Puppy Biting

The reasons why puppies bite and what to do to teach them controlling their mouth

As my American XL Bully puppy is 4 months old now I thought it`s time to re-visit this topic that I see to be raised so many times in puppy groups among puppy parents.

There are many reasons why puppies bite. Some of the most common reasons include:

Teething. Puppies start teething around 3-4 months old and continue to lose their baby teeth until they are around 6-7 months old. During this time, they may experience discomfort and pain, which can lead to biting.
Play. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world around them and to play with other puppies. They may bite gently at first, but if they are not taught to control their biting, they may start to bite harder.
Boredom. If a puppy is bored, they may start to bite as a way to entertain themselves.
Fear. If a puppy is scared or anxious, they may bite as a way to defend themselves.
Pain. If a puppy is in pain, they may bite as a way to relieve the pain.
Tiredness. When a puppy is tired, they naturally become more hyper and use their mouth a lot more.
Over-excitement. This happens even with older dogs as well that they become more mouthy. When they start snatching the treats harder instead of using a soft mouth it is always a good indicator of their arousal level. It`s time to do something calmer.
Hunger. The same as with humans being "hangry".

Sam 3.5 months old American XL Bully puppy with his favourite octopus tug toy

If your puppy is biting, it is important to determine the reason why they are biting in order to address the underlying issue. If your puppy is biting out of teething pain, you can provide them with teething toys to help relieve the discomfort.

If your puppy is biting out of play, you can redirect their biting to a toy. If your puppy is biting out of boredom, you can provide them with more exercise and mental stimulation. If your puppy is biting out of fear or anxiety, you can help them to feel more comfortable by desensitizing them to the things that make them afraid. If your puppy is biting out of pain, you should take them to the vet to rule out any medical problems.

It is important to start training your puppy not to bite as early as possible. If you wait until your puppy is older, it will be more difficult to break the habit. When your puppy starts to bite, immediately say redirect their attention to a toy or scatter some food on the floor. You should also avoid playing rough with your puppy, as this can encourage them to bite. If your puppy continues to bite, you may need to put them in a time-out to calm down. It shouldn`t be a punishment, just have a lickimat or a filled kong prepared, their favourite bone does the trick as well. With us a bone straight from the freezer always helps as it soothes the achy gum as well. So a time-out is not a punishment but a chill-out time that naturally helps your puppy with lowering their arousal.

With patience and consistency, you can teach your puppy not to bite.

American XL Bully puppy chewing a marrow bone

Here is a puppy biting checklist to help you deal with your puppy's biting behavior:

Puppy-proof your environment. Remove anything from your puppy's reach that they could chew on and hurt themselves on, such as shoes, electrical cords, and furniture.
Provide your puppy with plenty of chew toys. Make sure your puppy has plenty of safe and appropriate chew toys to keep them occupied and their teeth worn down.
Redirect your puppy's biting. When your puppy starts to bite you, immediately redirect their attention to a toy or scatter feed some food.
Ignore your puppy's biting. If your puppy continues to bite you, you may need to ignore them for a few minutes. This will show them that biting does not get them attention. You can guide them to their crate or playpen with a lickimat or a bone to gnaw on.
Punish your puppy's biting. Do not hit or yell at your puppy if they bite you. This will only make them more fearful and aggressive.
Have a schedule. Puppies need 18-20 hours sleep a day. When they get over-tired they get overexcited easier and become more landsharks than normal.

Get professional help if needed. If you are struggling to deal with your puppy's biting behavior, you may want to seek professional help from a dog trainer or behaviourist.

Here are some additional tips for dealing with puppy biting:

Be consistent with your training. It is important to be consistent with your training in order for your puppy to learn what is expected of them.

Check out our PERFECT PUPPY PROGRAMME where you will learn about how to best tackle your puppy`s biting and teach them from the foundations to more advance tricks to occupy their brain and give them exercise to raise the perfect puppy.

The Perfect Puppy Programme is a great way to teach your puppy everything they need to know to be a well-behaved and obedient member of your family. The program is easy to follow and understand. It provides clear and concise instructions for each step of the training process. With the Perfect Puppy Programme, you can be sure that your puppy will be a joy to have around for years to come.

The Perfect Puppy Programme teaches you everything you want to know how to raise an obedient and happy dog.

If you have any questions contact us at info@funstaffydogtraining.co.uk or book a free consultation here: BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION.

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Categories: : puppy