After referring many, many puppy owners to Bellapup's blogs(because quite frankly, I've gotten lazy about retyping the same advice over and over again), I've decided to start these "Puppy Problems" threads, this being the first. So, if your puppy(or dog) is chewing inappropriate things or nipping you, here's some tips to curb your pup's habit.
*Remember that there are many ways to teach your dog not to bite or chew inappropriate things. These are the ones I have found most effective.*
Option One:
Your puppy bites you, and you immediately turn around and give him no attention at all until he is calm. Completely ignore--you don't even have to say anything, just leave the situation entirely so that they begin to understand that biting means playtime is OVER and puppy gets no attention whatsoever. The only thing about this that I don't like is that the puppy still wants to chew. Getting him not to chew you(or undesirable item) doesn't cure his need to chew something. But nonetheless, this method is still very effective.
Option Two:
Your puppy bites you, and you give a firm "Ah-ah!" at a low volume. Don't YELL at your puppy--talk in a comfortable speaking voice, just make it sharp. Remove your hand quickly and immediately entice her to play with an acceptable chew toy. Praise her for releasing your hand, and toss the toy in the opposite direction or just wave it around. Tossing it distracts your pup/dog from your yummy hand and entices them to run after the good toy. Lots of praise and play. Consistency is the key! Every time she bites you must do this, and really be enthusiastic(but not SCARY overenthusiastic, lol!) when she plays with the toy instead of your hand.
If she is chewing a shoe for instance, again, "Ah-ah!", remove the shoe and entice her to play with a toy. This method means you need to always have an acceptable chew toy on hand. Place them in all areas of the house or carry one with you all the time. Try to keep unacceptable chew things out of reach anyway, to avoid the incident entirely. Chewing the unacceptable "toy" is very self-rewarding for her. How is she to know that those shoes are for wearing?
How to Properly Take a Bite
Although you don't want your pup to bite at all, the best way to take a bit almost painlessly is with a closed fist. Open fingers are easy to grab onto and yank and gnaw. Lots of pain for you=lots of reward for puppy. Closed fist=nothing to grab, less painful, and easier to remove from sharp puppy teeth.
Remember that your dog or puppy doesn't remember destroying that hat an hour ago. Your pup doesn't remember half-eating that loafer 3 minutes ago. It's a completely insignificant event in her mind--not at the time, but later she really doesn't remember it. She's bound to try it again, but when you get home from work the first thing on her mind is, "YAY Mom's/Dad's home!!! PLAYTIME!" You can hold the half-eaten loafer right in her face and she doesn't have a clue what your intentions are with it. So when you yell and get angry at her when you come home to your destroyed shoes, she's not cowering because she "knows she's in trouble"--she's cowering because she's afraid of YOU and has no clue what you're hollering about. So even though it's infuriating, you are doing no good whatsoever to yell 10 minutes after the event. I constantly hear from puppy/dog owners that their dog, "KNOWS she's in trouble" when they get home and find a poop pile or a destroyed object. They don't have a CLUE what they did wrong. All they know is that your body language is far from happy, and every time you come home that way, they get yelled at. The connection isn't with the poop pile or the shoe, it's with YOU and your body language.
Again, consistency is the only way to get a dog who will not ever mouth. If your dog still bites you or chews inappropriate things, 9 times out of 10 it is only because there is inconsistency in her training. Everyone in the household must use this and copy it to a T--everyone must do everything the same. If the adult in the household is the only one who tries to curb the biting/chewing, then puppy will still be mouthy. If you have a three year old who obviously can't adopt this training, then whoever is with child and pup needs to do the same things. Puppy bites kid="Ah-ah!", toss toy, "Good girl/boy!!!"
So, be consistent and good luck with your puppies/dogs! I hope this is helpful to all you puppy owners or owners of chewing/mouthy dogs.
Many more Puppy Problems threads to come!
*Remember that there are many ways to teach your dog not to bite or chew inappropriate things. These are the ones I have found most effective.*
Option One:
Your puppy bites you, and you immediately turn around and give him no attention at all until he is calm. Completely ignore--you don't even have to say anything, just leave the situation entirely so that they begin to understand that biting means playtime is OVER and puppy gets no attention whatsoever. The only thing about this that I don't like is that the puppy still wants to chew. Getting him not to chew you(or undesirable item) doesn't cure his need to chew something. But nonetheless, this method is still very effective.
Option Two:
Your puppy bites you, and you give a firm "Ah-ah!" at a low volume. Don't YELL at your puppy--talk in a comfortable speaking voice, just make it sharp. Remove your hand quickly and immediately entice her to play with an acceptable chew toy. Praise her for releasing your hand, and toss the toy in the opposite direction or just wave it around. Tossing it distracts your pup/dog from your yummy hand and entices them to run after the good toy. Lots of praise and play. Consistency is the key! Every time she bites you must do this, and really be enthusiastic(but not SCARY overenthusiastic, lol!) when she plays with the toy instead of your hand.
If she is chewing a shoe for instance, again, "Ah-ah!", remove the shoe and entice her to play with a toy. This method means you need to always have an acceptable chew toy on hand. Place them in all areas of the house or carry one with you all the time. Try to keep unacceptable chew things out of reach anyway, to avoid the incident entirely. Chewing the unacceptable "toy" is very self-rewarding for her. How is she to know that those shoes are for wearing?
How to Properly Take a Bite
Although you don't want your pup to bite at all, the best way to take a bit almost painlessly is with a closed fist. Open fingers are easy to grab onto and yank and gnaw. Lots of pain for you=lots of reward for puppy. Closed fist=nothing to grab, less painful, and easier to remove from sharp puppy teeth.
Remember that your dog or puppy doesn't remember destroying that hat an hour ago. Your pup doesn't remember half-eating that loafer 3 minutes ago. It's a completely insignificant event in her mind--not at the time, but later she really doesn't remember it. She's bound to try it again, but when you get home from work the first thing on her mind is, "YAY Mom's/Dad's home!!! PLAYTIME!" You can hold the half-eaten loafer right in her face and she doesn't have a clue what your intentions are with it. So when you yell and get angry at her when you come home to your destroyed shoes, she's not cowering because she "knows she's in trouble"--she's cowering because she's afraid of YOU and has no clue what you're hollering about. So even though it's infuriating, you are doing no good whatsoever to yell 10 minutes after the event. I constantly hear from puppy/dog owners that their dog, "KNOWS she's in trouble" when they get home and find a poop pile or a destroyed object. They don't have a CLUE what they did wrong. All they know is that your body language is far from happy, and every time you come home that way, they get yelled at. The connection isn't with the poop pile or the shoe, it's with YOU and your body language.
Again, consistency is the only way to get a dog who will not ever mouth. If your dog still bites you or chews inappropriate things, 9 times out of 10 it is only because there is inconsistency in her training. Everyone in the household must use this and copy it to a T--everyone must do everything the same. If the adult in the household is the only one who tries to curb the biting/chewing, then puppy will still be mouthy. If you have a three year old who obviously can't adopt this training, then whoever is with child and pup needs to do the same things. Puppy bites kid="Ah-ah!", toss toy, "Good girl/boy!!!"
So, be consistent and good luck with your puppies/dogs! I hope this is helpful to all you puppy owners or owners of chewing/mouthy dogs.
Many more Puppy Problems threads to come!
