October 6, 2006

Ask the Animal Behavorist

Why is my puppy nipping and biting?

By Maureen Strenfel
Animal Behaviorist,
Humane Society Silicon Valley

Although often thought to be a teething behavior, nipping, mouthing and biting in young dogs is generally a form of social play. Teething is more likely to involve gnawing or chewing on household objects. The first thing you must do is provide ample opportunity for play, without biting. Social play with people could involve retrieve games (ball, Frisbee or soft toy), hide n’ seek (with the puppy finding the humans for a treat), chasing after soap bubbles, as well as walks, swimming or learning tricks. Although wrestling and tug-of-war games can be fun, they may lead to play that is too rough or rambunctious.

Puppies need to learn bite inhibition. This is something they start to learn while with their littermates. It is one reason that puppies should not go to new homes until they are 7-8 weeks old and have had time to practice social skills with other dogs. It can therefore be extremely beneficial for the puppy to have regular interactive social play periods with other dogs or puppies in the home or in the neighborhood.

How can I stop play biting?
Provided the dog is receiving adequate play, attention, and exercise, you can turn the training to bite inhibition. One of the things that he needs to learn is how much pressure from his jaw causes pain. Without this feedback, a puppy does not learn to inhibit the force of its bite. Because all dogs can and will bite at some time, this lesson is vital for human safety.

How is this lesson taught? When puppies play with each other, if puppy A bites on puppy B too hard, puppy B will yelp. If that does not work, puppy B will leave. This sends the message to puppy A that its bites were too hard and if it wishes to continue to play, it needs to be gentle. However, people often do not send this message to their puppy. In the beginning, they often allow the puppy to chew on them without reprimands and the puppy assumes that the behavior is acceptable.

Instead, the message people should send is that all mouthing and chewing on hands is painful. To do this, often all that is necessary is for all family members to emit a sharp “yip” and cease all play and attention immediately. This sends the message to the puppy that the bites are painful and that biting will cause play to be terminated. When consistently administered this will often stop playful biting.

This training often works for those family members who are a little more forceful and assertive and who are immediate and consistent in their training. If the puppy persists, chases or immediately repeats the behavior, closing a door or walking over a baby gate to leave the puppy behind, can help to teach the puppy that nipping leads to immediate inattention and isolation.

In turn, it is very important to praise the puppy for soft gentle play or licking your hands instead of biting. This is the true key to teaching the puppy what is socially acceptable and play behavior with humans.

It is important that if you have young children in your family (12 years and under) that all interaction, including games, be supervised 100 percent of the time. Children should simply never be left alone with a dog, no matter how well behaved.