How can I get my puppy to stop biting so much?!?

Question

My puppy is 4 months old. Her teeth are like razor sharp. We give her bones and chew toys but she won't stop biting US! My girlfriends brother has bite marks up and down his arm from where she just won't stop! I know she is just playing. But it hurts! She's a Mini Pin/Dachsund mix. Please help!

Answer 1

Your puppy just sees you as a litter playmate and simply needs to be taught that biting people is not appropriate. The puppy also doesn't know that the biting hurts you, so you have to teach him this. There are two methods you cam use to stop this.

1-When the puppy bites at you, gently grab the scruff of the back of his neck, shake lightly and say "No Bite". This is the same method a mother dog uses to discipline her puppies and will get your puppies attention. Mom did this to your puppy and you are communicating with your puppy in a way puppy understands. When your puppy relaxes in your scruff grip, this is a sign of submission and is what you want to happen. Then praise the puppy for the good behavior. It's also a good idea to offer the puppy acceptable things to bite such as a toy and ofcourse, never use your hands as THE toy.

2-When puppy nips at you, let out a high pitched "ouch" or "ow,ow,ow" in a yelp sounding tone (like a puppy would do). This is the way your puppy's litter mates let puppy know the bite was too hard. Puppy will begin to reduce the pressue of the bite using this method and eventually stop biting all together.

You have to be very consistent and never let the biting slide without addressing it or you will send mixed signals and confuse your puppy.

These methods were suggested by both my vet and our trainer. We have a Border Collie and nipping is an issue with this herding breed. We have been using these methods with really good results. Be patient, it takes time to teach your puppy and not all learn at the same pace, but if you are consistent, it will work.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You have to understand that she is a puppy that is teething...it is a very painful and often irritating process for them. The chew toys might be too big for your puppy, try something smaller if it is. The puppy also maybe biting because she is getting excited, are you playing with her while she is going on these biting sprees? Try to give her ice to play with, when my dog was a puppy it kept her busy and it allowed her to crunch down on something. If none of this works, the best thing is a water spray bottle. When she bites you squirt her directly in the face and say "NO!" firmly. It may take more than a few squirts to get her to stop, but if she has any sense, then she will eventually get the clue. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

This is probably the worst part of puppyhood - the "shark teeth!"

You're already doing what you should be - providing her with appropriate chew toys as an outlet for some of that need to chew. She's teething right now, so be patient with her. Ice cubes, or an old washcloth dipped in water and then frozen are a welcome relief to those puppy gums. You'll soon be finding those baby teeth around the house as her adult teeth come in. You'll see a lot of that nippiness go away as she gets her adult teeth in.

About the best thing you can do is to give her a firm correction and tell her calmly and firmly "No bite."

Good luck!

Answer 5

It comes as a great surprise to many puppy owners that their little darling arrived with a full set of sharp pointed teeth that the average shark would be proud of! Worse, the puppy likes to flex them on you! This information is designed for puppies under the age of 18 weeks - which still have their puppy teeth. If you have a dog over this agethat is mouthing or biting please call the office for advice.

Biting during play is essential and normal for all puppies, but you need to take action to reduce it in your home. Puppies have needle-sharp teeth for one reason only - so that when they bite, it hurts! This helps them to discover what is alive and what is not! This is normal and should not be treated as aggression. However, it is not acceptable for dogs to bite people - and puppies need to be given education in how to moderate their biting.

• Puppy biting teaches a pup just how hard it can bite other living things. Clearly, it can exert a huge amount of pressure on a lifeless object such as a toy, without causing any kind of reaction, while trying the same behaviour on a litter mate - or on us - will most certainly result in a big response!

• How do litter mates respond if they are bitten too hard? Puppies play by biting each others’ ears, tail, legs and any other part that they can catch hold of! This is accepted quite happily - until the pressure becomes too hard. Then the ‘victim’ is likely to yelp and stop playing for a short while, leaving the pup that bit too hard to realise that there were consequences to his actions. We need to mimic this response when teaching our own puppies not to bite.

