How to Stop Puppy Biting – OUCH!

Puppies are playful pets! And they play by biting.

They love chewing and biting, because these make them happy. It is also a very primal thing for them. In their world, this is simply what they do. With biting, they can make themselves a leader of the pack. It is a form of showing others that they can be dominant. It is also a way to train their mouths to be a hunting tool for them, and it comes naturally like jumping, playing and running.

It is important to realize that in a household with children, playing with a puppy can sometimes create its own hazards. Puppy teeth can be sharp! When a puppy bites, injuries sustained can be serious enough to require hospitalization. It is important to know how to stop puppy biting before it’s too late.

Here are some methods you can use to train your puppy:

Hold the mouth closed:
Cradle your puppy close to you so she feels safe. Soothe her by gently rubbing her tummy. Then when she’s calm, hold her mouth close for 5-10 seconds. Do it repeatedly but make sure you’re not causing her pain. She may be uncomfortable, but this is okay. This will teach her that biting and chewing can be stopped by holding her mouth closed. The repetition is what you need to do so she learns. By doing it when she’s calm, she’s re-assured that there’s no danger to her, even with her mouth closed.

Do not let children do this training.
They may not have the right control or they may hurt themselves or the puppy. Just let them know that this is a training on how to stop puppy biting and causing injury to them or their playmates.

Quick response and redirection:
Redirecting the behavior is an effective way, too. If you see your puppy chewing and biting aggressively, make her stop by clapping your hand so her attention is directed to you. Make the clapping strong, so she can hear it. Associate a sound with the clap, be it Stop, calling her name or saying No. When she looks up and stops the biting or chewing, redirect her behavior by giving her a chew toy. A ball is appropriate too. She can fetch the ball and play with it. This way, she learns an alternative to biting and chewing.

Stop action:
If your puppy is in mid-play with children and he starts chewing aggressively, make her stop by leaving her alone. Puppies are very social beings. They will feel the loss of playmates. Reinforce this by stopping whatever play is going on and leaving her for a few minutes. Once she is calmer, play can resume again. Rub her belly and pat her. This gives her reassurance that she is still loved, but that her behavior has caused you displeasure.

Water bottle and Spray:
While training your puppy, carry a water bottle or spray with you. Whenever your puppy acts aggressively or begins to start chewing and biting, spray her face with water. This will not only get her attention, but will also make her feel uncomfortable. If she is excitable, this will help her calm down, too. Remember, the object of the water spray is to make her stop, not to injure her. Tell her in no uncertain terms that biting is not allowed. Make her know that you are displeased with such behavior. Your puppy will realize that her biting will result in water on her face. Over time, she will make this connection.

Puppies are perfect pets for children. But with raising them comes responsibility, too. Make sure the whole household is on the same page when it comes to training puppies on how not to bite and also on how to be good playmates.