All puppies nip, including Mr. Bear. It’s just something that they do as they explore the world and learn about their surroundings. But for new dog owners, it can be pretty frustrating when their puppies start nipping at them and other family members.
So many trainers and experts are on the Internet and YouTube professing to have the solution for “all dogs and puppies — just buy their course.” I can’t entirely agree with that.
All canines, puppies, or adults, are individuals who are motivated by different things. In this post, I intend to present generally accepted concepts. Then, I’ll briefly explain why puppies nip and provide my preferred tips on discouraging them from doing so.
If you’re having trouble getting your puppy to stop nipping, here are a few generally accepted tips that may help:
1. Start by teaching your puppy to “sit.” This is a basic obedience command that will help you gain control over your puppy. Once your puppy knows how to sit, you can start using the command to stop them from nipping. They have minimum impulse control at this time, so asking them to do something they can succeed at can be helpful. Follow immediately with praise and a treat.
2. Another approach would be to say “no” in a firm voice whenever your puppy starts nipping and immediately push them away with your hand. If the puppy continues to nip, give the puppy a short time-out in the crate.
3. Be consistent with your commands and rewards. If you only punish your puppy for nipping sometimes, they won’t understand why it’s wrong. Ensure you always correct them when they nip and reward them when they don’t.
4. Provide plenty of chew toys and playtime. If your puppy has something else to gnaw on besides your hands and ankles, they’ll be less likely to nip in frustration. Playtime is also an excellent opportunity for you to reinforce the “no” command.
Why do puppies nip?
Puppies nip for a variety of reasons. Some puppies bite because they’re teething and their gums are sore. Others may nip to explore their surroundings and figure out what things are and what they can do with them. And some puppies may nip because they’re excited or happy and want to show affection. Bear nips when he is overly tired too. Puppies are not bad because they bite. Think of a teething human baby — everything goes in the mouth.
This is my preferred method to stop nipping.
“It’s a good idea to keep a puppy chew toy at hand at all times, so you can anticipate biting behavior and substitute the toy for your hand or furniture. Doing so will let pups know what is OK to bite or chew. If they start nibbling at your fingers or toes while you play, offer a toy instead.
Again, if they continue to nip, stop the play session immediately. If you’ve been training your puppy to sit, you might also redirect them by asking them to sit and rewarding them with a toy.”
How to Stop Puppy Biting and Train Bite Inhibition. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-puppy-biting/
If that fails, I always carry a spray bottle in my pocket. It contains a mixture of water and a little bit of Listerine. Learned this tip from Jack Fields at K9 Development, Tracy, CA.
After a little spritz, Bear sits immediately and waits for direction.
Note: Those puppy baby teeth are so sharp that if they drag across your skin, they hurt.
With patience and consistency, you can train your puppy not to nip. Just remember that puppies are young and still learning about their world. They’ll grow out of this phase with time and patience and become well-behaved adult dogs.
Do you have any other tips on how to stop puppies from nipping? Please share them in the comments below! And if you found this blog post helpful, please share it with your friends who are also dealing with puppies who like to nip! Thanks for reading!
© 2019 I Don’t Know All The Answers, Nikki Mastro
All of my photographs documents are Copyrighted.
Want that puppy!
Bear is a sweetheart!