This post is regarding the most common mistake people make with puppy mouthing, chewing, and biting.
After reading this you’ll probably never think of puppy training advice that you hear from others the same way. Hopefully you’ll look at it all through your puppy’s eyes…and that is when you will start to understand them.
Think about it…
Right now, millions of puppies are being taught by their owners to gently mouth their fingers and hands.
That’s right, we are training our puppies to do something that we then do not want them to do later on!
How odd! And yet…
That is the standard way that it is taught. Teach your puppy to mouth gently and then start telling them that they are doing it too hard–and then we teach them not to do it anymore and if they do, it’s the worst thing they could possibly do…
Confused? Sound complicated? Well, that’s because it is!
No, don’t think you are alone. Like I say, most people are taught to do this, and so was I when I started dog training. And yet there is a much easier way. Here it is…
The big difference is that we must start as we mean to go on! Sounds logical – and it is… even your dog will appreciate that the rules don’t change as they grow up.
So here are the steps, somewhat simplified.
- Always provide your puppy with chew toys, chew things (could be a piece of wood).
- From the very start encourage your puppy to leave your fingers and clothes alone.
- If your puppy mouths you, then redirect them calmly onto something else.
- If they continue to mouth you, place them calmly on the floor and give a little yelp noise to let them know that their sharp teeth can hurt, and then move away.
- If they continue to mouth you or your clothes, take them calmly and quietly and place them into timeout for a minute or so.
Simple. Take it from me, this is a far easier approach. I adopted it from Doggy Dan’s video website, The Online Dog Trainer, which is such a straight forward approach to training puppies. If you want to check out the site, which includes a video and section on mouthing, then CLICK HERE: The Online Dog Trainer
Now, there are couple of things to remember:
1. First, when your puppy is only, say 8 weeks old, you should always give them several chances if they do accidentally mouth you. It’s really around the 5-month-old mark that you must no longer tolerate any mouthing at all…
2. Also, when you call your puppy to you, make sure that you have something in your hand to put in their mouth. If you don’t, you are setting them up to fail. Humans give affection through our hands, but puppies and dogs tend to use their mouths more, so they need something to mouth when you are cuddling them!
3. The last tip is simply this: when your puppy starts to mouth you and ignores your chew toy, stay calm and place them on the floor. Do not start beating your chest saying “No!, No Bite!” in your most superior voice. (Another very old school training technique). This will only get them more excited… that’s the last thing you need!
Understanding your puppy is the key to developing an amazing relationship with them. When you’re able to see things through their eyes, you’ll start to see how your actions make them feel.
Doggy Dan’s video website with over 250 videos is absolutely fantastic for helping you see things from your puppy’s point of view. He even has weekly videos of how he raised his puppy, Moses, from 8 weeks of age.
If you’re serious about helping your puppy in a kind and gentle way that will lead to an amazing relationship over time, then click here to take a look.
CLICK HERE: The Online Dog Trainer