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Tip
- 44 - Dog biting - bite inhibition
All
puppies love to play by being mouthy and biting or chewing anything
they can get their sharp little teeth into.
These sharp teeth are the reason that it is crucial for puppies
to learn bite inhibition (controlling the
force
of
their
bite)
during
the
first
few months
of life. Normally this is learned naturally and effectively
through contact with mom and other littermates. If the puppy bites
mom during nursing mom can roll the dog over to correct it or just
get up and walk away. Hungry puppy learns very quickly to control
those
teeth
if
it wants
to
eat.
Likewise when playing with littermates, if a puppy gets bitten
too
hard
it will
yelp and stop playing. Once again puppy learns that biting hard
means the end of something good. Normally if puppy stays with his
littermates for the first 2-4 months of its life it will learn
bite inhibition.This is why it is so important for dogs to meet
and
play with other
dogs.
A
group
obedience
class
is usually the best way to properly socialize dogs, and reduce
possible bad behaviours in the future even if the dog stayed with
its littermates for a long time.
When
it comes to humans, a new puppy or dog may never have learned
that
hard biting on humans is never allowed.
When a puppy bites you during play it's almost never an aggressive
bite, it is just play.(You would know if it's an aggressive bite
because the dog would be acting aggressively i.e. growling.) Dogs
play using their mouths because they are like its hands. They touch
and grab and lick, it's one of the ways they interact with us
and the world. It's up to the dog owner
to teach
the
dog bite control if the dog hasn't learned
this
on its
own.
Usually
puppies
and
dogs
will
bite
our
hands because that's the way we interact with them during feeding,
grooming, playing etc.
The
best approach to teaching a puppy or dog bite control is usually
adopting the behaviour of one of the dog's littermates. If the
dog gets
too
mouthy and bites you too hard during play, exaggerate a loud
yelp or cry and immediately stop whatever activity you are doing.
Turn
away
and
ignore your
dog. Sometimes
this takes a bunch of lessons, but most dogs will learn it over
time. At first the goal should be getting the dog to reduce the
force of the bite. Then the goal is to reduce the frequency of
biting. Expect that it will take a few days to a week. Hitting
a dog after a bite is the worst thing you can do because the
dog's intent was play not harm. A hit from you therefore, confuses
the
dog and it may even react defensively, this time biting you with
intent.
In
general teach
the dog that playing with dog toys is better than playing with
hands directly because the game lasts so much longer. Play with
a frisbee, rope, Kong, ball etc. Don't use your hands as a dog
toy.
Most puppies bite you accidentally and that's how you both learn.
If you have already received an accidental play bite so you
know how hard it is, and you
want
to deliberately elicit a bite to teach the dog bite inhibition,
only then should you play directly with your hands. You will
probably get a bite and it probably won't hurt that much and
the puppy might learn faster. Wear long sleeves
and protective ace bandages or gloves if you're afraid.
Remember:
All family members must be consistent, a bite equals a cry
from you and the end of play
and
attention.
If your dog is regularly overly mouthy, aggressive
or you feel threatened by your dog, then
it's time to seek immediate professional help. Ask your vet to
give
you some
referrals.
More
information on this subject can be found here.
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2006
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