Stop Your Dog From Nipping & Biting

If your dog bites in new situations or around new people, he may feel fearful and anxious. He may appear nervous in a variety of situations. This may be related to his breeding, his personality, or his need for more socialization. A dog who bites in these situations will not get better by isolating him or ignoring him. You need to learn to fully socialize him using the methods and tips in our FREE Dog Training Mini Course. Socialization starts when a puppy is still with his mother and continues throughout his life. Take your dog to a park that does not have a lot of people or dogs and let him walk around on a leash and smell and look without being approached or trapped. Once he gets used to that, take him to a park with more people and dogs and keep him on a leash. Talk to him and praise him when he acts appropriately. Take lots of walks. If you do not feel like your dog can be trusted around other people or dogs, you will need to muzzle him when he is in public. There are many different types of muzzles available. If he is wearing a muzzle, it will also help other people know not to approach him or let their dogs approach him which will help him feel less threatened. Taking your dog to obedience training classes will give him confidence and help him learn to obey you. Dogs enjoy the structure of knowing what to do on command. They also enjoy knowing that when they are on a leash, they are “safe.” If your dog’s tail is low or tucked between his hind legs, if he is panting excessively, pacing or even whining, take these signs to be an indication that he is nervous and move him out of the situation immediately. Do not ignore such symptoms. If you do, you or any other person around him may end up being bitten. Follow the step-by-step instructions from our Dog Mini Course to control your dog or puppy’s biting habits.