Dog Training: Easy Ways to Teach Your Dog Not To Bite

A dog owner’s worst nightmare would be seeing their beloved pet biting another human being. No one wants this. Even seeing your pets bite on your stuff is already unacceptable for some people. This is why the ‘no bite command’ is integral. There are several ways you can teach your dog not to bite. Learning this disciple is perfect for those wanting to integrate fun with training. Dog commands do not have to be difficult to implement. 

Failure to learn bite inhibition is one of the disadvantages of early separation of puppies from their parents and siblings. Your puppies are naturally curious about their surroundings. They have the tendency to nibble on almost everything they see. Some people refer to it as ‘play biting.’ For dog trainers, this behavior is considered normal. This is something that dog owners could train away from their dogs. So be thankful if you see your pup not biting on anything. 

Training Your Puppy Not To Bite

It is possible to teach your pet the not to bite command. Some may find this challenging but it is not impossible. There are some considerations which you need to take. 

1. Understanding bite inhibition.

   According to the American Kennel Association, whenever your pup’s bite starts to hurt, shout ‘ouch.’ You have to make them understand that their actions are hurting you. This is a case to case basis. For some dogs this may work but not on other breeds. If the yelling does not work its magic, you can try the opposite. Instead of yelling, stay quiet and gently move the pup back to its sleeping corner. 

2. Grab a chew toy.

Puppies naturally bite on almost anything they see when they are young. But when they reach 15 weeks old and older, this biting behavior should have stopped if not lessened. If your pup starts to chew on your toes or hands, offer them their chew toy instead. Chewing toys is a form of redirecting their attention to something else. The key is allowing them to learn to be consistent on this. 

Every time your pup starts to bite on your toes or fingers, make sure their chew toy is within reach. Calmly offer the toy to your pup. There are several chew toys on the market you can get your hands on. One thing to consider is that the toys should be toxic-free. 

3. Encourage socialization.  

They can learn a thing or two from other puppies about socialization and bite inhibition. Pups can sometimes play too much and too rough, getting them acquainted with other dogs allows them to behave better. 

According to Animal Behavior College, it is never too early to start learning socialization. At a young age, your pet must learn the art of socializing and interacting with other dogs. 

4. Use clickers to train dogs.  

This method might work with other pet owners but not with others. Depending on your training and your dog breed, a not to bite command might work with a clicker. You just have to be consistent in using this whenever you are training your pup for a specific command. 

5. Give them treats.

Some pups would stop nibbling on things if you offer them treats. Make sure not to overdo this as they may expect this every time they chew on your things. Place them in a place where they can rest and nap. 

6. Use positive reinforcement. Whenever your pup listens to your command, make sure to praise them. Pet your pups or massage their head whenever they listen to your not to bite command. 

According to wagwalking.com, there are certain steps to follow if you wish to teach your dog some gentle commands. 

• Tempt - offer a treat in front of your dog 

• Eager - command ‘gentle’ when your dog goes for the treat. Calmly give it to your pet

• Nip - Say ‘ah’ or ‘ouch’ when your dog goes for the treat but hurts your hand

• Repeat - replicate this method until your pup learns not to nibble on your fingers while reaching for the treat

• In play - Once the command is learned, integrate this during playtime.  

• Practice - make sure the dog is consistent in his actions whenever he hears the command 

7. Practice quiet time.

Similar to a kid who did something not nice, you can also train your pop the quiet time or face the wall strategy whenever they refuse to listen. 

8. Enroll them in a puppy class.

Yes, there are schools designed to train dogs. If you don’t have the patience and time to train your puppy not to bite, enroll them in these special classes. 

9. Consult an expert.

According to experts, you can give your dog at least six months to learn tricks and commands. But if this goes beyond this period, you can already seek the opinion of an expert. Seeking professional advice saves you the energy and money from training your dog to command. 

Remember, no matter how difficult it is to train your dog, especially asking it not to chew on things, do not hit your dog. Hitting your dog will take away their trust from you as a pet owner. Your pet will end up more afraid rather than respectful of your commands. Teaching your dog a certain command requires time and patience. 

Learning bite inhibition can take a lot of time before your pet finally learns it. You just have to be very patient and consistent in your training program. Dogs have the natural impulse to nibble and bite. 

Commanding them to step whenever you think is not appropriate can’t be done in just one sitting. Imagine teaching your child to eat with a spoon and fork, you can't teach him/her to learn it in just one day. Do not be afraid to ask for help or do further research to get your dogs into the program. We are always just a message or a phone call away. If you are having difficulty with your pet, give us a call anytime.