For puppies, biting is a natural behavior that can disappear when they are four months old. However, this problem is not guaranteed to go away on its own, so it is recommended not to bite in the first place. Many owners view this behavior as playful, but the puppy may also be testing what the pack leader (you) will tolerate.

What are the best ways to stop an agile puppy? Do what other dogs would do! Cubs first learn from their mother or their littermates that biting is inappropriate. When one puppy bites, the other dog may respond by emitting a “howl!” Short and sharp, retreating, growling or biting. We all know that biting is not the way to follow! But there is a lot of merit in the other strategies. Let’s see what you can do when your puppy bites you:

The short, high-pitched scream

A short, sharp ‘ow!’ or ‘scream!’ will scare the dog into stopping biting. Make sure the scream is high pitched but not too loud; the goal is to scare the puppy, not scare it. All dogs instinctively recognize that this sound means that it has caused another pain and will stop immediately.

The grunt or the correction

A verbal correction such as ‘no!’ or a low throaty growl will give your puppy a clear message that biting is not tolerated.

Remove

Just stop and remove the part of you that has been bitten. A simultaneous growl or howl will help reinforce the message.

There are also a few other things you can do to prevent your puppy from becoming an agile dog. They are:

Reinforce safe play

When the puppy plays well, reward him with affection and treats.

Correct your puppy without using your hands

Some dogs grow up having bad experiences with human hands because they were beaten as puppies; they may bite their hands as a way to protect themselves. Therefore, it is important that when you are raising your puppy you never hit him, otherwise he may become a ‘fear biter’. Use verbal corrections as discussed above.

Socialize your puppy

Introduce your puppy to visitors, people at dog parks, and regular passersby (such as postal workers and meter readers) for many positive experiences with people. Let these people gently pet your puppy or give him a small treat. In this way, your dog does not become afraid of people’s hands (and resorts to biting to protect himself from pats). Before taking your puppy out to socialize, make sure he has received all the relevant vaccinations.

If these tips are used regularly and consistently, your puppy will find that playing and socializing without biting is more fun and will stop biting as a way to test his mettle or attract attention.