Biting is an instinctive behaviour in all dogs. However, there is a difference between a small puppy biting playfully and an adult dog biting. To protect yourself from problems in the future, you need to train your pet not to bite from an early age. Let's look at the most effective methods of training, popular among both professional dog trainers and amateur dog owners.
Reasons why dogs bite
First of all, could you please figure out why your dog bites? There are many reasons, each of which requires its own approach to training.
Communication
It is entirely natural for a four-legged friend to bite their owner's hands when they are happy. Dogs may also express a desire to go for a walk or invite you to play or do something else. In addition, puppies communicate with their mother and peers only through their teeth and paws. Later, they transfer this behaviour to their owner.
Teething
During teething, puppies bite everything in sight. This behaviour is expected. However, you should not allow biting and chewing on human hands or feet to become a habit. It is better to stock up on special toys or devices in advance.
Protective instinct
At home, your pet may protect its bowl or bedding from other pets, for example. Or it may prevent its owner from taking a bone lying nearby. Such moments should be nipped in the bud, preferably from puppyhood. Another option is to protect itself or its owner. In this case, the approach is strictly individual, and it is advisable to have a professional involved in training such a dog.
Manifestation of aggression
Small puppies are rarely aggressive; this is more characteristic of adult animals. Here, everything depends on the dog's upbringing and living conditions, its social experience, and relationships with people. Biting as a manifestation of aggression is often the result of cruel treatment of a four-legged friend.
The element of surprise
A dog may bite if it is caught off guard by something unexpected. This is especially true if the pet is relaxed and has let its guard down. Frightened, the animal will instinctively lunge at the ‘aggressor.’ But, again, this trait is not characteristic of all dogs. Some individuals will run away.
Missed training opportunities
New dog owners often enjoy playing with their dog by using their hands or feet, teasing it. In addition, pets usually take unnecessary items that smell like their owner and give them to their pet to chew on. As a result, from an early age, the puppy learns that biting hands and feet, as well as anything that smells like its owner, is normal behaviour.
Desire to dominate
Some individuals bite to show who is the boss in the house. Such incidents must be stopped immediately; otherwise, the dog will show aggression for any reason.
Breed characteristics
It is believed that service dogs, large breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers, are particularly prone to biting. However, some small dogs are not far behind: it is not uncommon to hear complaints from owners of pinschers, Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas, and other breeds about their pets' quarrelsome nature. Such dogs may bite not only family members, but also attack passers-by or other animals.
Behaviour correction should start at an early age.
How to stop a puppy from biting
To stop a puppy from biting, it is essential to remember that physical punishment is not recommended. Until the puppy is 3-4 months old, only gentle, non-aggressive training methods should be used.
Distracting attention
Like children, puppies have a short attention span. If they try to grab your hands while playing or accidentally, offer them a ball, soft toy, or rope. Be sure to encourage them when they take a toy in their mouth.
Calming
Overly emotional or overexcited puppies require calming down. Your tone of voice should be calm. Hold the dog down on the floor and wait a while until it calms down. Experts recommend accompanying this action with a word so that the animal will calm down on its own as soon as it hears it.
Deprivation of communication
The essence of the method is for the puppy to learn the connection between its ‘bad’ behaviour and the cessation of play. The pet is deliberately provoked to bite, then gently slapped on the chin and turned away. If ignoring does not help and the dog still tries to grab your leg or arm (clothing), dog trainers advise locking the puppy in a separate room for no more than five minutes.
You can use an external signal.
When the puppy bites your legs or arms, you need to scream loudly and sharply. Alternatively, you can use a whistle or a spray bottle. The main thing is to be unexpected.
Imitate a bite
This method is suitable for older puppies. The goal is to show who is the boss in the house. The essence of the technique is to grab the dog's mouth completely or one jaw with your hands (or one hand) at the moment when the dog tries to bite. Hold it while looking the pet in the eyes and saying words like ‘No!’ or ‘Bad dog!’.
Turning onto the back
The ‘belly up’ position in dogs is a sign of complete submission and trust in the owner. If the puppy is too excited, you can force it onto its back and hold it in this position for a while. This method is not suitable for timid pets and dogs with an aggressive temperament.
Such animals will begin to resist or defend themselves actively.
If an adult dog bites
If an animal bites at home for no apparent reason, a thorough approach is required to break the habit. Adult dogs are difficult to retrain, as psychological instincts and habits are formed before the age of 12 months.
The animal is trying to dominate
In this case, physical punishment or persuasion will not help. Harsh punishment of a pet is permissible in the most extreme cases, and it should be done by a professional, as there is a possibility of further embitterment or, conversely, the appearance of fear in the dog.
If your four-legged friend is trying to become the ‘master’ of the house, you need to keep it busy with training, commands, and exercise. It is helpful to focus on developing play and food motivation.
It is essential to divide the territory in the house clearly: the owner's bed is not a place for the pet (even temporarily).
If your dog sleeps on your bed, it means that it is the leader.
Aggression
Growling, baring teeth, and raised hair on the back of the neck are signs of aggression. As a rule, animals with a ‘difficult’ character are noticeable even as puppies. Training with a professional dog trainer will help you stop your pet from biting and prevent conflicts. Specialised centres have experts who can tell you about the specific training methods for different breeds.
If your dog is aggressive, grabbing it by the scruff of the neck can help. The animal is either forcibly pressed to the floor and held there until it shows signs of submission or lifted. Both methods are considered harsh but effective. It is essential to let go of the dog when it clearly surrenders. Otherwise, the dog may attack again with renewed vigour.
Adult dogs that bite people's hands while playing probably weren't taught not to bite when they were puppies.
What not to do
To properly train your dog not to bite, first of all, you need to monitor your own behaviour and emotions. The following recommendations from dog trainers will help you achieve the desired result.
- It is unacceptable to hit an animal with your hands or its belongings (bedding, leash, collar).
- Do not coo over your puppy like a child, trying to ‘gently’ explain that biting is not allowed.
- Under no circumstances should you show fear of the animal.
- Do not punish your dog by withholding food or walks.
- Dogs intended for guarding or protection are best trained at a specialised centre. Even minor mistakes in independent training can later manifest as undesirable character traits in the owners.
- Shouting and swearing not only reduce the effectiveness of training but also undermine the owner's authority.
- Commands must be given clearly, confidently, and in a commanding tone.
- Regardless of age, dogs can sense when their owner is agitated, so you should not train your dog when you are irritated.
Be prepared for long-term work. Even if you manage to stop your puppy from biting, the habit may return after a while, for example, during puberty.
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