Eliminating Dog Biting Behavior

 
Adopting a new puppy is always fun for both yourself and your puppy.  One of the first challenges, however, to the thrill of a new puppy, is curbing improper puppy behaviors. Dog biting and dog mouthing problem must be eradicate when young.

Dog Biting Behavior is Natural 
Biting and mouthing each other when playing with siblings is natural to puppies, and they extend this behavior to their human companions.  While other puppies have thick skin, however, humans do not, so it is important to teach your puppy what is appropriate, and what is not, when it comes to using those sharp teeth.

But What about Dog Biting Behavior from 60lbs Adult Dog?  
Biting might be cute and harmless with a 5 pound puppy, but it is neither cute nor harmless when that dog has grown to adulthood. Therefore, puppies should be taught to control their bit before they reach the age of four months. The first part of training the puppy is to inhibit the biting reflex. Puppies normally learn to inhibit their bite from their mothers and their littermates, but since they are taken away from their mothers so young, many never learn this important lesson.  The humans therefore must be the ones, in the puppy’s life to teach this lesson.

Dog Biting Behavior Control Through Socialisation 
One fine way to inhibit the biting reflex is to allow the puppy to play and socialize with other puppies and socialized older dogs.   This is the best way for puppies to learn to control themselves when they bite.  Puppies love to tumble, roll and play with each other, and when puppies play they bite each other constantly. If one puppy becomes too rough when playing, the rest of the group will punish him for that inappropriate behavior. Through socialization with its peers, the puppy will learn to control his biting reflex.

Proper socialization has other benefits as well, including teaching the dog to not be fearful of other dogs, and to work off their excess energy.  Puppies that are allowed to play with other puppies learn important socialization skills generally learn to become better members of their human family.  Puppies that get less socialization can be more destructive, more hyperactive and exhibit other dog problem behaviors.

Furthermore, lack of socialization in puppies frequently causes fearful and aggressive behaviors to develop.  Dogs regularly react aggressively to new situations, particularly if they are not suitably socialized.  In order for a dog to become a member of the community as well as the household, it should be socialized to other people, in particular children.  Dogs make a distinction between their owners and other people, and between children and adults.  It is essential, for that reason, to introduce the puppy to both children and adults.

When to start socialization to avoid Dog Biting Behavior?  
The best time to socialize a puppy to young children is when it is still very young, usually when it is four months old or younger.  One reason for this is that mothers of young children may be as expected reluctant to allow their children to come up close to large dogs or older puppies.  This is especially true with large breed dogs, or with breeds of dogs that have repute for hostile behavior.

Using trust to prevent dog and puppy biting problem behaviors
Training your puppy to trust and respect you is a very efficient way to prevent biting.  Gaining the trust and respect of your dog is the foundation for all dog training, and for correcting problem behaviors.

It is vital to never hit or slap the puppy, either during training or any other time.  Physical punishment is the surest way to eat into the trust and respect that must form the basis of an effectual training program.  Reprimanding a dog will not stop him from biting – it will just alarm and confound him.

Training a puppy not to bite is a fundamental part of any puppy training program.  Dog biting behaviors that are not corrected will only get worse, and what seemed like harmless behavior in a puppy can quickly spiral to dangerous, vicious behavior in a mature dog.