My puppy is currently teething and the biting is very constant. He is starting to bite whenever anyone approaches him and he is also beginning to tug on carpets and pants. How can I teach him to only bite on his toys?
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Answered by
Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation PractitionerPlay biting and being excessively "mouthy" is very common in puppies. I have not personally had luck with the techniques of saying "No!" or holding the muzzle. I that makes puppies more excited. My general rule for puppies is that you make a high pitched squeak (like a littermate puppy would do if they bit too hard), then walk away from the situation. More than anything, your puppy wants to play with you. If you walk away, it is negative reinforcement, so they are less likely to do that behavior again. Depending on the puppy, the goal is to get them to look away from you or start doing something else before you engage in play again. I found that a long rope toy made a good toy to play with my puppy because there was lots of toy for him to bite at without touching my skin. It sounds like Toffee is grabbing at anything he can to get you to play with him, so you need to teach him what is appropriate to play with. You may need to use a baby gate or a kennel to keep Toffee away from your pants while you are working on training him. I also found that allowing my dog to play with other dogs was a great way for him to learn what is appropriate play. I took my dog to doggy day care twice a week as a puppy which really helped with his energy level as well as appropriate play technique. And finally, start a puppy class. A basic obedience class is so important for a puppy. They want to behave, but don't know what to do with their energy.
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