Puppies & Dogs Nipping ?
by Caroline Mercer - Petiquette Behaviour & Training Consultations - Rustenburg - carolpets3@gmail.com
Communication or lack of?
Telephones, email, letters and conversation. All communication tools of the human world. And of course, the apposable thumb on our hands which allow us to grasp and hold things, allowing us to explore objects. The dog is not blessed with such an incredible invention. The dog has been given a mouth.
A dog’s mouth IS its exploration tool. The dog can hold onto, chew, play, show affection and anger all with its mouth. This is how puppies learn while growing up and how an adult dog gets through life. The dog’s main communication tool to the world and of course, us. But in the same breath, miscommunication happens so easily with the equipment that dogs were given.
How does this happen? This happens in the form of nipping, biting, ankle biting, barking and growling. All of which to us, sounds painful and frightening. But it need not be. The simple solution is to give guidance to your puppy before it grows up into a problem adult, by providing feedback. Puppies and dogs nip, as this is their way of playing and communication with their litter mates, mothers, human family and other dogs they come into contact with. As the puppy grows up in its litter, it plays with its litter mates, nipping and rough housing, the litter mates in turn give feedback about the amount of pressure being applied. If the playful pup should nip too hard, the others will “yelp” and cease play or will retaliate with a snap and bite back. The mother will use discipline to correct the pup. This all gives valuable information to the pup on how hard or soft its mouth is and what kind of pressure is exceptable to others. If this feedback is not available, the pup will grow up having a hard mouth and will end up hurting other dogs or humans when it plays. This is called “bite inhibition.” This is where miscommunication or even no communication can end up being trouble.
A dog’s mouth IS its exploration tool. The dog can hold onto, chew, play, show affection and anger all with its mouth. This is how puppies learn while growing up and how an adult dog gets through life. The dog’s main communication tool to the world and of course, us. But in the same breath, miscommunication happens so easily with the equipment that dogs were given.
How does this happen? This happens in the form of nipping, biting, ankle biting, barking and growling. All of which to us, sounds painful and frightening. But it need not be. The simple solution is to give guidance to your puppy before it grows up into a problem adult, by providing feedback. Puppies and dogs nip, as this is their way of playing and communication with their litter mates, mothers, human family and other dogs they come into contact with. As the puppy grows up in its litter, it plays with its litter mates, nipping and rough housing, the litter mates in turn give feedback about the amount of pressure being applied. If the playful pup should nip too hard, the others will “yelp” and cease play or will retaliate with a snap and bite back. The mother will use discipline to correct the pup. This all gives valuable information to the pup on how hard or soft its mouth is and what kind of pressure is exceptable to others. If this feedback is not available, the pup will grow up having a hard mouth and will end up hurting other dogs or humans when it plays. This is called “bite inhibition.” This is where miscommunication or even no communication can end up being trouble.
The key is to implement a “no teeth on human s” plan and stick to it. Whenever the puppy or dog should nip too hard during play, make a loud “ouch” noise and stop play immediately for a few seconds. It is important not to leave it too long otherwise the pup or dog may end up keeping itself busy with something else and the point of the game will have no impact. Some breeds for instance, terriers, may become excited with the “ouch” and may become more worked up. For this situation you can replace the “ouch” with a firm “too bad” no reward marker, walk away and end the game.
Children excite dogs and puppies. They run around, a bustle of noise and movement and it attracts the dog’s attention. The dog will then give chase and could end up nipping the child or biting the child’s ankles, also a form of nipping. The child has no concept of what discipline should be in terms of a dog. It is up to the parents to teach children the right ways of playing with dogs and how to act around them with respect. Children should always be taught to be calm and move slowly around dogs, especially excitable ones. For extreme cases where children are in the equation, the child can wear wellington boots to help prevent ankle biting, especially if visiting someone who has an ankle biter. This does not mean, however, that the child can still run around like crazy because the dog may not necessarily target ankles. Children can also be taught “make like a tree.” The child must stand still and cross both arms over the chest, looking away from the dog.
Children excite dogs and puppies. They run around, a bustle of noise and movement and it attracts the dog’s attention. The dog will then give chase and could end up nipping the child or biting the child’s ankles, also a form of nipping. The child has no concept of what discipline should be in terms of a dog. It is up to the parents to teach children the right ways of playing with dogs and how to act around them with respect. Children should always be taught to be calm and move slowly around dogs, especially excitable ones. For extreme cases where children are in the equation, the child can wear wellington boots to help prevent ankle biting, especially if visiting someone who has an ankle biter. This does not mean, however, that the child can still run around like crazy because the dog may not necessarily target ankles. Children can also be taught “make like a tree.” The child must stand still and cross both arms over the chest, looking away from the dog.
Another reason for nipping is attention seeking. When a dog nips, it can be followed by a loud shout and shoving dog away. Negative attention to a dog is STILL attention and should be avoided. Rather stop what you are doing and ignore the dog, walk away if you must. If you return and the dog should come up to you in an appeasement offering and lick you, rather reward the licking. When the dog sees it gets no attention for nipping, the behavior will fade out. But if continuous attention and touching of the dog is given, the dog learns to behave like this more often, in the hopes of a little attention. Reward behavior where the dog is not nipping, for example the licking. Try avoid having the dog also pull and nip on clothing. If the puppy or dog should grab hold of your pants or skirt, stand still and ignore. Reward the pup or dog the instant it lets go and then distract with a toy.
Another reason tom take into consideration is the dog breed. Some dog breeds are more prone to nipping way into adult hood than others. Your herding dog breeds for example, are bred to herd cattle, sheep and other livestock and use nipping as a means of getting them to move. Nipping at the feet of the livestock or tail areas get them moving so that the dog can herd them all together and get them to where they need to go. These breeds specifically may show more nipping behavior, especially ankle biting and especially around children running around or other small animals on the premises, that the dog can “herd.” To help curb this, the dog needs to be given work to do and lots of mental and physical stimulation. Agility, swimming, frisbee or fly ball are all activities that “herders” excel in. It is also best to interact with these dogs with toys. If you can throw a ball or Frisbee for the dog to chase and fetch, it can be distracted from other moving objects. The owner should always try and be more exciting than then what is in the environment for this to work effectively.
Infamous herding breeds are border collies, collies, german shephards, corgis, kelpies, Shetland sheepdogs and Australian shephards. So if you own one of these breeds, best you get your “running shoes” on!
Another reason tom take into consideration is the dog breed. Some dog breeds are more prone to nipping way into adult hood than others. Your herding dog breeds for example, are bred to herd cattle, sheep and other livestock and use nipping as a means of getting them to move. Nipping at the feet of the livestock or tail areas get them moving so that the dog can herd them all together and get them to where they need to go. These breeds specifically may show more nipping behavior, especially ankle biting and especially around children running around or other small animals on the premises, that the dog can “herd.” To help curb this, the dog needs to be given work to do and lots of mental and physical stimulation. Agility, swimming, frisbee or fly ball are all activities that “herders” excel in. It is also best to interact with these dogs with toys. If you can throw a ball or Frisbee for the dog to chase and fetch, it can be distracted from other moving objects. The owner should always try and be more exciting than then what is in the environment for this to work effectively.
Infamous herding breeds are border collies, collies, german shephards, corgis, kelpies, Shetland sheepdogs and Australian shephards. So if you own one of these breeds, best you get your “running shoes” on!
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