Nipping a Bad Habit in the Bud: How to Make Your Puppy Stop Biting
You just got a new furry baby and you’re excited to bring him home. However, just a few days later, you get a complaint from the neighbor that your dog just bit her little daughter’s hand when she tried to pet it. Similar complaints have come pouring in and your new puppy’s only been home a week! Here then are suggestions on how to make your puppy stop biting and nip what could be the start of a bad habit in the bud.
Puppies love to play, and part of their play tactics is nipping and biting. This is only natural and not to be interpreted as an early sign of aggression. They’ll bite anything from your slippers to your throw pillows on the sofa, as this is one way of releasing pent-up energy, which they have a lot of. The first rule of how to make your puppy stop biting is to discourage them first from playing with your hands and feet. It may be cute and it may not hurt for most people, but you’re actually teaching your puppy to bite skin if you encourage the practice. This goes the same for dangling treats in front of them—making them jump up to reach the food also encourages them to nip at your fingers. When your puppy starts nipping or biting your hands or feet, say “Ouch!” out loud, glare at the puppy, then walk away. Wait a minute then get a toy for the puppy to chew on. Do this every time baby Fido starts reaching for those digits until he finally gets the message. Be patient as this technique takes a while to sink in. This teaches your pup that biting humans is unacceptable.
If your pup has difficulty responding to verbal commands, another way of how to make your puppy stop biting is the “shake can” method. Fill an empty soda can with ten pennies then tape the opening shut. When your pup starts nipping or biting, say “Stop!” firmly and at the same time shake the can, then drop it next to him to reinforce the disciplinary method. Once the puppy stops trying to nip or bite, praise him and then give him a good chew toy. Another thing to remember is to never wag your fingers at the puppy’s face or grab at its face as this will encourage him to go for the bite. Use your whole hand to softly pet him or pick up him up gently so as to emphasize gentleness to him.
One last thing to remember about how to get your puppy to stop biting is you can also try scruffing. When he starts to nip or bite, take him gently by the scruff of his neck while at the same time giving the verbal command “No.” But take care not to shake him or move him roughly away. You can also reinforce the no-biting rule by making sure he gets enough exercise and a lot of chew toys to practice its mouthing on. Not only does this ensure that your pup uses up his pent-up energy, but it also diverts his attention from going for your hands or feet.
In time your lovable pet will understand the no-biting rule without the use of physical punishments or deprivation. Best of all, you’ll enjoy a good relationship together.
