Dog Nipping - 5 Suggestions To Stop Dog Nipping
24 Jul 2010
Nipping the playful biting and mouthing of your hands and clothes by your dog is particularly commonplace amongst puppies, but can also happen in older dogs that haven’t been taught correct bite inhibition. It’s natural for dogs to mouth and nip. They explore the world using their mouths to a dog, his mouth is as vital as eyes and hands are to us. Nipping is absolutely different from true aggression; it’s a sort of communication, interaction, exploration, and play.
It is very cute when your new puppy starts nipping at your hair or your neck during play time. This behavior , however , if left unbridled may cause serious problems when his adult teeth come in. If your puppy is nipping, you need to start teaching him that it is an unsuitable behavior.
1. When your dog does nip be sure to stop playing with him right away. Let him know that it hurt by saying “ouch”. Then you can tell him, “bad dog, and no bite”. It’s critical to have consistency when you discipline him, so be sure you tell him the same each time.
2. Be certain and teach your dog you’re not the toy. Always replace your hand with a toy and tell him that he is meant to play with it rather than you!
3. Another tip is to tell him to sit right after he has nipped you. Take your finger and tap on his nose and say “no bite” in a humorless voice. The tap is not meant to hurt him….it’s just to let him know this isn’t correct behavior. Your tone of voice is of equal importance as the tap on the nose. If you were his real mom, it might kindly be like an oral growl! After a while all you will have to do is raise your finger and he will know to stop.
4. Dog nipping, unfortunately, is encouraged during game playing, when the dog is jumping up to get something. So don’t play games that include waving your hands, tug of war or asking him to jump up. Playing go get it and retrieve games is fine so long as your dog knows to drop the toy… That way he is not fighting over the toy with you.
5. Most significantly, be consistent. Dogs don’t understand the “sometimes” word. They are doing understand the word no! Stay consistent… Doesn’t confuse him!
For answers to other questions about collie training, go here Training a chihuahua
