Training Your New Puppy

Puppy Biting

Biting during play is normal for all puppies, but you need to take action to stop it. Puppies have sharp teeth for one reason only - so that when they bite, it hurts!

This helps them to discover what is alive and what is not. Puppy biting teaches a pup just how hard it can bite other living things.

Clearly, he can exert a huge amount of pressure on a lifeless object such as a toy, without causing any kind of reaction, while trying the same behaviour on another puppy, or on us, will most certainly result in a big response!

If you watch other puppies at play you will see that they bite each others' ears, legs, tails and any other part they can get hold of. This is accepted quite happily, until the pressure becomes too hard. Then the victim will yelp and stop playing for a short time, leaving the pup that bit too hard to realise that there are consequences to his actions.

Once home, puppies will continue to learn about how hard they can bite by practising on us. This is normal and should not be treated as aggression. However, it is not acceptable for dogs to bite people and puppies need to be given education in how to moderate their biting.

Do not play rough and tumble games with your puppy, or play any game where the puppy grabs your clothes, skin or hair. (Not even a little bit dad!). By playing these sort of games you are giving your puppy permission to bite and will set back all your other good efforts.

Your puppy needs to know that biting hurts. So every time he mouths you or your clothes, yelp loudly or shout "Ouch!" Immediately turn away as if to nurse your wounds, and ignore your puppy. He will most probably look a little bewildered and may even try to say sorry by giving you a lick. After ignoring your puppy for about 20 seconds continue interacting. Repeat the " Ouch" and turn away each time you feel his teeth.

Biting will not stop immediately. It should become less and less hard over a period of three to four weeks. At this point, your puppy will realise that he cannot put any pressure on you at all, and then you can yelp even if he puts his mouth on you gently, finally teaching him that he cannot bite you ever.

This process works well for the vast majority of puppies. However, there are exceptions, puppies that are well over 14 weeks old and puppies that have learned to bite for attention. If you find that yelping and turning away has no effect, despite total consistency for a fortnight, or if your puppy seems to become more excited and snappy if you yelp, you may need a different strategy.

You now need to take all the fun out of biting. Do this by going quiet and standing still. No laughing, squealing or shouting.

As soon as your puppy puts his mouth on you, even in play, say "No" in a normal voice, then immediately put him out of the room. This isolation should only last for a couple of minutes, and then he can rejoin the family. If your puppy gets excited by being picked up, say "No" and then leave the room yourself, shutting the door behind you. This is often easier for children to do.

Above all, you most be consistent. This means that even visitors most react the same way to your puppy's biting.

It will take lots of repetitions before your puppy understands that biting is no fun.