Hi Debbie, the most effective way in overcoming puppies from mouthing/biting is for you to respond calmly and consistently…no yelling required! If you add energy to the situation then your puppy will become more excited or see it all as a bit of a game….which means the behaviour will continue. Try the techniques I mention in my Blog but we also have a very comprehensive section on Mouthing & Biting in my ‘Perfect Puppy Program’, which you can find on my website…TheOnlineDogTrainer.com Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Heather…..my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has a very detailed section about raising calm and well behaved Puppies. One of the topics we cover is mouthing/biting…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Heather

Hi Tracy,
It’s really normal for young dogs to need a little help learning how to play with others correctly. And so if you think your dog is getting a little too rough then calmly intervening is a good idea. I generally advise to take the dog gently by the collar and hold them still until they calm down a little. You can clip a leash on if your dog is not all that happy about you holding him by the collar but it’s best not to say too much to him, just let your calm actions help him relax. It may take a few reminders but if you are consistent at the point at which you intervene then you will show him how you expect him to behave, which will then allow him to use some self-control…..the best form of control there is! If he refuses to calm down then placing him in a room on his own for a few minutes will let him know that he has done the wrong thing. Thanks for posting your question, Doggy Dan

Hi Susan,
My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com deasl with these issues and has a very comprehensive Puppy Training scetion…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Karen,
I agree, it is far better to overcome unwanted behaviour by encouraging your dog to use self-control rather than have them fear a negative response. One thing that is really important when this behaviour happens is not to tell your dog off or make a big fuss as it cam be counterproductive. Actions speak far louder than words here and if you get upset then your dog will be less likely to calm down and the behaviour will linger.
I would encourage you to practice walking up and down the steps but have your dog on a leash with you when you do. If he tries to nip you then stop and calmly hold him still by the collar, we call this a Calm Freeze, or shorten the leash and hold it at arms length from you. When you feel your dog relax and stop trying to nip you you can move off again but repeat the technique if required. You may need to be prepared to do this a few times but the more you practice it the quicker your dog will learn that this behaviour no longer works for him.
Hope that helps! All the best, Doggy Dan

Hi Lisa. Biting/Mouthing is a behaviour that does need to be addressed correctly and often our natural reaction to tell the dog off is counterproductive. It sounds like you are aware of time-out but if you are trying to give your dog one and he is becoming more agitated then there is another option. One thing I would say is that sometimes dog’s don;t like being lead to time-out by the collar and so attaching a leash is a better option. If your dog bites/mouths you, and you can’t take him to time-out, then immediately have everyone leave the room he is in and close the door behind you. This is still the same consequence as time-out, he loses everyone as a result of the behaviour. It’s also a very handy one for small children to do as it is safe and means they don;t have to touch the dog at all. After a few minutes you can return to the room again but pay no attention to your dog until he is calm and has left you alone for a few minutes, you can then call him over for a pat/fuss if you want to. Leaving a short-line attached to his collar can make delivering a time-out much easier if his biting/mouthing is a common behaviour. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com also shows you very clearly how to overcome this…maybe take a quick look if you need some more help…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Bev, one thing I have found is that the biting can often be at its worst at around 12 weeks so hold tight and ride the storm. Whatever you do it sounds like you have a lively one there in terms of a puppy personality! So I recommend you pick up on the warning signals and get a serious training program in place ASAP… such as Theonlinedogtrainer.com
In terms of a solution there is a lot of ground work and foundation to put in place if you really want any training to stick and have meaningful impact however the “training” I would do is simple. Use a short line so you can catch your put, and use timeout. Stay silent as you do it. Puppies and dogs do not like timeout. It is like putting a calm and consistent consequence in place with a child. You bite my face – you go in timeout. He will know exactly what he is doing. Do consider the $1 3 day trial at Theonlinedogtrainer.com for access to my complete training program it will save you a tonne of trouble in the long run. Best regards Doggy Dan

Hi Sylvie,
this is a great example of where you really need to establish some respect inside the house before you leave! It reminds me of people who go to a restaurant with young children and have no control over them, the restaurant is not the place to try to train them or gain that control. Once you have more control your dog will not do this. If they do there are some simple things that you can try however until you have established yourself as the pack leader they are unlikely to work well. What size and age is your dog I wonder? sounds like they are acting like a puppy but much bigger…which makes me think you really should take a look at my site for $1. http://theonlinedogtrainer.com Firstly I would find out WHY? your dog is biting you, what they want. There will be a reason and then we can work from there… I like to understand where the dog is coming from before I just try to “stop” the behavior as it can alter our approach. Hope that helps…Doggy Dan

thanks
Sylvie