Is Puppy Nipping a Problem For You? – Why You Should Stop This Behaviour Now!
Nipping or playful biting is common in puppies and some older dogs. Dogs explore the world through their mouths, so nipping is natural and not aggressive. It is how they communicate, interact, explore, and play.
Puppies play by biting and mouthing each other and dogs that were removed from the litter too early, and whose owners encourage rough play will nip in emotional duress. Puppies, through sibling play learn bite inhibition. If a puppy bites another puppy too hard, the other pup yelps loudly and stops playing with him. The biter learns that such bite force results in social isolation.
Your skin is more sensitive than a puppy, so teach your puppy or dog to control nip pressure. Play with him, but when he nips too hard shout “NO” and loudly in pain. Turn your back to him, get up and walk away, face and eyes averted. Do not speak or touch him for 30 seconds – long enough for the lesson to sink in, but not so long that he forgot and started playing with something else.
Also, your dog needs chew toys. When playing with him, if he snaps your hand or face, say a sharp, “No!” When he stops, give him the chew, and when his jaws close around it, praise him.
If your dog is over excited and keeps nipping, give ‘time out’. Take him to his crate or a small room and leave him alone there for five minutes. Resume play but tone it down until he can tolerate play without nipping.
High energy herd breeds are naturally overexcited and mouthy so no contact play like Frisbee or fetch works best. Avoid rough play like slap-boxing or rough wrestling. Keep games friendly and low key.
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