Aggressive biting in a puppy can pose a huge problem if it is not taken care of properly. There are many different ways to help your puppy break these bad habits at a young age so you do not have to deal with a potentially worse problem later on down the road.
Most of us have been around puppies before and are fully aware that puppies have a tendency to bite. This is usually how puppies play together, but when it becomes aggressive biting it can become an issue very quickly if not taken care of.
Puppies usually learn from their mothers, brothers, and sisters the difference between play for biting that is acceptable and aggressive biting which is not. There are certain tips and tricks that you as an aggressively biting puppy owner can utilize to help train your puppy not to be aggressive with biting.
Before we really hit the tips and tricks, let us begin by figuring out what aggressive biting actually looks like.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between aggression and playfulness biting, especially for new puppy owners. So what does aggressive biting truly look like? Usually, puppies begin with excessive deep growling. Vocal cues are a huge sign of aggression when it comes to dogs. Before you hear vocal cues, you will most likely notice that your dog’s stance and posture is different. Most dogs become very still and stare off on a fixed spot. This can often mean that your dog is getting ready to charge or attack either you or something else. This can all be situational as well, there could easily be something that just sets your puppy off.
Distract and redirect is one method used to deal with aggressive biting in puppies
There are many tips and tricks to training your puppy to not act this way. If your puppy is showing signs of excessive aggression, it is important that you take care of this right away. Or the problem could become much worse as your dog grows older. You could introduce certain distractions to help calm your puppy down. Sometimes using toys can help your pup learn to not be so aggressive while the both of you are playing together. You could also attempt to give your puppy a time out. When your puppy begins to get out of hand, simply stop engaging him or her in playtime. Do this until they calm down then resume play time with them if desired.
Another trick is to use a leash and harness while playtime is commencing. This trick can teach your dog to control themselves while playing. As time goes on, you can decrease the amount of time that you keep your puppy on their leash and harness until they understand the difference between playtime and aggression. You also have an easy way to gain control of your puppy should you need to. An easy way to tell play from aggression is remembering that a playful puppy will have their head bowed to you and their hind end will be up in the air.
Verbal Authority is another method used to deal with aggressive biting in puppies
You can also give your puppy verbal cues when it comes to rough play. If you are playing with your puppy and he or she gets out of hand or too aggressive in someway, you can say things like “ouch“ or “no“ in a stern voice. Immediately stop playing with him or her. Stern shortly spoken words followed with an immediate hold on play sends a big message to your still growing and learning puppy. When your puppy played with their mothers and other litter mates, they learned when play time becomes too much by yelping slightly. Sometimes a single word works better.
Puppies always have so much energy. Sometimes this energy can build up overtime and cause your puppy to get aggressive while playing. You can help their energy levels balance out by providing a lot of exercise. This can be accomplished by taking your puppy on several walks throughout the day. Taking them to a dog park, or letting him or her run around in the backyard. If you are still having issues with your puppy being too aggressive, you could also pay for puppy training classes. These can sometimes be a bit expensive but having a professional help train your dog is what does the trick for some of them.
Time to get serious with your puppies aggressive biting.
Each dog has a personality and can be influenced differently. With some Rottweilers a simple distracting them with a toy or a firm NO won’t do anything to alter aggressive biting. Remember if they were left with their mom she would of most definitely and firmly bite the aggressive puppy that’s biting her to hard. She would put the puppy in its place. So don’t feel bad with using this next very practical and effective technique.
Bonker Deals With Aggressive Biting In A Puppy!
This is one tool, that if used consistently, and with love, does work. Look if your puppy is truly aggressively biting people, it must be stoped. There are no exceptions to it. It’s either put all effort into stoping aggressive biting in a puppy or you’ll end up with an unruly adult dog that is good for nothing. These dogs end up on a chain, behind a fence, or in the pound awaiting the execution of its life.
The same way we can lovingly pull out the rod of correction on our unruly kids we can pull out the rod “bonker” on an aggressive puppy. It’s meant to help not hurt, although it should hurt. It’s done with love not hate. A Bonker is nothing more than a towel wrapped up tightly. When the puppy aggressively bites you bonk the puppy on the head. With a very loud NO bonk the aggressive puppy on the head. Make it count. If the puppy gets mad or bites the bonker you either didn’t do it hard enough or the pup needs another bonk. DO NOT LET the puppy win this battle! Don’t let any aggressive bit go unpunished.
Of course you can use other household items, a belt, newspaper, but what ever you use make sure they feel it! mercola and akc useful links.