The most frequently asked question from new puppy owners is how to stop nipping. I’m sharing some suggestions to stop nipping that I’ve used when they bite me. First, I instigate the behavior when I’m holding them, have them in a playpen, or sitting with them, so I have complete control.
I lightly tap their nose, never hard enough to hurt; I wouldn’t condone hurting a puppy. When I tap the puppy’s nose, at the same time, I’m saying “ack-ack”. My reason for making this sharp sound is to get their attention and isn’t “no”, which we speak to humans and can be confusing when they hear it at other times. Even being consistent, it took me several weeks to achieve a non-nipping puppy playtime.
The similar idea is to put your thumb in their mouth, under their tongue. The goal is to cause discomfort, not pain.
If you’re uncomfortable with causing discomfort as a deterrent, try putting some coins in an empty soda or beer can and tape the top. My mini V8 cans are perfect for carrying with me, have can will travel. You need to keep the can with you because you want to give it a good shake EVERY time the puppy is doing an unacceptable behavior. It’s loud, it startles and will make the puppy stop, even for a split second and at THAT second praise. Bad behavior = loud noise; the pause gets the reward.
As with every lesson, I can’t stress how vital consistency and timing are.
With one puppy several years ago – I had him in a playpen control was the point. I had a tiny piece of cheese in my fingers and played with him, presenting only the back of my hand. He was trying to nip but couldn’t grab the back of my hand. Each time he tried to bite, I’d tap his nose and say “ack-ack”. After numerous failed attempts to bite, he finally licked the back of my hand and immediately, I turned my hand and gave him the cheese. Repeat. I didn’t stop the lesson until his first reaction to my hand was a lick.
The point was that he was dominant with the nipping, got a nose tap and verbal correction. He showed submission by licking and got a food reward and verbal praise.
Some books suggest yelping when a puppy bites or turning your back; both approaches sound so silly to me. When you yelp, you’re showing your submission. Is that the message you want to send a puppy? The adult humans teach the puppy to be submissive to all humans. Submission is not cowering; it’s simply accepting the hierarchy of the family. A respect the elders lesson. I don’t even know how to address the notion that turning your back teaches anything. Try showing them the behavior you want and reward when they do it right