| ding to the statistics, dogs bite more than 4.7 million | | | | Differences in smell and looks are triggers that can |
| people per year. This unwanted, and often avoidable, | | | | cause dogs to become wary. Introducing them to a |
| behaviour, results in law suits, medical bills and | | | | variety at a young age can help discourage this |
| sometimes dog euthanasia. | | | | territorial response. |
| As with any dog training issue, how easy or difficult it | | | | Most dogs will naturally inhibit biting when playing with |
| is to train a dog to not bite will vary according to the | | | | litter mates. They nip, but learn early not to press |
| breed, age and individual temperament of the dog. | | | | hard. Take advantage of this by 'widening' the pack |
| But there are some common techniques that will | | | | to include family members, other pets and frequent |
| usually help suppress the biting behaviour. | | | | visitors. |
| Wherever possible, start young. Puppies have a | | | | Restrain your pet at first when introducing animals |
| natural inclination to mouth and nip. Though it's often | | | | from other households. Restrain the other animal as |
| encouraged by owners who understandably see the | | | | well. Let them approach slowly and sniff or carry out |
| behaviour as cute, human restraint is a prerequisite to | | | | other natural behaviour. |
| dog restraint. Good, and bad, habits start young, and | | | | Look for body tension, snarling, erect ears and other |
| need to be controlled at this early stage. | | | | indicators of oncoming aggression. Make the dog sit, |
| Beyond about the age of four weeks, puppies can | | | | stroke its back and put out your hand to the other |
| begin to learn simple commands. When the puppy | | | | animal then convey the smell to your pet. Then allow |
| moves his mouth to bite, a gentle, but firm 'No!' | | | | them to interact. |
| followed by a slight squeeze of the muzzle can help. | | | | Dogs normally learn bite inhibition by four and a half |
| Be careful not to cause the puppy to bite its tongue, | | | | months, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen |
| though. Be especially careful not to squeeze hard or | | | | that quickly. Breeds vary and so do individuals. Older |
| too high up on the muzzle. Dogs have sensitive and | | | | dogs, especially ones not trained early to suppress |
| delicate odour receptors high up inside the nose. You | | | | biting, or not socialized, will naturally be harder to train. |
| never want to damage a dog's ability to smell. | | | | Some dogs will never be fully trained not to want to |
| The squeeze isn't to punish, but to inform. The goal is | | | | bite. Part of training involves training people, too. |
| to help the young dog associate the verbal command | | | | Make sure any such dog is unable to reach other |
| with something it can understand at that age, namely | | | | people or animals. And, make sure that people are |
| discomfort. Most dogs naturally dislike having their | | | | informed not to try to interact with the dog. |
| muzzles squeezed at any age. | | | | If you have an older dog that has a tendency to bite |
| Along with verbal discouragement and gentle physical | | | | then have a small garden spray with water in it. And |
| restraint or reminders, socializing your dog - as young | | | | spray it in the dogs face at the appropriate moment. |
| and often as possible - can help develop calm and | | | | He will soon learn that it is unacceptable behaviour. |
| confident dogs. Fearful dogs, not used to strangers | | | | Gradual, persistent, patient training will usually pay off |
| (whether human or animal), are much more prone to | | | | in a calmer, more playful pet. Which, despite the |
| biting behaviour. | | | | effort involved, is better than paying off lawsuits. |
| Expose the dog to other (non-aggressive) dogs. | | | | |