Doberluv
Active Member
LOL. I didn't realize this was such an old thread. When I clicked on this, it went directly to this last post of yours. So, now I see there is already all kinds of good advice and good links posted by Redyre.
I have an unusual method to solve this problem almost immediately.
When my pup was going through his biting phase it really hurt. I mean REALLY hurt, but he didnt understand the problem.
As humans, there is little we can do to help a puppy understand WHY we have a problem with biting. Given that, I did the best thing I could do:
I introduced him to an older, wiser dog, that taught him that biting hurts.
As a puppy, he loved to play, and when he played with the older dog, she let him know that biting hard was painful. He soon learned to bite more softly, and ever since, he will NEVER bite hard.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do as a trainer, is to sit back, and let a dog teach a dog how to be a dog.
(note: Don't introduce your pup to a dominant, rough dog to do this! This is the job of a more gentle dog. You dont want to hurt your puppy, or put him in a position where there is a very real danger)
It’s important to help your puppy learn to curb his mouthy behavior. There are various ways, some better than others, to teach this lesson. 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.
Probably one of the most common complaints and training requests trainers hear is about puppy biting.
All puppies mouth and bite. It's how they learn about their world. This is a normal and to be expected part of bringing up a puppy.
Here are links to articles that explain how to TEACH the puppy to manage his mouth, and how to handle his teeth on human skin. This is called teaching a puppy BITE INHIBITION. It is one of the most important lessons your puppy can learn in his early life.
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BiteInhibition.php
http://www.phsspca.org/training/puppy_biting.htm
http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bitestop.htm
http://www.crickethollowfarm.com/biteinhib.htm
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bite.txt
http://www.doglogic.com/obedienc.htm#biteinhib
http://www.aylmer-hull-spca.qc.ca/biteinhib_e.html