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This week we got a comment on our blog that asked how to stop a puppy from biting….
Had my patterdale for 2 weeks he is now 10 weeks. He is quite the biter, loves to bite fingers, feet but will also bit face how do i stop him from doing this?
https://patterdaleterriers.co.uk/patterdale-terrier-puppies/
Of course, puppies bite – it’s a very natural thing for them to do. But their teeth are like needles and it’s important not to let them get into the habit of biting when they are young as if it continues into adulthood it will be even more of a problem when they have bigger teeth and more strength in their jaws. A small puppy nip may not hurt too much but a proper bite from an adult dog can be potentially dangerous especially when young children are around. They need to learn what kind of biting is and is not acceptable. Nipping fingers and especially faces is a no-no.
Many Puppies learn from their Mothers
Generally, puppies are taught how to control their biting by their mothers, but unfortunately a high number of puppies get taken away from their mothers too soon and so it is up to their adoptive adult parents to teach them not to bite.
Socialise your Puppy with Other Dogs
Socialising your puppy from a young age will help them to learn. It’s important in particular to socialise your puppy in the first three months of their life (unfortunately this is not always possible if you rescue).
Socialise them in puppy classes and also with well behaved and well trained adult dogs. Puppies quickly learn from their elders putting themselves in their place! They will quickly learn not to bite because they could end up in an unwanted fight.
Take them to Training Classes and Train them not to bite at home
Take your dog to a training class as soon as possible where e or she will get corrected for his or her behaviour. The longer it is allowed to happen the more dangerous it can become. You can stick to a simple command when they do bite such as a firm ‘No!’ or ‘Ah-ah!’ and remove your hand to let them know that it is wrong. If it persists withdraw the play or affection too. They will learn.
Also use this command if they become too nippy around other animals such as dogs and cats that are already in the home.
The sooner the puppy is taught not to bite by the owner or by interaction with other dogs, the less aggressive they will become as they grow older and the more pleasant they will be to live with.
Divert their Chewing Habit
Some pups have a chewing issue that they need to satisfy and so it is a good idea to divert this chewing attention to a toy or dog chew instead of fingers! You can try a Ragga tug dog toy or dental treats such as Whimzees chews.
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