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How To Stop Puppy Biting And Nipping

Puppy biting is an issue all owners must face when getting a new puppy due to the teething process. Sometimes it is called mouthing or nipping but it is the same behavior no matter how we refer to it. While it may start off as cute, over time it can begin to hurt or become quite annoying. If left unaddressed this behavior can carry over to when the puppy becomes an adult and then they will begin to use their mouth anytime they want something. Below we will look at why our puppies nip and what we can do to curb this behavior.

Why Puppy Biting Happens

Puppies communicate and play with each other using their mouths when they are very young. Since dogs don’t have hands or thumbs and are built very differently from humans, their mouths are their main form of communication and engaging with objects. When they are first born they cannot see or hear for the first two weeks so they use their mouths to explore and navigate. They learn a lot in the early stages of development from using their mouths so it makes sense that this behavior is very prevalent in every single puppy. It’s very important that puppies stay with their litter and mother for the first 8 weeks so they can learn bite inhibition which is the force a dog uses when biting. If a puppy bites too hard, the mother quickly will bite back to teach appropriate play and mouthing habits. Without this period, the puppy can have severe mouthing issues that can carry into the later months of development.

Mouthing During Playtime

Dogs often play with their mouths by nipping and even growling when they engage with other dogs and this is perfectly normal. Sometimes play can get rough and as long as it seems mutual this is also normal. Usually sibling dogs will tend to get rougher since they understand each other's boundaries and communication better than other dogs they don’t know as well. Dog play is crucial in a puppies learning curve of how to properly play and use their mouths.

If your puppy beings to mouth on you during play then here are some tips that might help

  • Withdraw all attention
  • Try to redirect them to an appropriate chew toy
  • Make sure you have a variety of chew toys available (soft, firm, etc.)
  • Avoid reinforcing the mouthing (don’t keep playing or petting if he bites)
  • Make sure to give your puppy proper exercise and stimulation

If your puppy is tearing you up and you are having issues with mouthing, we have the experience to help! Call us today at 913-214-2659 to get signed up for a puppy training course!

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