This teaches him that you are in control, and that he will not be rewarded with more attention when he bites.
Tip Three: Avoid Rough Play and Teasing
A rousing game of tug-o-war may be a lot of fun, but this is exactly the type of play that will engage a more aggressive puppy's primal instincts. Holding a toy just out of his reach to encourage him to lunge for it can also make him frustrated enough to bite.
Keep playtime in control by opting for games that don't involve power struggles.
Tip Four: Bitter Apple
Bitter Apple is a spray product that discourages dogs from chewing just about anything you spray it on. You can use it on your furniture, your carpeting, and even your hands. When your pup's tongue comes in contact with the flavor he will immediately pull his mouth away.The best way to use this product during training is to spray it on your hands, give it a few seconds to dry and then have casual contact with your pup. There's no need to encourage him to actually chew on you. Just pet him, and let his natural instincts to use his mouth on your hands lead him to the Bitter Apple. He immediately connects the unpleasant flavor to putting your hand in his mouth, and you have maintained consistency by not encouraging him to chew or bite.
You can repeat this training as needed and even combine it with the firm "NO" and time out if necessary.
Tip Five: No Hitting
If you want your pup to control his behavior, you also need to keep control of yours. Although the urge to give your dog a smack when he bites may feel like a natural reflex, avoid it at all costs. Hitting your dog will only feed into his aggression and his natural instinct to protect himself, and will in turn lead to more biting.
When your pet bites, resort to the first two tips offered. This punishes your dog in acceptable way, and removes you from the situation long enough to regain your composure.
For more help get Free Online Seminars and Free Training Course on PoodlePuppies
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Free Training Course on PoodlePuppies |
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