Biting is one of those issues that get a lot of press because a large or even medium sized dog can do a lot of damage when they bite. We read and hear a lot about it and it tends to be deemed newsworthy. The dog ends up paying the penalty when the owner could have prevented it.
When dogs are first born, they are with their mother and siblings. They will constantly play and bite each other. If an overbearing puppy bites too hard, their sibling will yelp, indicating that the bite was too hard. Often the mother will regulate this play and teach her young manners and bite inhibition.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Overzealous breeders are taking the puppies away from their mother at a younger age. Never purchase a puppy if you do not see the mother on the grounds or if the puppies are not with the mother when you go to look at them.
When a puppy does not learn proper bite inhibition from the mother, it is up to the owner to teach their new pup. There are many ways to do this.
First, get your puppy around other dogs. Dogs tend to police themselves and when a puppy bites to hard, they will get a strong reaction from the victim. After a little bit of trial and error a puppy will learn what is acceptable play and what is not. Get your dog around many different dogs as each dog with have a different threshold for taking a bite.
Second, give your puppy many appropriate items to play with and bite. As a natural stress release, dogs need to sink their teeth into something. The idea is to teach him what is appropriate to bite down on and what is not. Most puppies are quick studies and rapidly learn what they can bite and what they can not.
Third, be firm with your puppy when she bites too hard. Give her a firm no! or even a yelp, then immediately end play. She will learn that when she bites, all the fun ends. Be sure to tell your friends, neighbors and even strangers not to allow your puppy to bite. If the neighbor allows your puppy to chew on him, your puppy will certainly be confused when you scold her for it.
Remember, if this behavior is not corrected as a puppy, your adult dog could end up as a dangerous animal to both humans and animals. It is important to be firm and consistent. While cute and cuddly, they still need rules and boundaries.
| Chad E. Thompson |
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