How do I get my beagle puppy to stop biting people?

Question

My little male beagle puppy can not stop biting fingers, toes, ankles, arms, limbs, etc. I push him away and slap his hind with a newspaper pretty hard, but it only seems to make him want to bite me more. I have given him tons of toys but nothing seems to interest him unless its a human body part. ; / How do I get him to stop biting people? Or how do i at least get him more interested in his doggie toys?

Answer 1

No Bite!

Puppies play with other puppies by biting each other! It is a very natural thing to do. It can be very confusing to a pup if you scold him for playing the only way he knows how, and then encourage him to play again.
I have taught puppies and stray dogs to stop nipping and biting "people" by doing what "mom dog" and "littermates" do. Next time he bites or nips you "yelp" in a noticeably loud and high-pitched voice. Usually, the pup will look at you kind of funny, like he doesn't understand, and then proceed to bite you again. This time you "yelp" louder and in a very high pitch, maybe jumping back at the same time as if you're really hurt. Whenever you do this technique, you must always immediately furnish an appropriate chew toy for him to bite and play with. After a half dozen times of this, the pup usually gets the message. But, he is still a puppy, and he will "forget" next time he wants to play and bite again (after all, that's the only way he's played for his whole life!) It will take a week or two until this pup finally "gets it." Some learn much faster, and others more slowly, but this technique has never failed me as long as every person is consistent. That means every time the pup bites, "yelp!" Tell children and visitors to do the same. (Yes, really tell them to do the same, and make sure they do it; maybe they'll learn something in the process).  If your puppy or dog reacts in a frightened manner of your yelping, then try it again in a softer, less frightening manner.  You do not want to frighten the dog, only let it know that biting too hard hurts.
As the pup gets older, if he is not 99% reliable not to bite, after you "yelp," put your hand over his muzzle gently but firmly (sometimes referred to as a nose-hug) immediately after you yelp and when you say "No Bite!" Then immediately give him a chew toy and say "Good Bite!" You always want to end a lesson being taught with praise, that way, your dog will be more willing to learn. This will also teach your dog to go get a chew toy when he gets so excited that he just must bite something.
If these methods fail to work another option you have is to get up, turn your back to your dog and walk away whenever he bites or nips you.   No reprimand, no emotion, simply turn your back to your dog immediately after he bites you (the *first* time) and walk away.  After about 10 minutes, approach him again.  Be sure that you are praising him when he is biting appropriate things and not you.  This will teach your dog that he will not receive the attention he desires unless he behaves appropriately.
But if none of these things work?  The problem you are experiencing is one of the hardest solutions to describe via the Internet that I have come across. That is because, if the old standby's (yelping and no bite, and walking away) don't work, then the problem is usually based on a lack of communication in general: Meaning, the dog does not understand what you are trying to communicate, so it becomes frustrated at your attempts at getting it to stop biting and in its frustration, bites more. This can actually make the problem worse.

The first thing to look at is if your dog is getting enough physical and mental stimulation on a daily basis. Your puppy or dog should be able to be off-lead (off-leash), running around quite a bit to expend some of energy.  Depending on the age, size and breed of your dog, she may require up to 2 hours per day of vigorous activity.   Playing fetch and going for walks does not suffice for all dogs.  Both of these activities are quite mindless and can be done for very long periods of time without much mental concentration. 
Next, teach your dog the Settle command.   Begin teaching your dog at times when she is already resting so it is easy for her to succeed. You can also teach her an "easy" command by holding a treat within your fist and allowing her to gently take the treat. When she is forceful, she does not get the treat, as she becomes gentler and more "easy" she gets the treat. You will be rewarding her for inhibiting her bite and her aggressiveness.

This takes many, many repetitions. If your dog is biting and nipping continually and getting consistent attention for it (negative or positive) she may have already learned that she can get what she wants by using force.  You need to change this so that she receives more and better rewards for being "easy," for "settling" for "leaving it" etc.

When you reward, be use a two and three-step approach. At the instant the good behavior is initiated (she lightens up just a little) give her the verbal reward "Good Girl!" This is her cue, so that she learns exactly what behavior pleases you. After the verbal reward, give her a food treat. (step 2). And while she is eating the food treat (or after she inhales it) pat her on the sides for the physical-touch (step 3) reward. The food treat (step 2) can and should be omitted periodically.
You need to convince her that it is beneficial and in her best interest to behave the way you want her to. Setting her up to succeed so that she can be praised is the best method to do this. Using times when she is more relaxed in the first place... and then giving her a chew toy to chew on and praising her for a good "easy" as she leisurely chews on the chew toy may also help.

