26.09.2020

Dog Training. Dog Behaviour. Mouthing and Nipping in Puppies!

Mouthing in puppies -
Firstly, do not play any games with your dog that involve putting your hands into their mouth, chasing them or allowing them to jump all over you.
DO NOT alpha roll (forcefully rolling your pup onto their back) or scruff. This can lead to a fear of hands and so hand biting.
Pushing your dog away when they are mouthing or nipping often reinforces these behaviours as your dog can view this as a game (and because any attention may be seen as good attention).
Your pup needs to learn that he or she will not get what they want if they are behaving in this ‘negative’ way.
If your pup is being mouthy or nipping, make a stern and guttural “Bah!!” vocalization and get up and walk away, avoiding eye contact.
Ignore your pup until they too walk away.
Your pup is not getting what they are after, attention, so the mouthing action will quickly lose its value.
If nipping/mouthing is particularly intense, you can take your attention away, in the form of time out for your pup for a couple of minutes as soon as your pup mouths/nips. Do not give any attention at all, including eye contact and verbal interaction, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend.