HOW TO STOP PUPPY BITING

Today’s tip will show a technique on how to stop puppy biting in just 2 simple steps.

(tip below)

Lincoln’s Daily Diary Monday Dec 19, 2011

I had work early in the morning so I crated Lincoln the Pit Bull after a quick potty break until my dads picked Lincoln up to go to his place and play with Coco the Pomeranian. He is doing better every time he goes there and it seems he is making real progress in the hands of people other than me. He does play a little but rough with Coco sometimes and I had to figure out how to stop puppy biting from becoming an issue. Although Coco definitely has fun with it I don’t want Lincoln getting carried away with other dogs who don’t want to play rough. The puppy biting could be seen as dog aggression and since Lincoln is a Pit Bull we can’t have that.
To try and calm this behavior I will reward Lincoln when he stops playing rough for even a split second, showing him that taking a break from rough-housing gets him treats. Another and most effective tactic on how to stop puppy biting is to redirect his attention. I have been redirecting nearly every behavior he has that we don’t want to see and he has responded well so we want to tie this knot up too! What I do is get Lincoln’s attention and use a toy or a treat to hold it while I lure him away from the situation before rewarding him. I like using a toy in this instance because I can keep his attention for a longer period of time.

We are excited because I am taking Lincoln the Pit Bull to the vet tomorrow as I had tried to make an appointment for today but it didn’t work out. I am excited to get him all checked up and ready to rock and roll!
We worked on more training today and he is really beginning to “sit” very well without even saying the command, especially before we walk through doorways.
I think he is beginning to gain a lot of energy so we will need to work more of it out before settling down for the night but he has been awesome so far, I am excited to keep going!
We will be working in the shop tomorrow and his first vet appointment is at 1pm! Exciting!

2 steps on how to stop puppy biting skin;

1. When teeth meet flesh I yelp and walk away ending the fun and leaving the puppy with nobody to play with. This teaches him that every time his teeth touch skin it makes the fun stop. The first time you walk away the puppy probably won’t get the message but trust me, it won’t take many times before he begins to catch on. It will take a little longer for him to work his habit away but once he knows what he is doing wrong you are golden. Communication is always key!
2. I also will reward Lincoln with a treat when we are playing and his teeth stay on his toy and off skin. This comes in handy once you have done the first step a couple times and the dog will realize what he or she is being rewarded for. This mixes negative and positive reinforcement together for a little extra umph!

My method on how to stop puppy biting is simple, it just takes practice, patience and persistence to make it work.  Negative reinforcement takes longer to work than does rewarding a dog for good behavior so depending on what the puppy is biting it may take longer to correct. But so long as you use the methods and stick to them you will learn how to stop puppy biting in no time.

Related posts:

1. My Pit Bull Puppy Lincoln