How to Stop Your Puppy from Biting and Mouthing: Effective Tips and Techniques
Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting experience, but dealing with biting and mouthing can be very challenging.
Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and while this is normal behaviour, it’s essential to teach them boundaries early on.
In this blog, I will provide you with practical tips and techniques to stop your puppy from biting and mouthing, ensuring a harmonious relationship between you and your furry friend.
Understanding Why Puppies Bite and Mouth
Puppies spend their days eating, sleeping, and playing.
They can get bursts of energy and then suddenly fall asleep.
This behaviour is perfectly normal, as is biting, mouthing, and nipping.
Puppies investigate the world with their mouths, so it’s crucial to show them what is appropriate to chew and what is not.
Channelling Puppy Behavior
To manage your puppy’s biting and mouthing, you need to channel their chewing towards appropriate items.
Provide them with suitable chews or toys to keep their mouths busy.
Read more here on Safe & Healthy alternative to rawhide in my previous blog and where you can buy natural chews locally My Top 5 Local Shops to Buy Natural Dog Chews in Coventry, Leamington Spa & Warwick
When they start to mouth your hands, gently redirect them to a toy. But don’t just expect them to just go onto the toy and play.
They are mouthing you s they want your attention, so play with them!
It’s important to remain consistent and not to react by shouting or pulling away, as this can turn the behaviour into a fun game for them.
Be One Step Ahead
Anticipate when your puppy is likely to get overexcited and have suitable chews or Kongs ready.
Kongs are especially beneficial as chewing and licking them releases endorphins, helping your puppy to relax.
Introduce the Kong gradually, starting with a smear of tasty paste and progressively filling it more.
Eventually, you can freeze the Kong to make it last longer, providing a soothing effect for teething puppies.
Promoting Calmness
Create a calm environment for your puppy with a designated quiet space, such as a crate or puppy pen.
This space should be a positive, relaxing area where your puppy can retreat to rest and settle.
Gentle, calming strokes can also help soothe an excited puppy but wiggly fingers and rough tickles excites a pup and encourages biting!
Remember, it’s important to manage your puppy’s energy levels to prevent overstimulation, which can lead to increased biting.
Providing Structure and Routine
Welcoming a puppy into your home is like welcoming a new employee into your company: they need structure and guidance.
Establish a daily routine that includes potty breaks, playtime, training, feeding, and rest time in their crate.
A consistent routine helps your puppy understand what to expect and reduces the likelihood of biting out of frustration or overstimulation.
Appropriate Outlets for Mouthing
Spraying water on your puppies face or tapping their nose will not help reduce biting behaviour; it can actually make it worse.
Instead, provide appropriate outlets for mouthing.
Playing tug-of-war is a fantastic way to build your puppy’s confidence and allow them to bite something appropriate.
Ensure you have a variety of toys with different textures, shapes, and sizes to keep your puppy engaged.
Managing Overstimulation and Teething
A tired, hungry, or overstimulated puppy will become more bitey, which no one wants!
If your puppy seems over the top, crate time is essential.
It can be difficult for puppies to settle without a dedicated area to rest, especially in busy households.
When your puppy is teething, provide appropriate chew toys, and consider filling Kongs with frozen food or using puppy gum paste to soothe their gums.
Natural chews can also be beneficial during this time.
Consistency is Key
The most important aspect of training your puppy is consistency.
Everyone in the household should follow the same rules and provide the same guidance on what is acceptable behaviour.
Avoid old-fashioned methods like shouting “no” or tapping their nose, as these can be intimidating and counterproductive.
Instead, use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviours and gently redirect unwanted behaviours.
Conclusion
Puppy biting and mouthing are normal behaviours, but they need to be managed to ensure they don’t become problematic.
By providing appropriate outlets for chewing, promoting calmness, and using play to redirect behaviour, you can teach your puppy what is acceptable.
Consistency and patience are key in this process.
Remember, your puppy is learning about the world and needs your guidance to develop good habits.
With these tips and techniques, you can stop your puppy from biting and mouthing, creating a happy and well-behaved family member.
Plan, prepare and get success with your puppy by using my FREE easy peasy puppy guide
You may be preparing for the arrival of your new puppy or they may already be home with you.
It may all feel a little overwhelming and you don’t know where to start.
My FREE eBook will help you guide you and your new puppy to get it right from the start.
Want some professional help?
If you would like to know more about 121 Puppy Training in Coventry with me or 121 Dog Training with me, you can do here.
Or book in your 20 minute Breakthrough Call to get a 3 Step Action Plan that will get you started on your dog training journey and living in harmony with your dog.