Puppy Nipping
Puppy nipping…. I think everyone experiences their puppy mouthing and nipping, which is a normal behaviour during the puppy stage. However, it can be frustrating (and painful) for everyone in the family, including your puppy, so we need to know how to manage it correctly. It is a very natural and instinctual behaviour for puppies to mouth, nip and bite things as they are growing, it is how they explore the world around them.
From when they arrive in your home, they are exploring their new environment, around the home and in the garden, they seem to find things that you never knew were there, and manage to chew things you may not have thought possible… and then, there is you… also want to nip you! They may nip you instead of their nice chew you provided for them. They love and thrive on attention and this behaviour can give them just that (mainly because it hurts us), it can often turn into a game for them and the behaviour can become more fun over time as they get a reaction for this painful nipping. Another reason for nipping can be over arousal, either during play, when you come home from work, after a walk or evening routines, and then on the opposite scale to over arousal is over tiredness (this is often very common)…. and then there is the teething phase.
Prevention is a huge part of teaching your puppy not to nip (a component of training that is often overlooked). By preventing this unwanted nipping behaviour before it occurs is a key element to teaching your puppy new and appropriate habits and behaviours instead. So, observe your puppy, and work out what the triggers are that cause this behaviour, then you will be more equiped to intervene before the nipping starts in the first place.
A few other tips to manage, include barriers such as crates, play pens and baby gates, here we are managing the environment and intervening when you see your pups behaviour changing. Use a stuffed kong or something really delicious to direct your pup to their confined comfy area before their nipping beings. Avoid activities that may cause over-arousal and choose activities that are more mentally stimulating rather than physically tiring, such as clicker training (to teach those important life skills), enrichment activities, such as treat balls, puzzle toys, and scent work (which is a whole other topic that I love!). Teaching calm behaviours such as mat targeting and a hand target, which are a couple of my favourites that I find extremely useful in every day life and also fun to train!
You know where I am if you need extra help…
Good luck!
