My lab pointer likes to nip and bite, she could be a very playful dog but what she does not get is that her tiny nips and bites can do some damage to my skin and other peoples’ skin. Though nipping and biting is fun and innocuous in a puppydog or kitten, it’s not when a full-grown dog with full-grown fangs does it.
It is vital to keep your pet under control and train them when they’re young so they know what behavior is acceptable and what isn’t. Worse yet, if your pet starts off believing that nipping and biting is O.K it can turn into more aggressive behavior, so to stop the nipping and biting by following these steps.
One way to stop your pet’s continual nipping and biting is to provide them with enough toys that they can play with and put in their mouth. When my dogs were puppies I often let them bite or nip on my fingers , however , you do not want to permit them to try this all of the time because they will think your fingers are there for them to chew. Providing them with enough toys to nip and bite gets their mind off of your fingers. For dogs, rubber toys or rawhide bones are ideal for them to chew. For cats, a rag or play mouse is ideal for them to play with.
Next time your pet attempts to nip or bite your fingers, let out a yap like the sound of another animal. If your pet believes they have hurt you, they are going to realize that biting or nipping at your fingers isn’t a nice thing to do. They may even lick your fingers. When your pet stops after your howl, make sure you give them a pleasant pat or a treat.
This next method always worked for me. A straightforward, loud, and firm NO! And ignoring them for one or two minutes always seemed to do the trick. The firmness and seriousness of your voice will alert your pet to the proven fact that biting and nipping on you is not sufficient. And when you stop playing with them they feel ignored and at last will associate your unhappiness with their nipping and biting. You may also grab their collar, look them forcefully in the eye and shake them quickly telling them who the manager is.
Go to my dog barking at night blog get a lot more articles on Training a Doberman.
Posted under Miscellaneous Content
This post was written by Noel DCosta on June 28, 2010
