How to Train a Puppy That Bites
When puppies play with people, they
often bite, chew and mouth on people’s
hands, limbs and clothing.
This kind of behavior may seem cute
when your puppy is seven weeks old, but
it’s not nearly so endearing when he’s
three or four months old-and getting
bigger by the day!

What to Do About Puppy Mouthing
The ultimate goal is to train your puppy to
stop mouthing and biting people altogether.
However, the first and most important
objective is to teach him that people have
very sensitive skin, so he must be very
gentle when using his mouth.

Teach Your Puppy to Be Gentle
A puppy or dog who hasn’t learned bite inhibition
with people doesn’t recognize the sensitivity of
human skin, and so he bites too hard, even in play.
Some behaviorists and trainers believe that a dog
who has learned to use his mouth gently when
interacting with people will be less likely to bite
hard and break skin if he ever bites someone in a
situation apart from play-like when he’s afraid or in
pain.

Initially, you will have to build your routine around your
puppy's needs, and these are reliably predictable when they
are very young.

Understanding the training
There are two types of training you need to
master to have a polite and well behaved
dog.
Behavioural training is important, it sets
the standards your puppy needs to follow in
their daily life.
You need to teach your dog not to jump on
people, beg for food, bark excessively, or
chew the furniture.

Potty training falls into this category, you need to reinforce
where it is “ok” to go to the bathroom and where it is not.
Consistency is key. Decide from day one the behaviours
you want to reinforce, and stick to it. If you plan never to let
your fully grown dog on the couch, don’t let them climb all
over it as a puppy.

A full scope of the behavioural training every
puppy needs is here, learn what it takes to
make your dog become a joy to everyone who
visits your house.

Everyone wants their dog to listen to their
commands and obey, but first you need to
teach them what the words mean!
The key is using rewards for the behaviour
that you want, and associating it with a
specific word.

On day one, focus on teaching your
puppy their name.
Have a supply of treats ready, and choose
a name that is short
Look at your dog and say their name. You
may need to repeat it a few times until they
look at you.
When they give their attention, give a big
enthusiastic “yes!” and reward with a treat.

If your dog doesn’t look at you at all,
a slight tug on their leash will turn their
attention to you.
After a couple of sessions, your dog
will learn that when you say their name,
you want their attention.
Two things to be very careful of here.
Never use your dog’s name to scold or
punish bad behaviour, and don’t say it
“too” often.

It should always be in this order, their name
(to get attention) followed by the command.
A fair warning – as you begin training you
may get increasingly frustrated at your dog
for not “understanding.”
Just remember that English is a foreign
language to them, and it will take time to
associate meaning to the “funny sounds” you
are making.

If you feel yourself getting frustrated or impatient,
take a break.
Dogs are very adept at picking up on the feelings
of those around them, and you do not want them to
associate the training sessions with negative
emotions.

The most basic command for your dog to
learn is sit.
Take a treat in your hand and hold it above
your dogs head.
They will be very interested as they can
smell the treat, and be looking up at the
reward. With your free hand, gently push
your dog into a sitting position while saying
the command “sit”.

Wait for your dog to go into a full seated
position (and stay there) before giving both
verbal praise and the reward.

Do not let your dog jump and grab the treat from
your hand. If they act excited, firmly say “NO” and
withhold the treat until they calm down.
It will take a number of sessions, but soon your
dog will learn that the word “sit” is associated with
the act of sitting down.

The next two commands for your dog
to learn are stay & come.
Once they know how to sit, you will
find it much easier to get them to remain
in one place.
After your dog fully understands the
sit command, and has been
demonstrating this for a few days
without your assistance it is time to
progress.

After learning sit, stay and come the next
command to teach is lie down. Once your dog
has mastered the first three commands, take
another treat and tell your dog to sit.
Show that you have a reward in your hand,
but don’t give it to your dog yet.
Your dog should lie down to reach the treat.
If they stand up, do not reward the dog. Say
“NO”, and start the training over.

Regardless of size, all dogs need to be
taken on daily walks, for at least 30 minutes of
exercise.
Taking your dog for a walk allows them to
release any mental and physical energy that
has built up, and gives you also a breath of
fresh air.
Dogs are pack animals, needing both
leadership and exercise. It’s up to you to be
your dog’s master.

Successfully training your dog will
give you a well mannered pet that is
happy, healthy and responds to your
commands.
It only takes a couple of short
training sessions each day to
reinforce the behaviours you want,
why not get started today?