Generally, dogs bite and nip as a way of controlling their owners. A dog doesn't usually perceive its owner as an 'owner', instead it perceives him as a member of the pack, thus through biting a dog is following its instincts, attempting to dominate and control other pack members. Many puppies, especially those with domineering traits, will start biting from a young age, and if this practice isn't managed early it can become habitual and harder to control. There are many notorious methods for rooting out the biting, but one current method seems to get strong results without much retaliation required against the dog. And, as with any dog-related training, it just requires patience and persistence.
The Easiest Method to Stop a Puppy Biting
Dogs rely heavily on body language and the ways an owner acts and reacts to their dog’s actions is crucial. When a puppy bites, the most effective means of deterring future biting habits is to ignore the puppy. If the interaction with the puppy is outdoors in the backyard, as soon as the puppy bites, the owner should not react, but should simply turn away from the puppy and go indoors. Alternatively, if the puppy is inside and bites, the owner should immediately take the dog outside. While initially this method could leave the puppy quite isolated and alone, the dog will eventually associate the action of biting with the owner’s reaction of ignoring and separation. After about three days to one week of this technique, if employed consistently and swiftly, the owner should start to notice signs of a reduction in the dog's biting.
Speaking Dog Language
This technique is successful as it clearly communicates to the dog in a language the dog can understand. While many people make angry and aggressive noises when their dog bites, a dog can easily misinterpret those noises. A dog desires to be near their owner at all times,it wants to be 'with the pack' and thus if its actions cause separation from the pack it will quickly condition the dog to cease the negative action. This method is also one of the most humane ways of training a dog not to bite.
What if a Dog is an Indoor Dog?
The above method can be difficult to employ when a dog lives indoors, particularly in a unit with no exterior yard. If the dog is an indoor dog and there is a yard, the dog needs to be sent out into the yard every time it bites. If there is no yard, consider moving the dog in a laundry or bathroom for a 5 minute break, so it’s removed from the pack environment.
Other Well Known Methods and Why They May not Work
Other common methods often attempted vary in their results. For example, many people suggest that the owner, when bitten, should growl at the dog to show his dominance or, adversely, the owner should whimper or make a hurt noise to show the dog it's caused harm. This the way dogs in the pack will correct another pack member and it’s assumed these methods can be transferred to human/dog relationships. This method doesn’t usually work as dogs will often misinterpret the owner when they make a loud or hurt noise, thinking that the owner is playing a game or is like a squeaky toy that makes an interesting noise when squeezed between the jaws. Dogs read humans differently than they do other dogs so it's important to adapt body language and methodology to suit.
