Pets
Puppy Nipping and Mouthing, Bite Inhibition
Most puppies are perpetual biting machines. Puppies often nip or mouth the clothes and body parts of people and other animals as a part of play and in greeting. Puppy biting, although at times quite annoying and sometimes painful, is, in fact, a normal and essential part of behavioral developmental. At this age, puppies are both actively teething and interacting with their new surroundings and pack members as puppies usually do -- with their mouths. Although puppy mouthing is normal and natural and isn't usually intended to do harm, it can tear clothes and result in cuts and bruises on bare skin.- Teaching acceptable behavior. Rather than just focusing on the bad behavior, ask yourself "What would I rather
have my puppy do?" and then think about how you can get her to do it. If all you do is think about how to stop the
inappropriate behavior she will never learn anything new. If your dog is nipping or mouthing people when petting her, try
giving her a tasty bit of food or a chew object like a rawhide to occupy her while you pet her, or teach her to sit
quietly for a tidbit when you try to pet or greet her.
- Minimizing inappropriate behavior. Never encourage your puppy to grab you or your clothes. If she does grab or
nip you or your clothes, cross your arms and look away from her or walk away from her so she learns that nipping means she
won't receive any attention from you. Don't laugh, look at her or give in to her play as this rewards the behavior. If
your puppy is worse when children are playing, try to keep her separated from the play or put her on a
leash so her behavior can be controlled. Never let children tease or excite puppies into nipping and mouthy play.
- Use punishment correctly. If these strategies don't work, try squealing in pain ("Ouch!") whenever the puppy tries to mouth or nip you. For some puppies this will startle them and inhibit their biting. There are a few puppies for which the squealing doesn't inhibit them, it actually increases the biting. If this seems to make the nipping and mouthing worse, stop doing it. You may need to try other ways to punish the biting behavior. Try a time out, as described in Training Procedures. To make any punishment work whether squealing or time outs, you must use them as soon as the puppy starts nipping, and you must use them consistently. Pet her quietly or give her a chew toy when she does stop the nipping to reward the calm, relaxed behavior. Don't punish her by hitting, slapping, kicking or other physical means. This sort of punishment can cause fear or aggression or even make the problem worse.
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PETsMART Accredited Training Instructors, in addition to their previous experience, receive a minimum of 120 hours of training in a curriculum which includes: Canine Behavior, Learning Theory ("How Dogs Learn"), Problem-Solving, Classroom Management, Equipment, Handling Skills and more. Where possible, hands-on training is completed in partnership with local shelters, using shelter dogs to demonstrate training methods, behavior assessment and handling skills. This enables us to accredit our instructors while contributing to the community, as we help to make these dogs even more adoptable.
Suzanne Hetts Ph.D. is certified as an applied animal behaviorist and co-owner of Animal Behavior Associates, Inc., in Denver, CO.
Terry Ryan is the well-known author of training books such as The Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog and The Bark Stops Here.
Pia Silvani is the Director of Pet Training and Behavior at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.
Mary Lee Nitschke, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Linfield College, an Animal Behavior Therapist and the Director of Training for Animal School in Portland, OR.
Trish King is the Director of the Animal Behavior and Training Department at the Marin Humane Society in Marin County, CA.
Pamela J. Reid, Ph.D. is a certified applied animal behaviorist and assistant professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, where she teaches veterinary students courses in Applied Ethology and the Principles of Learning.
Information and advice contained on this site is for your consideration only. Please consult your veterinarian for specific advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet.
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