Ask The Dog Guide: Teaching A Pup Not To Nip
We had a question recently from a man with an 11-week-old puppy who likes to nip and chew on hands and feet. He wrote: “I know that she is a puppy and is learning, but I don’t want this to be a habit that she carries into adulthood. I have started using the “no bite” technique, along with “no bark.” I am also going to take her to puppy classes soon.
My question is will she get these commands confused? Also, do you have any other tips for how to teach her to stop?”
Answer: It is important to differentiate the sound of separate commands; they may be distinct words to you, but to your puppy they are just that- sounds. When it comes to a behavior like biting, we don’t use a specific command so much as a noise response. Mouthiness of any sort (nipping, biting, chewing) with humans is something to be immediately discouraged. The goal with this kind of training is to teach your puppy not to do this thing at all, rather than to cease such behavior in response to a command. So, this method involves conveying to the pup that his action hurts you (even if it doesn’t actually hurt) by making a high-pitched yelping noise, mimicking what another pup of her litter would do when nibbled on. This noise should also startle and distract her from chewing on your toe, at which point you can shove a toy into her mouth.
For very persistent nipping behavior (which we’re dealing with in our 12 week old pup right now), we do occasionally hold his muzzle shut for a few seconds. He whines, but it does not hurt, and shows him that he is not in control of what he does with his mouth.
When your pup starts to nip and chew while playing with you, stop her using whatever method works. Then give her a timeout, which essentially means no more playtime or attention from you. After a few minutes, she will probably calm down and you can start playing again. She will learn that doing a certain behavior means no more attention from you, while not doing that behavior gets you to keep playing with her; what puppy doesn’t want the attention of her person?!
We recommend: clearance items at SitStay.comTags: puppy classes, distinct words, hands and feet, pup, playtime
Related Articles
- Ask The Dog Guide: More Webbed Feet Questions!
- Ask The Dog Guide: Webbed Feet On An Australian Shepherd
- Ask The Dog Guide: Even More Webbed Feet Questions!
- Dog Video Of The Day: Dog Walker With His Hands Full!
- Ask The Dog Guide: Excessive Chewing
