We adopted Misty about 2 weeks ago from the city (she was abandoned at city hall). She's a normal playful and happy puppy.
When she plays she nips and chews and I'm having a little trouble breaking her of this. She's got a Kong and a flavored Nylabone to chew on if she feels the need, and she does chew on them. She just wants to nip and chew on us and the other dog while playing as well.
When our older dog was a pup my husband would hold her lower jaw when she'd bite and she learned pretty quickly to stop. Now if she opens her mouth while playing with us she just very gently taps us with her teeth.
Misty still has VERY sharp baby teeth, so holding her lower jaw is a bit painful for me. She often gives kisses before she starts in on the chewing, so I am hesitant to yell or smack her since I don't want to confuse her by going from praises (while she's kissing) to punishment (for the sudden change to bites). I've been pulling my hand away when she bites and I'll say "No biting" or "No teeth", but it doesn't seem to be sinking in at all.
When she plays with our older dog, she bites her too. Abby (older dog) is smart enough not to bite the puppy hard (she just gently taps her with her teeth the way she does to us), but it makes me very nervous to see Abby's mouth wrapped around Misty's neck.
I've also seen Misty bare her teeth and growl when playing with Abby, but she's also bouncing around her wagging her tail so it seems that she's playing. And I've also seen Abby pin Misty to the group as jaws are snapping at each other and Misty has her tail tucked.. But as soon as she pops up she's wagging her tail and running after Abby for more. They seem to love each other, and I don't think either would intentionally hurt the other but I worry that if they still play this roughly when Misty is older that one of them will get hurt.
Okay, that was a bit of rambling but to cut to the chase, how do you properly teach a pup not to bite?
When she plays she nips and chews and I'm having a little trouble breaking her of this. She's got a Kong and a flavored Nylabone to chew on if she feels the need, and she does chew on them. She just wants to nip and chew on us and the other dog while playing as well.
When our older dog was a pup my husband would hold her lower jaw when she'd bite and she learned pretty quickly to stop. Now if she opens her mouth while playing with us she just very gently taps us with her teeth.
Misty still has VERY sharp baby teeth, so holding her lower jaw is a bit painful for me. She often gives kisses before she starts in on the chewing, so I am hesitant to yell or smack her since I don't want to confuse her by going from praises (while she's kissing) to punishment (for the sudden change to bites). I've been pulling my hand away when she bites and I'll say "No biting" or "No teeth", but it doesn't seem to be sinking in at all.
When she plays with our older dog, she bites her too. Abby (older dog) is smart enough not to bite the puppy hard (she just gently taps her with her teeth the way she does to us), but it makes me very nervous to see Abby's mouth wrapped around Misty's neck.
I've also seen Misty bare her teeth and growl when playing with Abby, but she's also bouncing around her wagging her tail so it seems that she's playing. And I've also seen Abby pin Misty to the group as jaws are snapping at each other and Misty has her tail tucked.. But as soon as she pops up she's wagging her tail and running after Abby for more. They seem to love each other, and I don't think either would intentionally hurt the other but I worry that if they still play this roughly when Misty is older that one of them will get hurt.
Okay, that was a bit of rambling but to cut to the chase, how do you properly teach a pup not to bite?