Dog Training: Dogs and Biting
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I lie to puppies. I have other people tell a similar lie to my puppies. And the lie is this: Each and every time pup touches my skin with his/her puppy teeth, I tell pup that “that hurts!” I overreact purposefully - “Ouch!!! That really hurt!!!” - I try to overact, as much as possible. I create a scene. I stop play with pup. I am not happy with pup and scold. Pup has done a bad thing. Pup may be startled the first couple of times this happens, but it quickly learns that teeth on skin causes a severe, unpleasant reaction from this human. And, it seems like it happens with other humans too (if I can find a variety of co-operative people to assist). It is absolute fine if pup thinks all humans are delicate and can’t play roughly like his/her litter mates.
The lesson that I want to impress upon pup, as early as I can, has three points:
- human skin is fragile.
- dog teeth on skin is a bad, bad thing.
- pup has to be very careful with its mouth.
I want to teach this lesson as effectively, and as often, as I can with pup. It may need much bad acting and overreacting on my part (also from friends, from family and other people). The criterion is teeth on skin. It does not have to hurt for me to begin this act. I have set my parameter for this at a very low level - even incidental teeth-to-skin contact is not acceptable. This simply will prevent a myriad of problems as pup grows up. It may save the dog’s life.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster
[tags]puppies, dogs, dog training, biting, catherine forsythe[/tags]
6 Comments
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
February 13th, 2007
at 4:51pm
Hi Catherine
I really like your directions on stopping this. At the gym I go to one of the Personal Trainers just got a new border collie pup - Duke. He is in that chewing stage and is nibbling at people. Unfortunately they think it is cute so it is nearly impossible for me to point out that now is the perfect time to get him trained.
However we will be getting a new pup at the end of the year. (We want to grow our family) And I will definitely be practising my acting skills.
Thanks
Justin Bryce
http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au
Jomama
March 12th, 2007
at 3:58pm
I have a new pup… and the only time he bites… is when im on the floor.
I have yelled and the like, pushed him away and almost bit him myself…
John
March 14th, 2007
at 2:39pm
Biting - with my raised from pups, has always been you bite me I bite you back. It also WORKS for HUMAN pups.
With drop-out K9’s (Shelter dogs more than a year old who did go thru attack training - but, failed due to inattention) - NO! does work and occassionally a growl.
I am the alpha male - and don’t mind showing my dominance.
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August 16th, 2007
at 3:01pm
[...] One of the games that dogs like to play is tug-of-war. It’s fun for them and, as a rule, they generally win. Their mouths, even when they are young pups, are simply too strong. It is also a game that would be wise to avoid completely. It undermines what lessons that you have been trying to teach pup, about being gentle with its mouth. [...]
Teaching A Gentle Bite ~ DogReader
October 21st, 2008
at 3:14pm
[...] for puppies and for grown dogs still applies: teeth on human skin is absolutely forbidden. This is a lesson that all puppies should learn. It is a lesson that adult dogs must remember. Sometimes, in the dog’s enthusiasm for a treat, [...]
How to Teach a Gentle Bite by Flying Hamster
October 21st, 2008
at 3:19pm
[...] for puppies and for grown dogs still applies: teeth on human skin is absolutely forbidden. This is a lesson that all puppies should learn. It is a lesson that adult dogs must remember. Sometimes, in the dog’s enthusiasm for a treat, [...]