Puppy Training Tips

Why do puppies bite?

Taken from Know Your Dog Vol.1

Ken Araujo

Puppies bite because they must. To a great extent they cannot help but bite other puppies and those who remove them from their litter. A well-known veterinarian and behaviorist, Ian Dunbar, while delivering a lecture on Sex and Aggression at the 1997 annual Association of Pet Dog Trainers conference held in Memphis, Tenn., spoke directly to this issue. He pointed out to those attending that the very survival of the dog depends upon its ability to acquire bite inhibition. Bite inhibition, which is the process of limiting the amount of biting pressure, is an essential lesson taught in early pack behavior.

Both biting and bite inhibition are intrinsic to the survival of the dog. Once puppies are born, they depend upon the skilled bite inhibition of the mother to break the sac, allowing the puppy to enter the world alive. A little too much bite pressure and the puppy is dead.

So in essence, very early in the development of the puppy in the pack, the puppy is in the process of learning all about bite pressure and bite inhibition. Obviously watching newborn puppies, one can conclude they are obsessed and driven to bite each other.

When watching puppies in a pack we observe one puppy bite another until a loud shriek is heard. Quickly the bitten puppy returns the favor but bites a bit harder. Each puppy learns about biting and inhibiting its bite.

Puppies bite and mouth out of a need to explore their environment:

Dogs do not have fingers and thumbs. They explore their universe with their nose and their mouth. This is why it is essential to puppy-proof the environment in which puppies explore.

At about the eight week mark we take the puppy out of the pack and place it in our homes.

The puppy leaves the litter and moves into the home:

What then should we do with the eight week-old puppy who is biting our hands so hard that we find our skin pinched and punctured? We need to continue what the mother of the litter began. We need to continue to teach bite inhibition.

Utilizing the soft mouth technique:

If a puppy bites you on your hand you should exclaim in a loud and sharp voice, OUCH! Not unlike the squeal of another littermate, the shock value serves to inhibit the behavior.

No jaws on us and no paws on us needs to be a clear and consistent rule which the puppy learns.

Principle of Substitution:

It is really not possible to teach a puppy not to do something. A good rule of thumb is never to take something from a puppy unless another behavior is substituted. Substitute, substitute, substitute

Learn not to over-stimulate your puppy:

Puppies are so easily excited that we must learn not to over-stimulate the puppy with physical praise about the face nose and ears. Gently petting the chest and side serves to calm puppies rather than stimulate them to puppy bite work

Puppies bite and chew because they are teething:

Puppies are in a state of teething until they are 10 months old.

If you do not provide ample opportunity and appropriate chewing aids for the puppy don’t be surprised if you lose the leg to your favorite rocking chair, table or couch.

Chewing reduces anxiety:

Puppies hate to be alone. They crave company and contact. If they had been left in the litter they would have both. When we take them away from their primary pack we assume the serious responsibility of providing company and physical contact as we have denied them what comes naturally ... "

How to help overcome the problems of separation anxiety and boredom:

Crate train your puppy. Do not leave your puppy loose in the house for extended periods of time unless having a house chewed into little pieces does not bother you. Properly crate train your puppy and use it. (see section on crate training).

" ... Puppies are sensitive to emotions and by carrying on with your puppy like this you only serve to make him anxious and troubled. Rather, “slip out the back, Jack”… and don’t lavish the puppy with anxiety-producing attention before you leave.

Properly exercise your puppy and make sure he relieves himself before leaving him for an extended period of time. A tired puppy is much more apt to sleep than a puppy brimming with energy.

When you return do not rush to the crate, open it and lavish the puppy with attention. Rather, you should get into the house, settle down and then quietly let your puppy out...."

The bottom line is the puppy must bite and chew. You have taken him from his litter. You have deprived him of all social contact with his littermates. You, not the puppy, must accept responsibility for teaching him a new set of rules. You must teach him a set of rules that will enable him to live and grow with his human packmates. You must teach him in a kind and loving way “no jaws and no paws” when it comes to interacting with people. But remember, chewing and biting comes naturally, so have patience!