Puppy Biting Tips

Have you recently adopted a new puppy? Congratulations on your furry new arrival! Few things can bring as much joy and laughter into our lives as a new puppy. Fido is of course adorable and charming at any age, but he’s almost impossibly cute at this special stage of his life. However, that cuteness does come with a price. You’ll need to do quite a bit of pet parenting during that first year, in order to help your pooch grow into a polite, friendly adult dog. Biting is one thing you’ll need to address. A local veterinarian offers some advice on this below.

Offer Suitable Chews

One reason that puppies bite is to help them cope with the pain of teething. Make sure that Fido always has plenty of suitable chew toys. Look for durable playthings that will hold up to lots of abuse. (Tip: Kong toys are great for this.)

Use Positive Reinforcement

Puppies are just as mischievous as they are cute. Sooner or later, little Fido will do something naughty. Never yell at or punish your furry friend for misbehaving. This may only make him scared of you! If your puppy does something wrong, tell him ‘No’ in a stern tone. Then, just ignore him for a while. That time out may help little Fido calm down.

Be Consistent

Consistency is also very important. Your canine buddy won’t know the difference between similar objects. Don’t give little Fido an old pair of sneakers, and then expect him to leave your brand new ones alone. When teaching him not to chew or bite something, use the same vocal commands each time.

Puppyproofing

This one is really more about safety than petiquette. Fido often uses his senses to explore the world, and he sometimes tries to learn about things by, well, eating them. You’ll need to remove or secure anything that could be dangerous, such as toxic plants, plastic bags and ties, medicines, chemicals, and any small or sharp objects. Keep clothing in hampers, closets, or drawers, and store personal items, like purses and phones, well out of paws’ reach.

Taste Deterrent

If your four-legged buddy constantly tries to bite, or keeps chewing inappropriately, try using a taste deterrent. When he bites your hand, try yelping, as a puppy would. This can help him realize his mistake.

Seek Help

Not having any luck? Don’t be shy about enlisting a professional trainer. The cost of a few obedience sessions will be well worth it in the long run!

As your local veterinary clinic, we’re here to help! Call us anytime!