• The process of learning to moderate biting is known as learning ‘bite inhibition’. It is vital that all puppies learn how to moderate their bites before they lose their deciduous teeth at around 18 weeks’ of age.

Suggestions

Your puppy needs to know that biting hurts! This means that each and every time your puppy mouths your hands or clothes, you MUST:

• Yelp loudly or give a shout.

• Immediately turn away as if to nurse your wounds, and ignore your pup.

• Your puppy will probably look a little bewildered.

• Ignore your pup for about 20 seconds, then resume interacting.

• Repeat the “Ouch!” and turn away each and every time you feel his teeth.

• It is important to be consistent, that means everyone must do the same.

Biting will not stop immediately. Instead, it should become less and less hard over a period of about three to four weeks. At this point, your pup should realise that he cannot put any pressure on you at all, and then you can yelp even if he puts his mouth on you gently - finally teaching him that he cannot initiate biting.

IMPORTANT! Do not play rough and tumble games with your puppy, or play any game where the pup grabs your clothes, skin or hair. (Dad, listen!!!) This is giving your puppy permission to bite and will set back all your other efforts.

Help, we’re still having problems!

This process works well for the vast majority of puppies. However, there are exceptions: pups which are already well over 14 weeks’ old and puppies which have learned to bite for attention! If you find that yelping and turning away has had no effect, despite total consistency for a fortnight, or if your puppy seems to become more excited and snappy if you yelp, you may need a different strategy.

• Take all the fun out of the behaviour! This means no laughing, squealing or shouting if your puppy bites.

• As soon as your dog puts his mouth on you, even in play, say “Wrong” or “Quit it” in a normal voice, then immediately put him in the kitchen or behind a door or baby gate.

• This social isolation should only last about 3 minutes, then he can rejoin the family.

• However, if your puppy gets excited by being picked up, simply say “Wrong” then get up and leave the room yourself, shutting the door behind you. Children can do this very effectively.

• Be consistent! It will take many repetitions before your puppy understands that biting results in the loss of fun.
www.eurobichons.com

Answer 6

at least you recognize that all puppies need to chew. whenever he starts to bite you make him stop immediately and say "no" in a stern voice. Then give him one of his chew toys to chew and if he chews it, give him lots of praise. lots of people think "mouthing" is cute, but it's important that he knows the difference between people and other dogs. If it is really bad, you can gently, but firmly put your hand around his muzzle and say NO. In absolutely no circumstance should you hit him. Enjoy him, other than this little annoying habit, I bet he's lots of fun. Positive reinforcement is always the best way to train a dog.

Answer 7

Any time you are going to play with her tell her no if she goes to bite you, have a toy and make her play with you biting the toy. Talk to her ask her where her toy is tell her to get it, eventually with your consistency and not allowing her to bite people, she will get the idea that is what the toys are for, she wants to play with you so and with a toy that is the best way, it will help if she is ever exposed to children also. Good Luck

Answer 8

I agree with the hot sauce..sounds mean but it isnt I promise. all it does is make the puppy associate biting with a HORRIBLE taste. if you dont have hot sauce you can get "bitter Apple" spray at any pet store and it does the same thing...it has a horrible bitter apple taste ..and of course when they bit you and get the bitter it helps to also say NO Firmly..but dont get mean about it... its a puppy and she is still learning...you just have to be patient and teach her

Answer 9

Have you ever consider getting a trainer for your puppy? A dog trainer will help to groom your puppy so has she grows the more friendlier and wholesome she will become. Or you can try taking her to the vet maybe shave them down, let the vet groom her too.

Answer 10

a very good way is with a firm voice say NO then remove him away from what he way chewing on an give him a rawhide bone to chew on, the pup will figure out very quick.... couch no, bone yes.