Puppy bite – how to get rid of it

Every puppy will bite eventually.

Bite play is a natural part of growing up as a young dog explores the world around him and tests the strength of his jaws. It is at this time that it is advisable to start removing the animal from such behavior. If your puppy gets a bite reaction, he knows when it’s okay to bite and when it’s not.

What do puppy bites mean?

A dog can give its owner a limited number of signals. A bite is the most understood of them, although people often misinterpret it. If a puppy bites or damages furniture, it is considered that he is attacking or just defending himself and acting aggressively. In fact, there may be many other reasons:

● Teething and gum irritation. When a puppy begins the process of replacing baby teeth with permanent teeth, he feels itching and the need to “scratch” his gums.
● Stress from grief. If the puppy has not been used to exercise when left alone at home, the animal may suffer from loneliness and, to relieve stress or for fun, chew and bite everything around.
● Learning the surrounding world. First, the dog sniffs the object, tastes it, then tries to test its strength.
● Games, physical activity. Dogs sometimes see people’s feet and clothes as drag toys. You should immediately limit and prevent the puppy from playing with its arms and legs to avoid possible injury and discomfort.

It is important to learn to recognize the causes of bites and respond correctly to them.

How to control your dog’s behavior

To prevent your puppy from biting, experts recommend the following:

● Teach your puppy to be on his own without destroying everything around him. The most effective way is to train him in a cage of appropriate size or leave him indoors with different toys. For example, if you have to leave the house for a short time, you can use a rubber toy. Canned food is placed in it in advance and frozen. This toy can hold a puppy’s attention for an hour to an hour and a half. In case of a longer absence, you can leave the toy with a treat in the form of food grains, which the pet must get on its own. For example, a search mat.
● Every time your puppy bites (including pulling clothes) during play, you may cry, drawing his attention to painful sensations. Or stop playing, that is, do not reinforce such behavior.
● Provide the animal with an adequate level of physical activity. Unused energy can cause destructive and hyperactive behavior.
● Buy toys that your puppy can chew on while teething and changing teeth. Consider the quality of the material so that your pet does not chew the toy into small pieces while playing and inhale or swallow them. Dry food helps to load the teeth and jaws.
● You can use prohibition commands (“fu”, “no”, “no”) when your puppy bites.

Do not push or hit the animal under any circumstances. It is also not recommended to swing your hand, newspaper or anything else. Otherwise, the dog will begin to fear the owner, which in the future can lead to fear from sounds and movements. Also, a puppy that is afraid of people does not learn well and is reluctant to follow commands.

If the cause of the bites is a health problem, try to calm the animal down and consult your veterinarian about further actions. If everything is fine with your health, but you cannot handle your pet yourself, be sure to seek advice from a dog handler.

The behavior of a puppy is different from the behavior of an adult dog. He is just learning, can’t always control himself and often forgets about some rules. Biting is an important part of a pet’s development. But it is easier and faster to remove a puppy from a bite than an adult animal. In addition, an adult dog can accidentally injure a person while playing. By following the tips above, you will definitely be able to cope with raising the new family member.