Puppy Training: Biting Can Be A Problem

Isn't it the most wonderful feeling when you bring home a new puppy? The are so cute and cuddly. My breed of choice is the Chihuahua, but I love all dogs. Puppies love to bite, chew, and nip. They do it out of love and because that is how they play. They don't understand that it hurts and it is not the way we play. It is Important when beginning your puppy training that biting be a top priority. They need to learn as soon as possible that it is not OK to bite.

There are a lot of methods you can use to get your puppy to stop biting, but it is important that methods do not hurt your new dog. Smacking your puppy over the head does not teach them anything but to be afraid of you. You don't want this kind of negative association with your dog. You want your new puppy to understand that biting hurts and is not allowed, but at the same time you don't want to make your dog fearful of you. That is not healthy for the puppy or for your relationship with your dog.

There several methods that you can use to get your puppy to stop biting. One is to make your puppy think they hurt you. Whether the bite hurt or not, cry out and walk away giving the puppy a firm "No Bite" command. The little guy just wanted to play, but if he thinks he hurt you and now you don;t want to play, he will soon learn that this kind of playing is no fun.

Play that involves the puppy nipping at you should always be avoided. It is very confusing to your puppy is you sometimes play and let him nip at you and other times you tell him "No Bite" and make him think he hurt you. You can offer your puppy an acceptable toy to bite. Let him know that biting toys is perfectly fine, but biting you (or anyone else) is not.

When it comes to puppy training, biting is just the beginning. It may one of the more important lessons you want to teach your new puppy right away. In the end, we all want to have a well trained companion to stand bravely at our side in the face of danger or lie quietly at our feet when all is peaceful. With the right training as a puppy, you can be sure to have a life long friend.