James Ericson asked:

How do you go about puppy training to stop biting? This is certainly a problem with a lot of younger dogs and getting it out of their system immediately is critical so that they don’t continue this bad habit as they get older.

Obviously different dogs bite to certain levels. Some simply do it mildly whereas others really go at you, but at any rate you want it to stop.

The key is to eliminate this nasty habit as quickly as possible. If you wait until after they are 16 weeks old then it will be a lot more difficult to train them to stop because they have this habit ingrained in then.

Why they bite

One reason is that they often learn it from their siblings and even their parents, so it can often be passed down. In addition to getting it passed down they simply might inherit it in their genetics.

Sometimes it can happen if they forced away from their mom before they are ready, as often times the mom dog will actually teach the dog to avoid this aggressive behavior, although not always. Removing them from their mother too early will therefore occasionally hinder puppy training for biting.

How do you stop it?

At any rate, regardless of the reason they do it I’m guessing you want to put a stop to it. Initially before you even begin teaching them you have to make sure they trust you because if not, they won’t listen to you.

They need to not only trust you but also view you as an authority figure, and if either of these elements are lacking they won’t listen during puppy training for biting or anything else. Dogs are programmed to listen to their superiors like they would in a dog pack, their natural setting, and if they don’t view you as one then you won’t get through to them.

Don’t use force or physical discipline with them because this will cause them to not trust you, not to mention the fact that it’s cruel. Often times, dogs that are punished physically tend to be more aggressive than other dogs so it actually hinders you from getting through to them.

Remember that a dog will often times bite when playing and just having a good time. Therefore don’t play with them in a way that encourages this behavior, even just for fun, because they will see it as being okay. Don’t send them mixed messages by allowing them to do it sometimes and not others because this will just confuse them.

Additionally, make sure to keep a toy they can chew on close by, as this will get them to take out their aggression on something else. Very often biting is simply their outlet of letting out their pent up energy, so having a bone will give them another avenue for this.

One tip that may seem ridiculous is to actually yelp yourself when they clamp their teeth on you. They will soon learn that you don’t enjoy this and will eventually cease doing it. Use these tips when puppy training for biting and they will stop in short order.