Train Your Puppy to Stop Biting in 9 Steps
We all know the puppy bite. It’s sweet and playful — until it’s not.
Puppy biting is a common and natural behavior. It’s how they learn about the world around them, soothe their teething gums, and even connect with you. But it will almost always escalate. Left unchecked, it can grow into a problem as your puppy gets bigger. The good news is that with a little early intervention, biting is a behavior that’s easy to nip in the bud.
Here are nine easy steps to get your puppy to stop biting
1. Desensitize your puppy to touch
The first step in getting your dog to stop biting is to get him used to being handled by different people. This is a good idea for a few reasons: it’ll help him be more social as he grows, and it will prepare him to deal with people who approach him in public. It’s also a chance for you to observe his tendencies and provoke biting when you’re prepared, giving you the ability to respond quickly and effectively.
2. Establish clear communication
Puppies catch on quickly and they are naturally inclined to want to please, so this is an excellent time to start teaching basic commands like, “stop”, “sit”, and “leave it”. Give your command in a calm voice, help demonstrate the action, and then, immediately reward your dog each time she responds correctly. Doing this will help establish a bond, and build understanding and expectation between you and your dog, helping her start to learn what your voice and prompts mean. As you progress, use a command, like “stop”, the second your puppy bites. This will let her know biting is either never allowed, or when play biting needs to cease.
3. Establish play (aka training) times
Be sure to carve out a few minutes for play several times a day. Get down on the floor with your puppy to help signal that it’s playtime. Bringing consistency and structure to this time will help you both establish a pattern, and help your dog begin to distinguish between “playtime” and the rest of daily life.
4. Teach your dog tug-of-war
Tug-of-war is a natural reward for your dog, and it gives them an opportunity to exercise some of their natural instincts. Start teaching the rules by giving him a toy, using a command like “pull”, and letting him tug on it. (A furry faux animal works really well, preferably without stuffing). Then use a “stop” command to teach him when the game is over.
As soon as he disengages, reward him with a treat.
Continue working with him on “pull” and “stop”, so he begins to understand your expectations around acceptable biting behaviors. And remember, he’ll likely become more excited and maybe even a little aggressive as the play continues. It’s important to stop and redirect when he gets overly excited. Move to another activity to signal when it’s time to stop playing tug-of-war.
5. Stop play — as soon as it hurts, or your pup gets too excited
When the strong bite happens, immediately make a yelping noise similar to what your dog would make if she were hurt, give a “stop” command, and end the playful behavior. Become quiet and still. Your stoicism will feel like a light punishment because she wants your attention and wants to keep playing.
Next, wait for your dog to show affection, like licking instead of biting. As soon as your dog does that, reward her with a “good” command and a treat.
It’s important to remember not to pull away when your furry friend bites. Pulling away will only activate your dog’s pounce-and-attack instinct — even if done playfully. Instead, by holding still (as aforementioned), your dog will begin to understand when she’s going too far and know when you want her to stop.
6. Be prepared to redirect
Have a plan for what to do when biting does become painful. One good way to be prepared is by having a toy handy. When he comes at you ready to pounce, quickly move the toy in his line of play, so he’s getting the toy instead of your hand. If you engage with a toy from the get-go, it shows them what is ok to chew on — and what isn’t.
7. Remember to reward
Dogs love to please, so rewarding your pup is usually more far more effective than punishing. Be generous with your praise. An “attaboy” comment along with petting, eye contact, and a treat will help you quickly get the results you want.
However, you’ll want to be careful not to give too many treats. Giving your puppy too many treats can lead to obesity and diminish his natural desire to please you for the sake of pleasing.
8. Keep your pup calm and carry on
Playing with puppies can quickly escalate and get out of hand. As soon as your puppy starts to wind up, remember to put the breaks on. Calm your puppy by slowing your actions and speech. Teach her phrases like, “calm” or “that’s enough” to let her know when you’ve had enough, and it’s time to calm down.
9. Expend some energy
Lastly, remember that puppies have a lot of energy and can’t always physically calm themselves. Exercising your pup will help. When your puppy starts acting up, it may be time to go for a brisk walk or short jog to work out some of that rambunctiousness.
All bark and no bite
Following the steps above, you’ll have tools and a plan in place when your puppy comes at you, ready to chomp with those sweet, little razor-teeth. By starting now, you’ll be able to reinforce the positive behaviors that will set you both up for a bite-free future.
Looking to dive deep into training and setting your pup up for success? Check out SpiritDog Training.
