Understanding Puppy Nipping Physical exercise Puppy playtime Human playtime Chew deterrents Shunning/Freezing/Yelping Techniques DEFINITIONS Nipping - really quick bites with frnt teeth with a small amunt f frce. Often used when puppies are trying t initiate play r get attentin. Als used when trying t herd animals, peple, r tys (seen ften in herding type dgs). Nipping can break the skin (especially with sharp puppy teeth!) and is nt apprpriate behavir t use n humans. Muthing - pen muth play with a small amunt f frce. Dgs muth each ther all the time during play sessins, and as lng as it remains relatively gentle, the ther dgs rarely cmplain. If muthing escalates in frce and intensity, play shuld stp. I d nt encurage muthing during human play sessins since nt all peple appreciate that type f dg play. Als, if a dg is muthy twards a child, they culd unintentinally cause damage. Chewing - self sthing behavir where dg chews cnsistently n an bject. This is really beneficial fr dgs, bth mentally and physically. It helps them calm dwn in stressful r exciting situatins, helps thrugh the teething phase, and helps with ral hygiene. Make sure dgs have apprpriate items t chew n that are nt edible and d nt shred easily. Destructive chewing is a sign f bredm and anxiety, talk t Kelsey if yur dg is exhibiting signs f destructive chewing. Teething - a develpment phase where the puppy is lsing their baby teeth and the adult teeth are grwing in. Teething can be stressful and painful fr pups (and fr wners!) and it is imprtant t nt punish puppies fr trying t sthe themselves. Try ffering frzen tys r sfter chews t help yur puppy cpe with teething. Yu can als talk t yur veterinarian abut ral gels r ther frms f pain relief fr a teething puppy. Biting - dg uses whle muth with enugh frce t cause harm. Dgs may bite t defend themselves, attack an enemy, injure an animal, relieve pressure, prtest, r fr a number f ther reasns. We dn't ever want t put a dg in a situatin that causes them t bite. If a bite happens, the situatin was nt prperly managed by the human. If puppies bite, it is generally because they have learned that it is a slutin t a prblem. Talk t Kelsey immediately if yur dg r puppy is biting. Remember puppies are like human babies in that they experience the wrld thrugh their muth; hwever, unlike babies, puppies use their muths and teeth t cmmunicate as well. It is ur jb t teach them what is apprpriate and what is nt. PHYSICAL EXERCISE Make sure yur pup is getting plenty f exercise thrughut the day. Often, chewing/nipping happens when the pup is full f energy; regular exercise will help drain that pent up energy ut f yur pup befre they take it ut n yur fingers. Things t cnsider abut exercising a puppy:
Make sure yu are exercising yur pup within THEIR limits. Remember, they are a grwing baby - ver exercising can put a strain n develping jints and muscles. Exercise can invlve running, jumping, playing games, walking, scializing, swimming, etc. Cautin: dn't take puppies n walks in public arund ther dgs until they have been vaccinated. Use exercise t prevent naughty behavir, nt as a respnse t naughty behavir. If yur pup runs ver and chmps n yur she, dn't respnd by asking if they wuld like t g n a walk. Instead, exercise yur pup BEFORE they find their wn utlet fr their energy. PUPPY PLAYTIME Puppy playtime is a crucial part f wrking thrugh naughty nipping behavirs. Other puppies cmmunicate with each ther better than we humans can cmmunicate with them (despite hw hard we try!). When puppies play, they teach each ther what is apprpriate and what hurts. Watch puppies f similar play styles interact: Play shuld be balanced Bth puppies shuld be psitively engaged in the play sessin If they are playing the chase game, make sure puppy being chased is having fun - nt running fr their life! Play shuld be respectful Sme puppies munt each ther during play. This is nrmal play behavir but nt all dgs appreciate this and many wners are embarrassed by this behavir. If a puppy is munting anther dg repetitively, simply have them take a break fr a minute. Mst puppies have n cncept f persnal space. If a puppy is getting cnstantly picked n r is trying t get a little distance frm anther puppy, have bth puppies take a break. Puppies play with their muths When ne pup bites anther pup t hard, the pup receiving the bite will tell the ther t stp. This usually happens with a yelp and is accmpanied with bdy language that says "I didn't like that". The puppy ding the biting shuld stp fr a mment, as if t say "ps!". Generally, play almst instantly cntinues back up - hpefully this time with less teeth r less frce. This interactin teaches puppies that if they bite t hard, play stps; if they play within the rules, play cntinues. The challenge with puppy playtime is finding ther puppies that match yur puppies play style. Dgs are like peple: everyne has different scial skills, enjys different things, and cmmunicates a little differently. Start ut with puppies f similar size/breed, age, and energy level. Then, start expanding t different sizes and breeds. Next, have yur dg interact with dgs f different ages and energy levels. Yu'll sn figure ut the types f dgs yur pup lves t play with and the nes that yur pup desn't cmmunicate with as well. A nte abut puppies interacting with adult dgs:
