Puppy Mouthing
It is normal for puppies to mouth people. They do it because they are teething and exploring their world. But puppies are genetically programmed to learn that it is not okay. Mother nature set dogs up with a system to learn “bite inhibition” by giving puppies needle-sharp teeth that hurt even with little pressure. The mother is the first to start teaching the puppy bite inhibition when she corrects her pups for biting her too hard. A mother’s correction is timed perfectly, with just the right amount of correction to make her point, and over quickly. Littermates are next in line to continue the lesson of bite inhibition. During play, if one pup bites another too hard, the one who was bitten will scream and stop playing. So, the biting puppy learns that all the fun stops if they bite too hard. With all of this great canine feedback, puppies start to learn bite inhibition. The problem is that we take them away from their mom and litter before they learn this important skill. So it is up to us to continue the lessons.
When your puppy puts their mouth on you, loudly cry, “OUCH,” as though it hurt way more than it did, and give them the cold shoulder for a few seconds. This stimulates the puppy's feedback from their littermates -" When you bite too hard, I cry and stop playing.” After a few seconds, start playing again, but try to direct your puppy’s biting onto a toy instead of your hand. Repeat this procedure over and over until you notice they are biting less often. You will be teaching your puppy mouth self-control – or bite inhibition. After a few weeks of this, your puppy should stop biting. Consistency is key!
Dragging leash (house line)
If your puppy is the type that either comes right back at you after you yell “ouch” or gets even more feisty - have them drag a lightweight leash at all times (when you are home), and if they bite - say “OUCH - TIME OUT” and pick up the end of the leash and tether them to something like a table leg or door knob. Leave them tethered for about 30 seconds (or until they are quiet) and then untether them. Repeat this every time they bite.
Tethered play sessions
Another helpful procedure for mouthy puppies, especially if young children are in the house, is to tether the puppy while you or the kids interact with them. As soon as they mouth you – cry “ouch” high-pitched and walk away from them. Stay away for 30 seconds (or until they quiet down if they throw a fit) and resume playing with them using a toy.
