Puppy biting is a normal behaviour, it is how puppies investigate the environment. With the correct management, most puppies will grow out of it however sometimes it can develop into something more which may be a sign your puppies’ needs may not be being met.
Firstly it is important not to scold or shout at your puppy for mouthing, this rarely teaches them anything other than you are scary and they should avoid you. Screaming or yelping can either frighten you puppy or make it more of a game!
Puppies mouth for a few different reasons:
Sleep
Most undesirable puppy behaviours are usually down to lack of sleep. Puppies require around 18-20 hours sleep a day and even as adults they would benefit from 14-16 hours. They are growing like mad both physically and mentally and learning everything the world has to offer is exhausting! However, like children puppies will not be able to take themselves to bed when they are tired, instead they get overtired and act in ways that you may think they are bored or need more exercise.
Therefore it is important to dedicate an area of your house that is quiet and away from foot traffic to place your dog for regular naps. This could be a room with a baby gate, crate, pen etc. Create a diary with the main times of day your dog is more mouthy and pop your puppy away 10 minutes before you expect it to happen. They may cry for a little while, particularly if you’ve put them away in the middle of a crazy period but if you pop them in with a Kong or Licky mat they should settle eventually.
Teething
It is important you provide your puppy with multiple different outlets for chewing whilst they are teething. Your puppy may develop a preference for certain textures or items in your house so if you can mimic these then they will be more likely to use them. Things that are great for puppies to chew include
- Coffeewood/Olivewood chews
- Pizzle sticks, cows ears, lamb horns and other natural chews
- Nylabones
- Frozen items – frozen Kongs, frozen carrots or even frozen tea towels (supervised) can help soothe sore gums
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Soft toys often don’t give them the resistance that they need in order to soothe their gums so whilst they’re great for playing they may not always be preferred.
Play
Puppies experiment with their mouths and as a result they often use their mouths to play and get attention from you. Encouraging rough and tumble play when young can teach them inappropriate behaviours that may become dangerous or painful when they are older. If all of your puppies needs have been met (appropriate things to chew on and plenty of sleep, not hungry etc.) then redirect your puppy onto a toy and praise them for playing with it. You may find they won’t want to self play in which case you will need to engage in a game with them.
In an ideal world we want to try and prevent your puppy from performing the mouthing in the first place. If you know when your dog is likely to have mad periods of time then prep for a training session so you can direct your puppy’s energy and desire to engage with you. Once you have done with the training session, take pup out to toilet then settle them down for a nap.
If your puppy is still trying to mouth you over toys then leave the room and return 10-20 seconds later and give them something calming to do. If they are unable to focus on the calming activity then they may be overtired and should probably be put away for a nap.
Hunger
Puppies that are hungry or lacking in certain nutrients can demonstrate mouthing behaviours. Most puppies need more than 2 meals a day to ensure they feel satisfied throughout the entire day. Small training sessions and chews can provide snacks throughout the day. If you have any concerns about how much you are feeding your puppy, have a chat with your vet.
Growing Pains
It is also worth considering whether your puppy might be in some level of discomfort. We accept that teething can be painful and we give them things to chew to ease the pain but very rarely do we acknowledge growing pains can be really rough. I remember having awful pains at night time when I was around 9 or 10. Whilst many puppies just get on with it, we do need to acknowledge the impact it may have on their general tolerance levels, body sensitivity and need for sleep. In some cases, pain relief can be warranted to help your puppy through this period.
Frustration
As your puppy ages, they will have developed expectations through learning. This could be the time when they go for a walk, it could be the attention they expect to have or it could be that they want the resident dog to play with them. They might even be frustrated because of all of the reasons mentioned above (pain is often a biggy). All of these things can be really frustrating for your puppy who is still developing the area of the brain associated with frustration tolerance. This can sometimes feel like more intense biting and sometimes their lip can curl and it almost looks aggressive. 90% of the time it isn't 'aggressive' but it does require the support of a trainer or behaviourist to identify how your puppy is feeling. Left to sort it out themselves, it can sometimes become the pre-cursor for a more serious behaviour problem.
Sometimes having a light house line (lead with handle cut off) on your puppy when supervised throughout the day will enable you to move them around the room as you need to without picking them up and risking them scratching you. This can then be used if you feel your puppy needs a short time out or needs to be guided into their sleeping place. It is important not to leave your puppy to cry it out because we don’t want your puppies to feel frightened or frustrated which could lead to further problem behaviours down the line.
If you are feeling a bit lost or overwhelmed with your puppy's behaviour or perhaps you just want to check you're on the right lines, take a look at the support we can offer here.
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