As puppies begin to teeth, it’s natural for them to chew on things—including your hands. As cute as this can be in young pets, it often leads to problems down the road as dogs become larger adults. Here are some tips for to nipping biting in the bud early in your pet’s life:

 

1. Redirect your dog’s attention. In the same way parents of human children use distraction to redirect youngsters’ unwanted behaviors, so can you use distractions to stop your puppy from nipping. If you see him moving toward your hand, quickly pull it away before he can make contract and replace it with a treat, chew toy or other acceptable object to chew on. 

 

2. Work on training. As with any behavior, practice makes perfect when teaching your dog to stop biting. Begin teaching him commands such as “leave it” or “let go” early in life so it becomes easy to remove any object from his mouth without sparking an aggressive response. 

3. Speak a language he understands. Puppies often use their mouths during play, but this can easily escalate into painful bites. When a pup bites too hard, his peers let him know by letting out a yelp. Imitate this behavior to draw clear limits for your pet. When he bites your hand too hard, let the hand go limp and imitate the yelping sound dogs make when they are in pain. Your pet should release your hand immediately. After a 10 or 20- second time out, you can resume play, showing your dog you have clear limits when it comes to nipping. Remember not to pull your hand away, as this can turn into a game of chase and exacerbate the problem.

 

4. Stop ankle biters. Puppies sometimes bite ankles, too, especially if they are members of a herding breed. If this happens with your youngster, keep a toy in your pocket. When he nips at your heels, stop in your tracks and wave the toy around as an alternate to latch on to. If you are caught without the toy, simply stop moving and wait calmly until your dog stops biting, then fetch his favorite toy. Offering praise and a reward will show your pet good things happen when he stops biting.

 

5. Provide plenty of playtime. One of the best ways to stop a mouthy companion is to provide ample opportunities for him to burn off excess energy. Play games such as tug-of-war with your pet to help satisfy his urge to bite in acceptable ways and take him to socialize him with other dogs when possible. You can also consider enrolling in an obedience class, which will strengthen the bond your share with your pet.