Previously employed as the superintendent of Tamalpais Union High School District in Larkspur, California, Laurie Kimbrel is now the head of school for Brookhaven Innovation Academy in Norcross, Georgia. In her spare time, Laurie Kimbrel enjoys her hobby of dog training.
One of the most important considerations in dog training is to manage and limit puppy biting habits. While puppy nipping and biting can seem cute and playful, it should be quickly put under control to avoid future problems.
When a young puppy is teething, its desire to sink its teeth into anything it encounters is both natural and healthy, but it is still necessary and easy to control this behavior even at this stage. It is best to start to train your young canine while it still has a tender mouth.
It is always good to consider regular dog behavioral training in such cases, as the principles are somewhat universal:
- Don’t hit a puppy in the face. This message is incomprehensible to a canine, and it may lead to worse problems in the future.
- Encourage good behavior and discourage unacceptable behavior (hint - biting is unacceptable).
- Never rough house or play tug of war with a puppy when training it not to bite, as this will increase its propensity to bite.
- Whatever method has been chosen to prevent biting must be used by any human being who has contact with the dog.
- Be consistent. The puppy must understand that biting is never allowed, and the owner must communicate this unequivocally.
- Biting can be an attempt by the puppy to assert dominance, and if allowed this will lead to bigger behavioral issues in the future. The human being must be in charge.
