Tackling Bad Dog Behaviour
Such As Biting
All dogs like to chew this is not necessarily bad dog behaviour, but is often a puppy’s preferred choice of play and is actually an important way for them to manage teething.
Usually you will find that a dog will bite during these occasions, but it is never acceptable for a pup to ever bite a person and training a dog not to bite must be a priority.
It is very important to teach your dog not to bite as soon as you bring your new pet home from the shelter or the breeder.
A dog that instinctively bites can be dangerous not only to your family, but to visitors and people who pass by your house whilst your dog is outside.
The good news is that there are some basic steps that you can take against bad dog behaviour that will lessen the odds that your pet will ever bite someone.
Dog Socialization Is Important
Most dogs learn in the first four months of life that aggressive biting is not appropriate behavior. They will find this out through their social interactions with other dogs.
For example, if a puppy chews too hard on a littermate during a play session, the other pup will let him know that his behavior is not acceptable by growling or barking.
If a dog is removed from his litter before the end of this four-month period (and most are), you will need to provide socialization with your puppy to incorporate training a dog not to bite into his life lessons.
It is easiest to train your dog not to bite through interactions with other dogs, but it is equally important to socialize your pet with the human members of your household as well.
The more used to people that your dog becomes, the less likely he will be to exhibit bad dog behaviour such as fear or intimidation that lead to biting. When you bring your puppy home, incorporate him into your family activities and let him get used to being around all of the family members.
Discipline is Important
It is a good idea to stay away from playtime activities that include nipping or chewing of any kind, such as wrestling or playing tug-of-war with your pet.
Never allow your puppy to bite or chew on your hand, even if it is in a playful way this will give your puppy confusing messages.
Teach your children how to properly handle your dog, by instructing them to leave the pet alone when eating, sleeping or chewing on a toy.
If your dog is exhibiting bad dog behaviour that you think might be a biting danger, consult your veterinarian or animal shelter for resources in training classes and guidance.
Dog training or obedience courses are a great first step in training your dog in all aspects of appropriate behavior.
Some people prefer to train a dog at home and this is easily achieved if you pick a quality training manual to guide you.
