Mouthing & Nipping

This is a topic we deal with all the time in our private training sessions and we stress the importance of stopping it early. Most people think their dog’s mouthing and nipping is "play biting" and is something dogs just do. With puppies, almost everyone thinks the "play biting" will go away when the puppy gets older.

We agree, as most behaviorists will, that mouthing and nipping is something dogs just do…with other dogs! People are not dogs, and we don’t play that way. Furthermore, the mouthing and nipping will not go away, but will get worse and potentially could become unpredictable biting if not corrected and stopped. The last time we checked, the #2 emergency in Children’s Hospitals across the country was dog bites! Therefore, we should not allow our dog to play with us that way, but redirect the "play" to something more passive.

Veterinarians and Veterinary Colleges across the country agree that no dog should put its teeth on anyone! "Sugars" or "kisses" (licks) are fine (as long as you like them), but no puppy or dog should be allowed to put its teeth on anyone. We can’t emphasize this enough, because people don’t understand that puppies and dogs also try to control us by using their teeth.

In the section about "Bonding and Communicating" (with our dogs) on the "Dog Behavior Solutions"™ video, we discuss how dogs communicate with each other and why we should use the same methods to communicate with them. We build on that psychological information and apply it in the "Mouthing and Nipping" Chapter on the video to demonstrate how to stop and eliminate this serious behavior issue.

Great Dog Training’s “Dog Behavior Solutions” ™ video addresses fourteen of the most common dog and puppy behavior problems and guides you through your dog’s training with “how to” step by step instructions and demonstrations using real dogs. Each behavior is covered in a self contained chapter allowing for easy review. At the end of the chapter, each of the  main points are highlighted and summarized.

The video is presented by veteran dog behaviorists Walt and Beth Kelly, who have more than 55 years of combined training and behavioral experience, and is a comprehensive guide to understanding the most common dog behaviors and correcting the unwanted dog behaviors. It provides humane ways to discourage unwanted behaviors and promote those that are desired. The techniques employed are proven by experience gained through training thousands of dogs and dog owners over the past 25 to 30 years. Learn more about the Kellys.