Biting/Mouthing

Play Biting and Mouthing

By Marty Guerra

This ranks high on the list of problems people call us about. Generally, people get a lot of advice on this subject before calling us. Unfortunately, a lot of what they've been told to do actually lead to the biting/mouthing behavior becoming worse, and can turn a normal behavior into aggressive snapping and growling.

Puppies bite! It's just a fact of their little lives. Since they do not have hands with opposing thumbs, they use their mouth to investigate things in their environment, and to play with other puppies. If you ever get a chance to observe a group of puppies playing together, you will see that there is a lot of biting going on. It is not aggressive biting, but rather "play-biting." It is as normal a behavior as eating. It is through this "play-biting" that the pups learn to inhibit/control their biting behavior. Make sure that your puppy has plenty of appropriate outlets to exercise his need to bite. Be aware and make sure you are NOT reinforcing his biting. When he bites are you trying to grab his muzzle, are you yelling at him to stop, are you lunging after him, are you shaking him by the scruff? These can be seen as attention from you so the puppy will learn that by biting you, he can get you to play. The biting will escalate.

If your puppy is biting/mouthing you during play or when you're just trying to pet him, simply END the interaction, get up and leave. This will teach the dog that his biting causes you, his playmate, to go away. Dr. Ian Dunbar, a well known and respected behaviorist, suggests yelping out a resounding OUCH! When you feel the dog's mouth on you. This is very similar to the type of "correction" he would get if he were biting on another puppy/dog. When one dog/pup bites another too hard the victim yelps and the play stops. BE PERSISTENT! This works with most pups. It is something they understand and the offender learns to inhibit the force of his bite and eventually the frequency of it. You can resume the game again after a short time out. If your puppy is biting your children, you MUST be supervising ALL interactions between them. If your children cannot yelp effectively, then you must do it for them.

Note: Ignoring the puppy means not speaking to it, looking at it or touching it in any way.

Some puppies are more persistent than others. Some bite harder. It is more difficult for these guys to control themselves. It is very important that you stop "roughhousing" type play with your hands or feet. END THE INTERACTION THE INSTANT HE BITES!!

If you just cannot get the puppy to settle down, calmly place him in his crate with a chew-toy for a little siesta.

Biting is a normal behavior. Don't think that your puppy will "grow out of it". If he has been reinforced for his biting he will just get better at it. Manage it correctly and your puppy will learn how to treat delicate, human skin with kindness and respect.

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e-mail: mguerra@dogmanners.com

Phone: 342-2494