Dog Care
Biting puppies - train the pup and yourself
The first ten week period of a newborn puppy’s life is the best time to teach a
puppy that biting is not acceptable. And training your puppy to avoid an
incidence of dog biting is crucial.
This is especially because biting comes naturally to them and it is the easiest
form of dog aggression that he can resort to in situations that induce fear,
anxiety and aggression. And such training is best done before strong adult teeth
take the place of small nibbling ones. Curbing aggressive dog behavior among
adult dogs is far more difficult than training puppies.
While training puppies, always remember that physical punishment does not work.
Punishment is tantamount to making the dog more resolute in his behavior and in
such cases aggression is likely to become a permanent concern.
The approach that you take should clearly indicate to the puppy that you love
him but hate the biting habit instead. At the same time you must assume
leadership as the dog considers you as part of the pack. Unless he perceives you
to be the leader he is likely to let go of aggressive dog behavior easily.
Dogs use their mouth to express themselves. A pup also uses his mouth and his
tongue for communication. Encourage licking, although not a compatible dog
behavior, by offering treats and praise. Give licking a name so that he
remembers the activity the next time. If the puppy uses his teeth on you, make
an abrupt startling sound (e.g. OUCH) right in his face. His instincts will tell
him that he has to stop. Isolate him for five minutes if you feel that the loud
sound did not have an impact. Pick him up after some time and see how he
responds now. Continue this till the time you feel that the pup has got the idea
of what is acceptable and what not.
By the time the pup is six weeks he should have understood that he can use his
mouth on you but only for licking. If you have brought an older puppy, you might
have to repeat this for some time since he may need more time to adjust to new
faces and the new environment.
Expose the puppy to other dogs and humans. The reactions of other puppies and
dogs when bitten are likely to make him understand that he should desist from
biting. Exposure to humans will remove fear of strangers.
Training alone does not inhibit dog biting. It is also necessary that all those
who interact with the dog adhere to certain norms that restrict dog biting.
Children are prone to unpredictable behaviors. This, more than anything else,
puts a dog on his defensive. Keep children away from the puppy till the time you
are sure that he is trained. It is pertinent to teach children the manner in
which they should approach a puppy or a dog and what specific actions need to be
avoided.
* Do not play aggressive or competitive games with the puppy.
* Define the areas that are out of bounds and consistently stick to it.
* Never tap on the head. Instead scratch below the chin.
Biting comes naturally to puppies. In a litter, they play by rolling over and
biting each other even before they have developed their teeth. A younger dog can
cause more harm with his sharp teeth in spite of the fact that his lower jaw is
week. By the time he grows up his teeth may become duller but the strength in
his jaws can inflict maximum damage. Teaching young puppies that no teeth can
touch human skin or clothes always help in the long term.
"Article courtesy of PetAlive"
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