The responsibilities that followed were not as much fun. Do you remember how your parents insisted you clean up after them? And how many times did you get into trouble when dad’s slippers or newspaper went missing? Not to mention the sleepless nights because of their yelping or needing to potty in the early hours of the morning?
The funniest memory for me was my father standing outside our front door shaking his head at the garbage stretched from one side of our garden to the other! I was in such trouble that day for not closing the gate. Getting your new family friend to stop biting EVERYTHING including YOU can be a challenge but it is not impossible.
Here are a few tips to follow:
Reward Your Puppy for Not Biting
Disciplining your puppy can be tricky. It is so small and fragile so any form of physical response to bad behavior can be harmful to them. Reprimanding them in the moment with a firm “no!” is good to begin with.Remember to speak in a firm voice but don’t shout. And when they give you a loving lick and choose not to bite, a small treat teaches them that rewards are associated with good behavior.
Another excellent way to reward your puppy is to take them for a walk on their leash. Puppies need to be exercised every day. A great start to learning discipline on a lead and most importantly an answer to all their extra energy.
Yelping When Your Puppy Bites You During Play
The idea of yelping when your puppy bites you may seem like a crazy response but it’s directly related to how the mother responds to her pups while she is nursing them. And this is also the only way for them to understand they are hurting her. When they play with their other siblings you often hear them yelping at each other when they bite one another. Yelping when your puppy bites you teach them that when they bite you it’s sore.Give Your Puppy a Substitute to Bite
Puppies love to chew. ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! All you need to do is find a cost-effective way of keeping your home from being destroyed! This all depends on the breed of dog you have the privilege of calling your own. Larger breeds won’t fare well with soft toys. That will just break the bank! Some popular choices are knotted ropes, doggie biltong, and cow’s hooves and for the biggerbreeds, even old tyres! You can have peace of mind knowing that your couch will be intact when you get home and I’m sure it won’t take long to discover their perfect fit.
Be Patient and Understanding as to Why Your Puppy is Biting
Here are the facts. Your puppy’s gums and teeth itch all the time. Can you just imagine your mouth itching constantly? I would chew constantly too. As their teeth grow and break through their gums they start to itch. Constant biting helps in soothing the gums. To be honest I’m sure it’s a great feeling and extremely satisfying too! It’s tough navigating this brave new world and teeth are just in the way.Make Sure Your Puppy Always Has Something to Chew
This is a rule of thumb. Puppies need constant attention. And when they don’t get it, they chew! So when you venture out to work or perhaps you just pop out quick to do the groceries make very sure that your puppy has a variety of toys to chew? Otherwise, you will come home to mayhem and disaster.K Elizabeth xoxox
*Collaborative Post