NMCM All Things Family Blog

A quick message for new puppy owners from the team at http://dogobedienceadvice.com: how to ensure your puppy grows up smart and happy!

Biting Puppies

Generally speaking, Puppies that bite will do so in a playful, rather than aggressive manner. It’s fortunate that this is true, because a young puppy (under the age of 6 months) that bites aggressively is most likely beyond salvation.

The reason for this is simply because, at such a young age, the concept of aggressive self-defense and/or dominance over others should be beyond a puppy. It’s similar to the thought of a four year old child picking up a hammer and deliberately hitting you on the head with it - it’s just not within the realms of their comprehension.

A puppy capable of willfully inflicting injury at a young age has most likely either been severely abused, in which case his personality and character will be permanently damaged, or he is what is sometimes baldly referred to as a “bad dog” - possibly one from savage genetic stock, or from an inappropriate environment such as a pit bull puppy mill (where dogs genetically predisposed towards extreme aggression are raised badly and are lacking in maternal guidance).

“Normal” Biting

The usual age for puppies to begin demonstrating the first signs of aggression is around 9 months of age. This is because they are approaching puberty, and with it, sexual maturity. Hormones are flooding your puppy’s endocrine system, encouraging experimental behavior, the development of individuality and independence, the first signs of dominance testing and, if allowed to continue unchecked, aggression will develop and become out of control.

Learn more about what is acceptable behavior for your puppy and read reviews of top guides for dealing with puppy biting (link opens in a new window).

What is Puppy Dominance?

Dominance is the precursor to aggression. If a puppy is attempting to show signs of dominance over you or another human, it is because he has perceived a weakness in that person’s behavior towards him similar to the way weak dogs behave around strong ones - for example, allowing small violations of the household rules such as letting the dog eat before humans; feeding scraps from the table; allowing the puppy to precede you through a door; and similar behaviors. Your puppy will read these as submissive and feel encouraged to force his way to the top of the pecking order. If this is not nipped in the bud, your puppy’s impression of itself as a potential alpha dog will solidify and it will become increasingly difficult to prove otherwise.

You’re the Boss

Fortunately, all this is preventable - by you. You need to be the boss around your dog, and teach it in a variety of ways that it is lower on the chain of command than all other humans in the house.

Here are some tips for doing so:

• Neuter your puppy. This helps to remove the aggression hormones which will be flooding your puppy’s system during adolescence. It will also help to prevent other dogs from smelling a threat and treating him as such.
• Give, remove, and give again. Practice giving a toy to your puppy, removing it from his mouth, and then giving it back to him. This is also a good way to initiate the “drop it” command, as well as reinforcing the notion that it pays to do what you want (if he complies, he gets his treat back; if he doesn’t, he gets the cold shoulder or a stern rebuke).
• If your puppy misbehaves, do not use corporal punishment (apart from a quick and mild shake by the scruff of the neck for repeated and deliberate violations). As soon as he misbehaves, get up, fold your arms, avert your face and eyes, and ignore him. Get everyone in the room to do the same. The cold shoulder is an extremely effective manner of communicating to a dog that his behavior is inappropriate: social isolation is a powerful tool, and instinctively puppies and dogs associate it with potential danger (a lone dog is a vulnerable target).
• Humans control all the food. Practice removing your puppy’s food bowl as he eats. Reward him with a treat, and then return the bowl to him. Once he is accustomed to this, any children in the house can practice this as well. Another idea is to add a small handful of dog biscuits to the bowl as he is eating. Both of these techniques encourage your dog to welcome a human approaching as he eats, rather than treating the situation as a potential threat and reacting as such.
• Your puppy must NEVER bite you. No matter what the circumstances, it must be corrected instantly and on the spot. Playful mouthing is acceptable, but when you feel a deliberate bite - no matter how tentative - your puppy is testing the waters and must be shown the error of his ways. Correct it straight away with a deep, stern, growly “NO!” and wait a moment until replacing the hand/hair/hem that he has been nipping with a more appropriate toy. When his jaws close around it, pet him and praise him.
• Growling is a warning signal and a precursor to more aggressive behavior. Do not permit your puppy to get away with even one growl - correct it straight away by growling the word “NO” back at him instantly. Make sure your growl is deep, stern, and louder than his - the idea is to scare him a little bit, and show him that you are the alpha, not him.

You’re Responsible

Training your puppy from a young age is vital for his development into a socially acceptable dog. You want to be able to take your dog for walks on the beach, in the park, and down the street - on or off the leash (where appropriate, of course) - without fearing for his safety or the safety of any one of the numerous human and canine pedestrians sharing the neighborhood with him. YOU are responsible for your puppy’s future status in canine and human society - make the most of your puppy’s impressionable early months and train, train, train……Click here for more information on dealing with puppy training and biting.

Tags: Family Pets

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