Young doggies invest a ton of energy playing, biting, and looking at objects. In all of these normal activities, puppies use their mouths and their needle-sharp teeth. When puppies play with people, they often bite, chew, and moan on people’s hands, limbs, and clothing. This type of behavior may seem cute by the time your pup is seven weeks old, but it’s nowhere near as adorable by the time he’s three or four months old - and is getting greater consistently!
What to do about puppy mouths
It is important to help your puppy learn to curb his mouthing behavior. There are several ways, some better than others, of teaching this lesson. The ultimate goal is to train your puppy to stop biting and biting people. However, the first and most important goal is to teach him that people have very sensitive skin, so he should be very gentle when using his mouth.
Bite inhibition
Bite inhibition refers to a dog’s ability to control the force of its bite. A puppy or dog who has not learned bite inhibition from people does not recognize the sensitivity of human skin and bites too hard, even during play. Some behaviorists and trainers believe that a dog who has learned to use their mouth gently when interacting with people will be less likely to bite hard and break their skin if they bite someone in a situation other than gambling, such as when they are afraid or He is hurt.
Puppies usually learn bite inhibition while playing with other puppies. If you watch a group of puppies play, you will see a lot of hunting, falling, and wrestling. Puppies also bite each other everywhere. Every now and then a puppy will bite its playmate too hard. The victim of the painful bite gasps and usually stops playing. The perpetrator is often surprised by the outcry and also stops playing for a moment. Both playmates will soon be back in the game. Through this type of interaction, puppies learn to control the intensity of their bites so that no one is injured and play can continue without interruption. If puppies can learn to be gentle with one another, they can learn the same lesson from people too.
When you play with your pup, have him put his mouth on your hands. Keep playing until he bites particularly hard. If he does, immediately scream up like you were hurt and let your hand go limp. This should startle your pup and cause him to stop uttering you, at least for a moment.
** What to do next: teach your puppy that teeth do not belong to human skin **
- Replace a toy or chew bone when your puppy tries to bite his fingers or toes.
- Puppies often have their mouths on people’s hands when they are petted, patted and scratched (unless they are drowsy or distracted). If your puppy gets excited when you pet him, distract him by giving him small treats with your other hand. This will help your puppy get used to being touched without going to his mouth.
- Encourage non-contact forms of play, such as scavenging and tug of war, rather than wrestling and brutal play with your hands. Once your puppy can play tug safely, keep the tow toys in your pocket or have them easily accessible. If it starts to mouth you, you can immediately redirect it to the tow toy. Ideally, he will start to anticipate and look for a toy when he feels like mouthing.
- If your puppy bites you on the feet and ankles, carry their favorite tug toy in your pocket. At whatever point he ambushes you, quickly quit moving your feet. Take out the tow toy and flirt it seductively. At the point when your little dog gets the toy, begin moving once more. If you don’t have the toy handy, freeze it and wait for your puppy to stop talking to you. At the second, he stops, praises and gets a toy to reward him. Repeat these steps until your puppy gets used to watching you move without attacking your feet or ankles.
- Provide lots of interesting and new toys for your puppy to play with instead of chewing on you or on your clothes.
- Give a lot of freedoms to your doggy to play with different doggies and with cordial, inoculated grown-up canines. Playing and getting to know dog friends is important to your pup’s development - and if he puts a lot of energy into playing with other pups, he will feel less motivated to play roughly with you. Consider enrolling your puppy in a good puppy class where they can oversee playtime with other puppies and learn some important new skills!
- Use a timeout procedure like the one above, but modify the rules a little. Instead of giving your puppy time out to bite hard, give them time out every time you feel their teeth touch your skin.
- As soon as you feel your pup’s teeth touching you, scream up. Then get away from him immediately. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your pup is following you or continues to bite and nibble at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds. (Make sure the room is “puppy safe” before leaving your puppy alone. Don’t leave him in an area with things he could destroy or injure.) After the short break, return to the room and take Go back to what you did to your pup.
General precautions
- Avoid moving your fingers or toes across your puppy’s face or slapping his sides to get him to play. Doing these things can really urge your pup to chomp your hands and feet.
- Try not to deter your little dog from playing with you by and large. The game creates a strong bond between a dog and his human family. You want to teach your puppy to play softly, rather than not at all.
- Avoid shaking your hands or feet away from your puppy when he’s mouthing. This will encourage him to jump forward and grab you. It is much more effective to let your hands or feet limp so that they are not very fun to play.
- Slapping or hitting puppies for a playful appetizer can cause them to bite ■■■■■■. They usually respond by playing more aggressively. Corporal punishment can also scare your puppy and even lead to real aggression. Avoid shaking scrapes, hitting your puppy on the nose, putting your fingers down his throat, and any other punishments that might hurt or scare him.
When does the mouth turn into aggression?
Most puppy mouth is normal behavior. Notwithstanding, a few little dogs chomp out of dread or dissatisfaction, and this sort of gnawing can show issues with future animosity.
Puppy “Temper Tantrums”
Puppies sometimes have tantrums. Tantrums usually occur when you get a puppy to do something he doesn’t like. Something as good as simply holding your puppy still or handling their body could ■■■■ them off. Tantrums can also occur when the game escalates. (Even human “pups” can have tantrums during the game if they are overwrought or upset)! A puppy tantrum is more severe than a playful mouth, but it’s not always easy to tell the difference between the two. For the most part, a playful puppy will have a relaxed body and face. His snout may look wrinkled, but you won’t see much tension in his facial muscles. When your puppy has a tantrum, their body may look very stiff or frozen. He could pull his lips back to expose his teeth or growl. Almost always, its bites are much more painful than normal mouth while playing.
When and where to get help
A trained professional can help you determine if your puppy’s mouth is normal and can guide you through an effective treatment plan.