Handling Bitey Behavior

​Your puppy will grow out of the biting stage at around 4-5 months old. For now, understand that they will grab on to your clothes, hands, shoes...anything that moves if they are stimulated to do it. 

Anything that touches a puppy stimulates the puppy to play and puppies play with their mouths.

Your hands are targets. Don't play with your puppy without a toy in your hands that your puppy can bite.
Toss the toys away from your body to keep the dog play at a distance.

Keep the puppy away from you as you walk by tossing toys away from your body. Treats, too, should be tossed on the floor until you teach your puppy to take them gently.

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Use a Tail Teaser to keep the dog engaged and playing several feet from your body! 
And speaking of toys, have plenty of chew items on hand. A chew item should be something that is more or less edible. Some puppies like nylabones and other non-edible chew items and others need the real thing. Do an internet search for puppy chews and stock up!

If your puppy grabs you with their teeth, do not pull your hands away quickly. The puppy's prey drive will motivate her to "catch" your hand. If you pull your hand across her teeth it will cause more damage to your skin. Freeze. See the next tip. 

Ask for an "incompatible behavior". This is any known skill that will give him something else to do, like "Sit". Do not reward him by petting him. You will start the whole cycle over again. If you have no access to a food treat (which you would toss on the floor), throw a toy or take you puppy outside for some good sniffing!

If you or anyone else wants to pet your puppy, keep their mouth busy by holding a treat or chew item in front of their mouth while the puppy is being petted. 

Use the "low and slow" technique for your body parts and your voice, when interacting with your puppy.  Keep those hands low and next to the body and move them slowly. Talk to your puppy in a low and slow voice to keep them calm. Fast and high will arouse the puppy and cause them to play bite. 

Whoever is wrestling or playing rough with the puppy is teaching them to bite, jump and to play aggressively. If he does grab your clothing or skin, freeze. The more you struggle and wrestle, the stronger his response to hold on will be. 

Interrupt Play often to everyone keep from going over the top!

Never slap your puppy. This will teach them to go after your hands more, not less. It will also cause aggression or extreme head shyness. 

Training with Children 
Supervise, supervise, supervise! Children are not "Pack Leaders". No matter what you've been told you can teach a puppy about your children with "alpha" exercises (silly concept to begin with) the rest of your child's behavior is child-like and puppy-like and your dog or puppy will see your children for what they are: Litter Mates. ​

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