Stop Puppy Biting Before You Lose Your Mind

By Adam N Jones

Getting a new puppy is a great experience, but it comes with some challenges as well. Next to housebreaking, which is something every puppy must be taught, the most serious concern is probably biting. No one wants a puppy that bites, because if not corrected, it will one day be a full grown dog that bites.

There are many factors that may make a puppy a "biter." Sometimes there may be a genetic factor. Yet, even in such cases, you can train the puppy not to bite. It just means that some dogs will have a predisposition to turn into biters if they are not trained out of it. Another factor that can cause this problem is when puppies are taken from their mothers too soon. Not everyone realizes that dogs train their own young in many ways. A mother dog will teach the pup not to bite too hard. But if the puppy was removed from its mother's care too soon, it will not have learned this lesson --and you will have to do the teaching. Here are some tips:

Don't Encourage the Puppy to Bite

When puppies are small, it may be fun to have them nip you; it doesn't hurt and it seems like affection. But you are teaching the puppy the wrong lesson here, one it will have trouble unlearning later on. Don't play tug-of-war with a puppy; this also encourages biting.

Always Have Chew Toys Around

Dogs need something to chew on, so always give them something to play with. Chew toys with a treat inside are good, as they reward the puppy for biting the toy.

When the Puppy Bites -Yelp!

This may sound silly, but we have to go back to the fact that the mother dog is ideally the one to teach the pup not to bite. When the puppy bites you, yelp in a dog-like manner and walk away. Or you can just yell, "OW" in a high pitched tone. You are teaching the puppy that you don't like this and that it's painful for you.

Make Sure You are Top Dog

Dogs are pack animals, and if you don't train them properly, they may think they are the head of the pack. Don't allow your puppy to become protective of its food bowl or sleep area. If you eat around the same time as your puppy, feed yourself first and feed the puppy afterwards. You have to make sure your puppy recognizes you as the dominant member of the pack.

These are some good tips to help stop a puppy from biting. If you have an especially persistent problem, you may want to consult with a qualified dog trainer.

If you like the way your comfy shoes feel or the way your couch looks without the legs all tore up I suggest you take the time to stop puppy biting right now!