Top Tips to Stop Your Puppy Biting You
Understand Why your Puppy is Biting
Often, we keep our puppies up too long or underestimate the mental energy required from a task and this leads to hyperactivity and biting.
You don’t need to use punishment; this will lead to unwanted side effects. We need to prevent our puppies getting so wired, we are their guardians.
If your puppy is biting, consider the following:
If you are standing and they are biting your feet and calves, then they want to play, and you missed their polite earlier request.
If you are seated and your pup is biting predominately at your hands, then they are hungry, and you missed their polite hints earlier. Hands control food, picking up bowls opening cupboards, pouring out food etc.
If you are seated and your pup comes to you and rests in a sit, drop or lean then they are not asking for a pat. They want you to stay still so they can sleep beside you. Patting, or picking up may cause them to bite your feet or hands. Licking means stop it, I am too excited or too tired for this. Biting will occur after the licking if you do not listen.
Frantic biting in several places almost feeling like your pup is “getting at you” is “I need a poop”.
Biting in one place several times means you are frightening me.
Provide Appropriate Chew Toys
Truthfully the pet market is all over what makes a good toy. You can’t go past a Kong Cozie toy for a puppy as with everything, you pay for what you get. Puppies like toys that offer a range of activities for their mouth. Some smaller thin parts, that they can get between their teeth to wiggle them loose. Some parts are squidgy so they can slide the material between their teeth, and some hard parts, so that they can bite on them.
Providing clear communication
Step-by-Step:
When your puppy does mouth you, it can really hurt.
Stop playing, stand up and, stand still.
Consider where they are biting you and what you were doing at the time.
Are they trying to tell you something? Think back to the first point above.
Whatever do you next, do it slowly, calmly and include your puppy.
Going back to what you were doing, with no changes is most likely not going to work.
Provide Consistent Routines around Play, Handling, Meal Prep And Sleep times.
- Lack of not knowing what is going on around you often leads puppies to bite to get attention from you, acknowledgment from you and, support from you that they are okay. This guidance in a situation they really did not understand, can reinforce them to choose biting again to get this support.
Including your puppy and going slowly will massively reduce biting which makes the puppy feel better
- Overtired puppies like infants, are prone to emotional outbursts so please don’t keep your puppy up over 2 hours.
- Hyped-up play … whilst fun, is very exciting, which can lead to high-energy behaviours. Biting is one of those high-energy behaviours. Please ensure you offer a lickimat after this type of play to calm your pup done.
Checking Your Progress
Monitor your puppy’s behaviour: Keep track of how often and in what situations your puppy bites.
Consistency: Ensure everyone involved in the puppy’s care is consistent with the training approach.
By following these tips and maintaining patience, you can effectively reduce and eventually stop your puppy from biting.
Please think through when and why your pup is biting, ideally we want to know them better to meet their growing, playing, feeding and sleeping needs.
If you need help please book-in for some help either via our Puppy Classes or Personalised Puppy program
