Tips to Stop Puppy Biting

A puppy's natural instinct is to bite, but you may not appreciate this behavior. When puppies are little, biting might appear cute. Little dogs eventually grow into adult dogs that bite if steps are not taken to properly train the dog. You don't want someone to be injured or to sue you if you can't control your animal. Below are some suggestions to stop puppy biting.

Mothers teach their puppies how to behave properly around humans. Unfortunately, many youngsters are removed before these lessons can be taught. Preferably, a puppy should be three months old or older before being taken to a new home. Six weeks is not enough time for the mother to teach a puppy all he or she needs to know. Other dogs can be used to train your puppy appropriate behavior whether they are your own or borrowed.

Young canines like to spend time with adults, and this can be an excellent way to teach your new dog how to behave with humans. Whenever your puppy bites you, say "no" and place a bone or chew toy in his mouth. This will help him to redirect his teeth to the desired object instead of your hand. Whenever your puppy bites, be sure to say 'no' immediately. Otherwise, the dog won't associate your displeasure with the biting and will be confused.

Hitting or other harsh punishment will not solve the biting issue and may make your dog even more aggressive. If the biting is getting out-of-hand, you can try putting bitter apple on your exposed skin. This product tastes awful, and often dogs will quit biting something that they associate with that taste. Unfortunately, the puppy might also not want you around them if they associate you with bad experiences, so consider carefully whether you want to take that chance. As dogs are protective of their toys and food, be sure to instruct your kids to stay away from the dog's possessions and when the animal is eating.

Point out signs of aggression such as ears laid back or growling so that your kids will learn to leave the dog alone when they see these behaviors. Of course, young children should never be left alone with a puppy. If you want to stop puppy biting permanently, you will need to train your dog. to mind you.

Visit Stop Puppy Biting to learn how you can rid your dog of biting and other undesirable behaviors. Have more dog-related questions? Visit Dog Articles for more dog info and products.