Puppies nip, we all expect that, but when our adult dogs nip, or mouth as it is often called, we often find the behavior offensive, even painful, and wish to correct it. Puppies explore the world around them using their mouth – they chew on your fingers, toes, and slippers as a way to take in their environment. It seems cute to engage in this kind of exploratory play when your furry friend is seven weeks old, but when he is two or three or older – ouch, right!
Although your dog means no harm and is driven by instincts, it is essential to curb the nipping behavior when your dog is young to protect our sensitive skin.
Why is my dog nipping?
Although mouthing is usual for dogs, some will bite when they are frustrated or scared, which can be a precursor to aggressive behavior. When a dog is playful, he is relaxed, and his body and face convey this. If a dog is aggressive, its body and face will appear stiff, and it may show its gums and teeth.
If you suspect your pup is acting aggressively, consult a canine behaviorist who can assess the situation and make suggestions and training recommendations.
How to teach your dog gentleness
According to dog trainers, “bite inhibition” is one of the most important lessons you can teach your canine companion. This refers to a dog’s ability not to use the full force of its mouth when interacting with people.
If you watch a group of puppies playing, you will see them teaching each other bite inhibition. They run, chase, and wrestle, biting each other all over. Sometimes, a pup will chomp down a little too hard, and the other pup will let everyone know with a yelp. Play may stall for a few seconds and, after that, resume with great enthusiasm. As the dogs age, you may notice that there is less interruption in play as they have become more aware of how to be gentle with each other.
Teach your pup to nip gently
If you don’t have a group of dogs that can teach each other – the education falls to you as a pet parent. Here are some tips to help your furry friend learn how to nip gently.
- Play limp. During play, let your dog “mouth” on your hands. Keep playing until he bites too hard, give a big “YELP,” and let your hand go limp as if you were hurt. Your pup should stop and look startled – this is a good thing. If the yelp does not startle your dog, say, “ You Hurt” sternly but not overly aggressively. Once your pup stops nipping or begins to lick, you praise him and start to play again. This type of training is beneficial for pups and young dogs. Repeat this process three times in 15 minutes, then take a play break.
- Time out. If the limp training trick does not work, you may have to take a time-out. This method works well for curbing mouthiness in older dogs. When your furry friend bites too hard, yelp loudly. Once he startles, let your hand go limp and ignore him for 20 seconds. If he starts to mouth again, move away for 20 seconds, keeping your arms and hands limp. If he starts mouthing a third time, get up and leave the room for 30 seconds. Come back and begin playtime again. The idea here is that gentleness is good, and play is the reward, but painful nips stop the fun. Repeat this process until your furry friend can play easy with your hands and control his mouth.
How to stop the nipping
Once your dog understands the rules of gentle play, you can move on to the next stage: teaching him to stop mouthing altogether.
- Substitution. When your pup begins to nip at your fingers or toes, offer an exciting chew bone or toy instead.
- Treat distraction. If your pup gets fired up and begins mouthing when you pat his belly or stroke him, distract him by offering treats from your other hand. This gives him something to do with his mouth besides nip and helps him learn that he can be touched without having to nip.
- Non-contact forms of play. Removing your hands from playtime will help your pup focus on something else. Try playing fetch and tug-of-war instead. Keep these toys in your pocket or close by so that you have an option when your furry friend wants to wrestle with your hands.
- Freeze and reward. Some dogs are ankle and foot nippers who love to sneak up and ambush their pet parents. If this is happening to you, try the freeze and reward method. This requires you to freeze on the very first nip. Wait for your pup to retreat and stop nipping. When he does, praise him verbally, pat him, and provide a treat or toy reward.
- Elevated time-out. Repeat the same time-out method used above, but give your dog a time-out each time you feel his teeth touch your skin.
- Impulse control training. Teaching your dog how to control impulses through various exercises like sit, wait, and leave will help end the nipping battle.
What not to do
Just as there are some very good things you can do to train your furry friend not to nip, there are also some things you should not do.
- Do not wave your fingers or toes in your dog’s face or playfully touch him with your hands or feet, enticing him to play. This will confuse any training you are doing and even encourage nipping.
- Don’t stop playing with your pup. Healthy, gentle play is vital for building a strong bond between you and your dog.
- When your dog gets mouthy, don’t jerk your hands or feet away quickly. Doing this may also encourage nipping. Instead, let your limbs go limp so they become boring and your pup loses interest.
- Do not punish your dog by slapping or hitting when they become mouthy. This will encourage aggressive behavior. Physical punishment can also make your pup afraid of you. Do not shake, hit your do in the nose grab them by the scruff, and use an angry voice, or employ any other punishment tactics that may make your dog afraid of you. Gentle, loving and consistent correction is always the key in any training.
Other tips for mouthiness
- Provide plenty of new and exciting toys for your little nipper
- Provide your pup with many opportunities to play with other friendly dogs in a safe and supervised environment.
- Exercise your dog regularly to expend pent-up energy and keep them healthy.
- The key to training is consistency.
By following the tips above, your canine companion will soon learn how to play gently and stop nipping behavior.