Right now, your focus may be on all her biting and rough-play antics. You may be giving her the most attention during these times. Turn this around, so that you are giving her more (and better) attention when she is behaving appropriately. This can be quite difficult with puppies and young dogs, and her appropriate behavior may disappear quickly - but it is important that you recognize it and praise it in the instant that it is there.

For example, I have had stray puppies come into the house that have never been in a house before... they run around all the furniture and bounce off the walls, and run into me biting and snapping out of pure joy and excitement. If they refuse the chew toy (a soft stuffed animal) I give to them and persist on biting me instead, I give them my calm, but firm "uh-uh" (meaning: I am not happy with what you are doing). The instant they (or I) put the chew toy in their mouth, I praise "Good Girl" and as I try to pet them, they usually try to bite my hand out of their excitement. So, I say, "Uh-uh" again. If they persist, I turn my back to them. If they climb up on my back, I get up and walk away. When they follow me biting at my heels... I throw a toy for them in front of me (they usually don't even know where it came from) and this, or something similar, usually takes their attention off me and they chase the toy. Sometimes I dangle a toy above their heads to entice them to bite the toy.  When the toy is in their mouth: "Good Girl!" and I try to play with them using the toy again.

This type of scenario is repeated many, many times. Consistent positive reinforcement for biting appropriate items, and no reinforcement of behaving inappropriately. After an afternoon some pups settle down, others take a few days, and some take a week or more. They will periodically "forget" the rules (very often at first), but will begin to understand the communication at hand, and comply after repeated and consistent "lessons."
Think about "What am I communicating to my dog?"  And "What is it like to be trained by me?"  Puppies and dogs that continue to nip and bite relentlessly, usually do not understand you.  For another helpful article, point your browser to: http://www.stbernardrescue.org/behavior/bite_inhibition.html and learn how to teach your dog bite inhibition.

Answer 2

Not to bite fingers isn't something she would have learned from her mother anyway. You just need to set her some bounderies. The quickest way I've learned to stop a dog from nibbiling on fingers is to press your thumb into the bottom of her mouth when she starts to bite with your other fingers under her chin to press against. Don't be afraid to press hard. It's not really that painfull, but it's pretty shocking. Tell her no a second before you do it and hold the pressure till she starts to pull away or yells. It's probably not going to be a yell of pain but one of suprise. My dog yells when I sneek up on her. So try that and it should only take twice or so. If it takes alot more then your not pressing hard enough. It just makes them associate bitting hands with a bad sensation. Make sure that she really is bitting and is not just mouthing. Keep in mind that puppies need to chew and give her a variety of things that are okay for her to chew on. Good luck.

Answer 3

Discourage him by acting more dominant towards him. I can spend volumes of text typing out how to do it... but I'm too tired, lol. Find some stuff on the techniques that Cesar Milan uses on dogs. It works, too. Sure, it seems quacky... but it really does work. Though it is a little weird... lol.

Also, it's just a stage. He just might be teething... you never really know.

Besides biting to quell the pain and itchiness of teething, dogs can also bite because they want to express a sense of dominance with you... They want to be the ones controlling the "pack" with you being one of the "followers." Try to find methods that prevent teething and look into some of the dominance-inducing techniques that Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer... featured on the National Geographic Channel... blah blah blah) uses. They're pretty cool. :-p

Answer 4

not sure about dogs, but the following trick works wonders on biting cats, (even old ones). When they start to bite, stick your hand into their mouth engaging their gag reflex. Within a few times, they'll stop biting people. It sounds mean, but there are no ill affects for the animal.

Answer 5

Take your puppy to a rewards based obedience class like the one offered at Petsmart or Petco. You can soak his toys in chicken broth to make them more appealing to him. Play with the toys a lot and make them the focal point of your interaction with him. You act interested in the toys.

When he bites withdraw your attention. Put him in his crate with a chew toy. Do it every time. No more slapping. As you say- it doesn't work. Be patient.

Answer 6

Go to your nearest drug store and purchase a natural arthritis relief oil or creme. Capsicum pepper is the best. Because it is natural it wont poison him. Rub it on your hands and feet.(Yes, it is warm but not bad). When he figures out that people taste like fire PROBLEM SOLVED! Let me know when he moves to the furniture. That is Red Hot Chili powder in Crisco or something else sticky.

Answer 7

Biting in puppies is ussually just a phase and ussually it will pass if you discourage it

Answer 8

First put some food to your little dog

Answer 9

grab it and rub it in your face and go 'oossshhyy boooshhyyy woooshhhyyy' ahahhha yeahhh, f*ck little dogs are cute

Answer 10

obedience school