Biting is a completely normal dog function. But, in our world, it can lead to some serious issues. So
Although puppies stop biting relatively quick (usually during the first year), at one point their bites will become rather strong. This can pose a big issue when you go out with your dog. As it always represents a potential problem, you will have to keep your eye on your dog, to be safe. In just the blink of an eye, a dog can bite a person, leading to long-term trauma, for everyone involved.
If puppies are constantly allowed to bite, it can lead to aggressive behavior later on in life, and cause more serious issues. If not dealt with from the start, a dog may think that biting is okay, and this can be a serious problem.
In order to prevent this, you will need to invest some time in to training your dog, to not bite, early on. With these tips, you will be able to do just that.
Why do dogs bite?
Typically, thefirst thing people think of when you mention dog bites, is of people getting attacked on the street, which is not always the case.
Although wild dogs may attack without issue, trained dogs do not bite for this reason. Instead, biting is primarily used for playing. Dogs use their teeth to explore the world around them, and they are used as a tool in daily interaction with objects.
Most adult dogs understand the difference between a playful bite, and a serious, dangerous bite. Puppies generally, do not. They will start biting as their teeth start growing, and oftentimes they will do so, as their gums start itching.
Being excited is another reason for biting and most commonly, dogs will bite during playtime. This is one of the best times to work on training them. As an owner, you shouldn’t wait for a puppy to grow up, and start going out with the potential of them biting people as a way of interacting. Instead, you should teach them from the start, that biting shouldn’t be used for playing.
How train your dog not to bite?
Although dogs will always use their bite to an extent, you need to teach them how to be mild.
Here are some ways to show them that biting is not ok:
- · When a puppy starts biting, a good way to let them know it hurts, is with a high-pitch sound. Given that dogs produce similar sounds for pain, this should immediately show that you’re in pain, and uncomfortable.
- Distance yourself, after a bite.
- Stop playing after a bite, to show that you are not interested if he bites. Simply turn away, and stay calm, or disengage with the dog.
- Once you have tried everything, if a puppy continues to bite, you should put him to bed, or in a dog crate.
What are the best ways to prevent biting?
As I already mentioned, there are good chances that a puppy will bite no matter what. But, there are some ways to make your puppy bite less.
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- Check with the breeder, before you get your dog, and make sure that breeder was providing the dog with a happy, healthy home. Most serious issues start at a young age. If a breeder was excessively harsh, this could cause a puppy to bite more often, and feel discomfort when being petted.
- Moderate play time. Puppies usually bite as they get overly excited. This is why you need to be careful when playing, and never cross a certain border. Of course, you should still play, but try not to stimulate their excitement by jumping around, making sudden moves or loud noises, or encouraging him when he bites, or nips.
- Act before a bite occurs. After a while, you will probably notice when your puppy is about to bite. You can prevent this by finding a distraction. When a puppy appears that he may bite you, give him a toy instead, or another other activity to divert it's attention.
