Stop Nipping

The most frequently asked question from new puppy owners is how to stop nipping. I'm sharing some suggestions to stop nipping that I've used when they bite me.

Things I would not try and why.

Giving a chew toy for biting. Chewing and biting are two very different behaviors. Chewing on your shoe or chair leg should be redirected to an appropriate item. Biting begins as a littermate play activity and needs to be firmly discouraged.

Making an "ouch" sound. When you make a yelping noise, you're showing your submission. Is that the message you want to send a puppy? The adult humans teach the puppy to be submissive to all humans. Submission is not cowering; it's simply accepting the hierarchy of the family. Respect the elder's lesson.

Turning you back to them. I'm unsure how to address the notion that turning your back teaches anything. Try showing them the desired behavior and reward them when they exhibit it correctly.

Let's explore some training techniques. To begin, I instigate the behavior when I'm holding them, have them in a playpen, or sit with them on a short leash so I have complete control.

I lightly tap or nudge their nose, never hard enough to hurt; I wouldn't condone hurting a puppy. When I tap the puppy's nose, at the same time, I'm saying "ack-ack." My reason for making this sharp sound is to get their attention, and it isn't "no," which we use when speaking to humans and can be confusing when they hear it at other times. Even being consistent, it took me several weeks to achieve a non-nipping puppy playtime.

I've seen my adult dogs hold the puppy down with their mouth around the puppy's neck. If the puppy squirms, I can see slight pressure applied. When the puppy is completely relaxed, the adult dogs release it. The puppy typically needs several repetitions of the lesson before the submission is automatic. They repeat the process until the puppy stops biting, and it works. Consistency is the key to success.

As with every lesson, I want to emphasize the importance of consistency and timing.

With one puppy several years ago, I had him in a playpen; control was the point. I had a tiny piece of cheese in my fingers and played with him, presenting only the back of my hand. He was trying to nip, but couldn't grab the back of my hand. Each time he tried to bite, I'd tap his nose and say "ack-ack." After numerous failed attempts to bite, he finally licked the back of my hand, and immediately, I turned my hand and gave him the cheese. Repeat. I didn't stop the lesson until his first reaction to my hand was a lick.

The point was that he was dominant with the nipping and got a nose tap and verbal correction. He showed submission by licking and got a food reward and verbal praise.