Anyone who has ever had a puppy is familiar with puppy biting. Not only is it a natural part of dog behavior, but it is also a challenge that dog owners often face when puppies are young. Teaching puppies to stop biting or nipping is one of the most important tasks in developing them into polite and respectful companions. Let's explore with Furry® !
Why Do Puppies Bite?
When babies first start teething, they often go through a period of discomfort and pain. Anything within reach, from toys to fingers, becomes a victim of chewing to soothe these uncomfortable sensations.
Like children, when puppies bite, they may be doing it to relieve the itching sensation of their teeth, or they may even be expressing curiosity - a normal part of exploring the world.
When Will Puppies Stop Biting?
Their natural need to bite will gradually decrease around four months. However, in many cases, biting can be a sign that your dog has developed a fear-biting habit, which can lead to aggression as they get older. When puppies feel scared or insecure, biting can become a way for them to defend themselves or express their emotions.
So socializing your puppy from an early age will help them develop into trustworthy and well-mannered companions, not only in interacting with people but also with other dogs.
Tips for Teaching Your Puppy to Stop Biting
Provide Safe Chewing Toys
Make sure your puppy has plenty of toys, this is essential. If you are the best chew toy in the house, your dog will come to you to chew! So you need to use toys that are specially designed for dogs that are not dangerous for them, such as lightning bolts and tug-of-war from our Furry® toy collections. You need to change the types of toys so that your dog doesn’t get bored easily.
Never play with your puppy with your hands
You should not turn yourself into a toy for your dog, it is easy for your pet to have impolite behavior towards humans. Instead, always play with your puppy with a toy as mentioned above.
Training
When your puppy shows biting behavior, especially when playing, train them with basic commands such as "stop", "leave" to control this behavior. And don't forget to reward them with their favorite food every time they obey!
Redirect Biting Behavior
Redirecting a puppy from biting forbidden items to their chew toys is a training technique that helps them learn what is appropriate to chew on. When your puppy starts biting something they shouldn't, calmly remove the item from their mouth and immediately offer them a chew toy instead. Praise and reward them when they chew on the toy to reinforce the positive behavior.
Introduce them to other puppies
Puppies are naturally socialized to learn the consequences of biting. When a puppy accidentally bites another puppy too hard, it will yelp in pain, causing the biting puppy to let go and move away. Letting your puppy play with other dogs will help them learn to control their “biting” because they don’t want to hurt their playmates.
Conclusion
By implementing the above measures in a structured and consistent manner, you will help your puppy grow into a well-behaved adult dog. Be aware that dog training requires patience, and if necessary, seek guidance from a professional trainer to assist!