PUPPY BITING

PUPPY PLAY BITING IS A NORMAL PART OF 
BEING A PUPPY BUT IT IS  TOTALY UNACCEPTABLE 
IN AN ADULT.  THE PUPPY ***MUST”*** BE TAUGHT 
TO INHIBIT THIS  BEHAVIOR SO THAT IT DEVELOPS A 
SOFT MOUTH.  NOW IS THE TIME TO TEACH THIS.  AS 
AN ADULT DOG IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO 
MOUTH OR BITE ANY PERSON OR THEIR CLOTHES.  

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE IN YOUR 
FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS UNDERSTAND THE 
IMPORTANCE OF NEVER LETTING YOUR PUPPY BITE.

NO PAINFUL BITES.  YOU AS A HUMAN MUST ACT LIKE 
FELLOW LITTERMATES AND LET YOUR PUPPY  KNOW 
WHEN HE HAS BITTEN YOU TO HARD.  YOU SHOULD YELP 
IN ORDER TO STARTLE YOUR PUPPY AND SAY “NO BITE”  
AND THEN WALK AWAY FROM YOUR PUPPY AND IGNORE 
HIM FOR ABOUT A MINUTE.  IGNORE MEANS NO LOOKING 
AT YOUR PUPPY, NO SPEAKING TO YOUR PUPPY AND NO 
TOUCHING YOUR PUPPY!!!!!  IF NECESSARY YOU CAN 
LEAVE THE ROOM FOR THAT MINUTE (TIME OUT) SO 
THAT HE HAS NO CHANCE OF PLAY BITING YOU WHILE 
YOU IGNORE HIM.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU STARTLE YOUR PUPPY 
(NOT TO SCARE HIM TO DEATH) IF YOUR PUPPY COMES 
RIGHT BACK AND BITES AGAIN THEN YOU ARE NOT STARTLING 
YOUR PUPPY ENOUGH, TRY ALITTLE LOUDER.  IF HE RUNS 
FROM YOU AND HIDES THEN THAT WAS TOO LOUD.  JUST 
ENOUGH TO LET HIM KNOW THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. 

NEVER HIT YOUR PUPPY (HIS NOSE OR ANY PART OF HIM)  NOT 
ONLY IS THIS UNNECCESSARY BUT IT WILL ALSO LIKELY 
ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE BITING YOU, EITHER IN 
PLAY OR IN SELF-DEFENSE.

DO NOT FORGET TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CHEW TOYS AND 
BONES FOR YOUR PUPPY AND PRAISE HIM FOR CHEWING ON THESE.   

ONCE YOU HAVE TAUGHT YOUR PUPPY THAT BITING IS 
UNACCEPTALE, TEACH HIM TO LET YOU TOUCH HIS MOUTH 
AND OPEN IT AND  INSPECT HIS TEETH.  BY HIM ALLOWING 
YOU TO DO THIS IN A CALM AND GENTLE MANNER YOU CAN 
NOW CLEAN HIS TEETH AND CHECK FOR GUM PROBLEMS.  HAVE 
OTHER PEOPLE PRACTICE THIS AS IT WILL HELP IN YOUR VETS 
OFFICE WHEN IT IS TIME TO HAVE HIS TEETH CLEANED.