Here are five easy tips for how to stop a puppy from biting:
- Observe the behavior of puppies among puppies. You will notice that when the innocent, playful mouthing turns into full-on biting, the puppy that is being bitten will release a yelp. Consequently, the offending puppy will let him go.
- Emulate this behavior when you are trying to figure out how to stop a puppy from biting. If you find yourself being bitten a bit too vigorously, imitate that puppy yelp and let your finger, hand, foot, etc. go limp.
- Whatever you do, don’t pull away or be tense, because the puppy will just continue to bite, having had his chasing instinct activated.
- You can redirect your puppy from chewing on people by anticipating his intention to bite and moving away. Instead, give him a dog toy to chew on. Repeating this action will help him understand what is okay and not okay to mouth on.
- Whenever you pull away, and your puppy won’t stop biting, distract him. Try to engage him in another activity altogether; something that will present more interest than biting you.
You may be wondering when do puppies stop biting. The answer is as soon as you teach them not to! More helpful pup training tips here.
When asked how to stop a puppy from biting, canine expert Josie Montgomery recommended especially targeted products: “A lot of people struggle with this issue when their new puppy doesn’t stop biting. There are some products that have a bitter taste and will deter your pet from mouthing what he is not supposed to.”
Josie also has some advice if your puppy won’t stop biting, no matter how hard you try to keep him from doing so: “You just have to be consistent with your treatment of them. And very important – don’t let him do it more than three times in a fifteen-minute period, for example. If that happens, you need to stop playing with him and give him a time out.”, she explained.
“Ultimately, if your pet doesn’t stop, it’s a good idea to take him to see someone, like a trainer or canine behavioral expert.”, Josie advised.
There are obvious benefits to the method
- This is a gentle approach
- The puppy does not suffer in any way
- The puppy is not punished, just deterred
- The method is effective over time
- The puppy successfully learns what he is and is not allowed to chew on
- The method ensures proper discipline and good behavior in public and in interactions with other humans and dogs
How to stop a puppy from biting, when he’s so cute while he’s doing it?
After all, what’s the harm?
There may not be any harm right now, as an adorable pup, but as he grows older, this behavior can become dangerous. Teach him well from the beginning, and not only will your puppy be well educated, but you will be bite-free.
Don’t allow your puppy to wreak havoc on your skin and furniture, learn how to stop a puppy from biting now!
Hope this blog post was helpful to prevent your pup from biting. Any tips we left out that helped your puppy from biting? Here are more tips on puppy bitting to make sure your pup learns not to bit where they’re not supposed to. Comment below and share on social!