Puppy Biting Tips

Season’s Greetings to all! Have you adopted a puppy recently? Congratulations! Few things bring as much laughter and joy into our lives as a new puppy. Fido’s almost impossibly adorable at this special stage, and he will always be charming. However, that cuteness does come with a price. During that toddler phase, you’ll need to do quite a bit of pet parenting so your pooch grows into a friendly, polite, adult dog. And biting is one thing you’ll need to address. A local vet offers some advice on this below.

Offer Suitable Chews

One big reason that puppies bite is to help them lessen the pain of teething. You’ll want to make sure that Fido always has plenty of suitable chew toys. Durable playthings that will hold up to lots of abuse work best. Kong toys are also good for this.

Use Positive Reinforcement

When he misbehaves, never punish or yell at your furry friend. This may only make him scared of you! When puppy does something wrong, say ‘No’ in a firm voice, then ignore him for a while. A little time out may help him calm down.

Puppyproofing

This one has more to do with safety than petiquette. Little Fido uses his senses to explore the world, and he may try eating something to learn more about it. Remove or secure anything that could be dangerous, such as medicines, toxic plants, plastic bags and ties, chemicals, and any sharp or small objects. You’ll also want to keep clothing in drawers, hampers, or closets, and store personal items, like phones and purses, out of paws’ reach.

Be Consistent

Consistency never ceases to be important. Little Fido doesn’t know the difference between similar objects. This means don’t give your canine companion an old pair of sneakers, and then think he’ll leave your new ones alone. Use the same vocal commands each time if you need to tell Fido not to bite or chew something.

Taste Deterrent

Consider using a taste deterrent if your four-legged buddy constantly tries to bite your hand. Sometimes, yelping—as a puppy would—can help him realize his mistake.

Seek Help

Nothing seems to work? It might be time to enlist a professional trainer. The cost of obedience sessions will be well worth it in the long run! As your local veterinary clinic, we’re here to help! Call us anytime!