My dog bites, how do I control this attitude?
When he's a puppy, the bite seems a harmless way to play but we must teach him not to do it so he does not become a problematic adult.
The bites of our dog should always be controlled, without exception. It is possible to teach our dear friend to use his mouth correctly when he is using it to attack and we must put effort into it.
On too many occasions, we see owners stimulating the "rough and tough" game with their dog, prompting them to bite something, forcing their nervous state to reinforce the bite. This will bring learning and we can not get angry or complain to the veterinarian if the animal bites when it should not or, worst of all, who should not.
The puppies seem to be genetically programmed to bite: they nibble at our hands and our clothes and they do it for several reasons:
· It is one of his ways of playing, with his mouth and legs.
· They explore their human and interact directly with him. They also use the mouth for the sense of touch.
· It makes them catch our attention.
· Helps them release stress and relieves discomfort in the gums, typical of the puppy stage.
In addition, the movement awakens part of the predatory instinct of our dogs, so it is something that can not be avoided at first. There we will be to teach you that it is something you can not do in your new environment.
What steps do we follow to teach him what is wrong?
Complain when he does not bite. When two puppies play and one of them bites too hard, the bitten puppy will moan and stop playing. We must do the same, but with a resounding "no" or with a strong moan. You must understand that he has hurt you.
How do we act? We will leave your presence or confine you a few seconds in another room. The case is to interrupt the game, to understand that this bite does not bring good consequences for him. Do not punish, scream or hit your dog. It is not necessary and could be counterproductive. I could catch you fear. The best technique to avoid strong bites is to remove their favorite toy: you.
After a while. After that minimum time, we will continue with the game (with appropriate toys). This way you will learn to control your bite. He has to learn that hands can not be his object of entertainment, only that of receiving caresses. Use a rope of knots for puppies, a Kong or any type of toy (exclusive for dogs) special for bites. If we make sure that from a young age our hands or feet are not the object of desire, it will be that way for a lifetime.
Remember to leave toys that you like when you are away from home. Maybe when you are not there, the object of your bites is any of your furniture or clothes ... Keep all the attractive objects out of your sight.
If you continue biting. If the months pass and your animal has not understood your position, even if you are constant, it is time to visit the veterinarian for this reason. You may have some anxiety, mouth pain or other type of ailment. The specialist will confirm you. The canine educator can be a good ally to solve this annoying behavior and that does not become a real and serious problem in his adult stage.