subject: Stop Your Puppy Or Pet's Nipping And Biting [print this page] My lab pointer likes to nip and bite, she could be an extraordinarily playful dog but what she does not realize is that her small nips and bites can do some damage to my skin and other peoples' skin. Although nipping and biting is fun and innocuous in a puppydog or kitten, it's not when a full-grown dog with full-grown fangs does it.
It is important to keep your pet under control and educate them when they are young so they know what behavior is acceptable and what isn't. Worse yet, if your pet starts off believing that nipping and biting is okay it can change into more aggressive behavior, so to stop the nipping and biting by following these steps.
A method to stop your pet's continual nipping and biting is to provide them with enough toys that they can play with and put in their mouth. When my dogs were puppies I frequently let them bite or nip on my fingers you do not want to permit them to try this all of the time because they'll think your fingers are there for them to chew. Providing them with enough toys to nip and bite gets their mind off of your fingers. For dogs, rubber toys or rawhide bones are ideal for them to munch. For cats, a rag or play mouse is perfect for them to play with.
Next time your pet makes an attempt to nip or bite your fingers, let out a yap similar to the sound of another animal. If your pet believes they have hurt you, they will realize that biting or nipping at your fingers is not a good thing to do. They may even lick your fingers. When your pet stops after your howl, make sure you give them a nice pat or a treat.
This next strategy always worked for me. An easy, loud, and firm NO! And ignoring them for a few minutes always seemed to do the trick. The firmness and solemnity of your voice will alert your pet to the proven fact that biting and nipping on you isn't acceptable. And when you stop playing with them they feel ignored and eventually will associate your sadness with their nipping and biting. You may also grab their collar, look them strongly in the eye and shake them sharply letting them know who the boss is.