Sme adult dgs lve puppies and sme really dn't. While it is nice t have an adult dg "teach yur pup a thing r tw", make sure that interactins are cnstructive. If the adult dg lets the puppy d whatever they want and are t tlerant, pup may learn that ther dgs dn't have bundaries. This may nt g ver s well with a mre defensive dg in the future. If the adult dg ver crrects r bullies the puppy, pup may learn that adult dgs are scary. This may put yur dg n the defensive with ther dgs in the future. Scializing primarily with puppies in the beginning while thrwing in the ccasinal adult dg tends t be the best system fr yur pup's initial scializing experiences. HUMAN PLAYTIME Playing with tys Having a TON f tys fr yur pup is key! Different textures, smells, and sizes will help keep yur puppy entertained and mentally stimulated. Chewing is a way fr puppies t relieve stress and anxiety, it is a self-sthing behavir that helps them calm dwn after getting excited r wrked up abut smething. Make sure t encurage chewing n bnes and tys. Having bnes specifically fr chewing and nt fr eating is imprtant (EX. Nylabnes). Whenever yur pup is chewing n inapprpriate items (furniture, clthing, fingers, etc.) replace the item with an apprpriate chew ty. Playing games with tys will help teach yur pup the rules when it cmes t bjects in their muth. Teach GET IT and DROP IT while playing fetch r tug. Teach LEAVE IT and WAIT t encurage patience and self-cntrl. Playing with hands As a general rule, dn't d it. If yu dn't want yur puppy t bite smething (hands, scks, water bttles), then dn't use it as a ty. If yu are ging t use inapprpriate items during playtime, yu need t be VERY clear when it is acceptable fr yur pup t put thse items in their muth. I d use my hands t tuch the dg during play, pat n the grund t encurage excited energy, and even (very gently) wrestle with the dg, but my hands are never used t antagnize, hurt, r tease the dg. It is imprtant that yur pup des nt create a negative assciatin with yur hands. Keeping it calm If yur pup's excitement level is t high, it is very challenging fr them t play apprpriately. Refer t the Dggie Pint Scale Handut and Stress Signals Handut Keeping the puppy at a lw level f excitement (happy, nt manic), will help them use their brain during play and have mre self-cntrl. Yu influence yur puppy's excitement level and energy! If yu remain calm, that will help them remain calm. If yu jump up and dwn and squeal with excitement in a high pitched vice, yur puppy will match that enthusiasm. CHEW DETERRENTS Bitter Spray These are sld at yur lcal pet stre and help discurage muthing and chewing. When puppies put their muth n items r hands sprayed with the bitter deterrents, they are met with an awful bitter taste.
Many puppies respnd well t this methd and stp putting inapprpriate items in their muth, hwever, sme puppies LOVE the taste s test the frmula befre dusing yur huse with spray. Be careful! These sprays taste awful t humans t! If yu d use the spray, make sure t wash yur hands thrughly s yu dn't unintentinally spread it. (I ate a sandwich after using bitter spray nce, AWFUL!!!) There are als many DIY ptins fr chew deterrents. Make sure t research things that are safe fr dgs. SHUNNING/FREEZING/YELPING D nt acknwledge naughty behavir. If yur pup nips yur hand t get attentin, telling them "N" just gave them that attentin. Instead, use a training technique t discurage the behavir. Remember, we have t try t cmmunicate with them in a language they understand. Shunning Whenever yu feel puppy teeth, shun the puppy by remving their access t yu. This may include: put yur hand in yur pcket, turn yur back, stand up, walk away, clse the dr, etc. Base yur respnse n the situatin. If a puppy accidentally nips yur finger, dn't immediately leave the rm and nt talk t the pup fr the rest f the day. Instead, if a pup accidentally nips yur finger, put yur hand in yur pcket fr 2 secnds then try playing again. If the pup escalates, match that by escalating yur level f remval. This teaches the puppy that if they dn't play nicely, they lse access t yu. Freezing Whenever yu feel puppy teeth, freeze! This is a little self-sacrificial in the beginning, s be prepared. When the puppy bites, cmpletely shut dwn - dn't mve, dn't talk, dn't lk at them, just freeze. Usually, 3-5 secnds f freezing is enugh, but base yur respnse n the situatin. Freeze until yu n lnger feel teeth. Yu can even push a step further and wait until the puppy calms dwn and lks at yu fr guidance. Then resume playtime s the puppy gets a reward fr stpping the chmping! This teaches the puppy that if they dn't play nicely, all play stps. Yelping Whenever yu feel puppy teeth, jump and yelp by making a high-pitched, startling sund. (Guys, yu need t really wrk n yur high-pitched vices fr this ne!) It shuld be a startling enugh sund that yur puppy stps play. Use the techniques described in freezing t finish this exercise and dn't resume play until puppy is calm and lking t yu fr guidance. Always resume play when puppy is behaving apprpriately. If the sund des nt stp the puppy, it was nt meaningful t them. Make sure yu get a startled respnse and nt a mre enthusiastic player. The techniques listed abve are meant t be used repetitively during a play sessin. Every time yu feel teeth, use a technique. Every time yu n lnger feel teeth, resume play. Yu may d less playing and mre training in the beginning, but stick with it. Sn yu shuld start t ntice that the training techniques are being used less and less and the play sessins in between are lnger and lnger.
If yu are nt nticing results in a week, even thugh they may be minimal in the beginning, talk t Kelsey. Timing, tne, and energy are all very imprtant t help ur yung pups understand; ften, fcusing n wner training skills, will help ur pups learn quicker and easier. Remember, learning shuld be fun fr yur puppy! Make sure t never punish yur pup fr making the wrng chice, they are still learning! Please cntact Kelsey with any questins, cmments, r cncerns!! Cngratulatins n helping yur pup becme Pawsitively Trained! Kelsey@PawsitivelyTrainedDgs.cm (916) 899-9637