When a dog is a puppy, this will be the easiest age to teach them the correct way to behave. While it is possible to train your dog not to bite in adulthood, making sure they learn to control their jaws from a young age will save a lot of problems, both for you as the owner and for the puppy itself.
So what is the easiest way to teach this? There are many techniques you can try. But they are simple, not miraculous. In other words, you must be consistent until you achieve the desired behavior.
Remember that you will be dealing with children, just not human ones. So you must be patient when teaching them what is right and what is wrong.
Keys to teaching your puppy not to bite
Before moving on to the methods for preventing this troublesome behavior, you must make sure the puppy understands the hierarchy. Most people see dogs as great friends and treat them as such; however, that does not change the fact that they are animals. If they don't learn who is in charge from a young age, it will be much harder once they grow up.
There is no need to resort to extreme methods either, just affection and attention. Sooner or later they will realize that you are the one who feeds them, the one who cares for them, and if they were to do something you dislike, a loud sound will serve as a reminder that such an action did not please you.
Something as simple as a clap is loud enough to their ears to get their attention and let them know that their behavior is wrong.
This will earn you their respect. And what is the point of this? If you earn their respect from an early age, it will be easier to train them, since they will recognize you as a figure of authority. They will get used to your voice and your presence in general, making them more receptive to learning with you.
How can we prevent our puppy from biting?
Really, the easiest way to avoid all this work and the subsequent training is to let their mother take care of it. Some people get alarmed when they see mothers growl at their puppies from time to time; what they don't know is that this is the equivalent of a scolding for humans.
It is a common situation that occurs when nursing puppies. As they bite their mother, they can be a little rough, and that is where her growls come in, used as a scolding and a sign of pain.
Something similar happens if the puppy has a sibling or a playmate, because when they nibble at them, if they were to use too much force, the other puppy would yelp or move away.
This is an effective method that teaches them to control the force they exert with their jaws
Having the situation repeat over and over will teach them that if they want to play, they must learn to control their bite. Now, in the event that the puppy was separated from its mother before 8 weeks and was not properly trained, it is your responsibility to do so.
“Biting is part of growing up; our job is to teach them to do it well, with patience and without punishment.”
Methods to train your puppy and its bite
There are many methods you can use; these are some of them:
- Take a piece of food and hold it in your hand. Bring it close to your puppy and, if they don't bite you, open your hand; otherwise, make a noise that simulates an "ow" of pain to let them know they hurt you. Repeat several times.
- Rub a piece of food on your hand to soak it in the scent and bring it close to the puppy. Their curiosity will make them investigate the smell; if they only sniff or lick you, reward them with a snack or a pat. Otherwise, use a fake "ow" of pain.
- Stay by their side, as simple as that. Get them used to your presence and reward them from time to time if they stay calm. That way they will know that this is the behavior that benefits them most and that pleases you most.
- Raise your voice a little. If they bite you, a small change in your tone of voice will alert them that they did something bad; a slightly louder tone is enough. There is no need to shout.
- Play with them in sessions of less than 10 minutes, so you'll prevent them from getting too excited. If they bite you too hard, leave them alone as a punishment, always keeping a chew toy on hand so they can let off steam; otherwise, they might get worked up by your absence.
We hope this series of tips will be useful to you for providing better care for your puppy and training them correctly.
Frequently asked questions
At what age is it easiest to teach a puppy not to bite?
When the dog is a puppy is the easiest age to teach it to behave. It is possible to train an adult dog, but learning to control its jaws from a young age saves a lot of problems.
How do puppies learn to control their bite naturally?
Their mother and siblings teach them: when they bite too hard, the mother growls as a scolding and the siblings yelp or move away, which helps them control the force of their jaws.
What should I do if my puppy bites me while we play?
You can make a sound that mimics an "ow" of pain to show them they hurt you, keep play sessions under 10 minutes and, if they bite too hard, leave them alone for a moment while keeping a chew toy on hand.
Clínica Veterinaria Somo
At our veterinary center in Cantabria, we will provide you with the best advice, the result of our years of experience, to care for your pet so they grow up healthy and happy.
