01.10.2017

Dog Training, Nipping and Biting in Puppies

Nipping and mouthing in puppies!
Firstly,
You should not play any games with your pup that involve putting your hands into his mouth, chasing him/her or allowing him to jump all over you.
NEVER alpha roll (forcefully rolling your pup on his back) or scruff, as these can lead to a fear of hands and so hand biting.
If your pup is being mouthy, make a stern and guttural “Bah!” vocalization and get up and walk away. Ignore him until he too walks away (your dog is not getting what he really wants- attention- so the action will quickly lose its value) *For extreme ‘Nippers’ we take attention away with a couple of minutes in ‘Time Out’- taking your pup immediately and silently, with no eye contact.
Pushing your puppy away will often reinforce the behaviour, he or she can view this action as a game (and attention is attention).
You can also try managing your puppy on a lead and then rewarding more calm behaviour.
Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant, Dogs Best Friend.