Mary Allen
Now it is done. Every dog owner’s nightmare. Your dog bit. Biting is intolerable behavior and must be stopped. Of course, you have to distinguish between a puppy and an adult dog biting.
The good news is that biting can be stopped. The bad news, if you notice that a dog tends to bite, you should definitely take action to avoid serious consequences for humans and dogs.
But don’t worry, the hops and malt are not lost now. In the following article, you will find the reasons why your dog bites and the associated solutions on how you can stop your dog from biting.
In a nutshell: you want to break the habit of biting your dog
When your dog bites, it can happen for many reasons. A distinction must also be made between playful and serious biting. It is therefore very important that you deal with the topic of how to stop dogs from biting.
Puppies do not yet know bite inhibition, adult dogs that bite often bite out of insecurity or aggression. Biting is the dog’s last resort.
Now it is very important that you work out a suitable solution. There is often a significant improvement when you offer your dog security and consistency.
Why does a dog bite?
The primary difference here is whether your dog is a puppy/young dog or an adult dog.
Attention: Protect your environment
As a dog owner, you are obliged to protect those around you from bites. If your dog tends to bite, he should wear a muzzle in public.
Dogs can bite for a variety of reasons. Here it is important that you first become aware of why your dog is biting.
Your puppy is biting
It is perfectly normal for puppies to bite at first. The little teeth have to be tried out and the puppies have not yet made the acquaintance of bite inhibition.
Bite inhibition does not mean other than that the dog can manage and control the intensity of its bite. The best way for your puppy to learn this skill is through play up to the 16th week.
For a complete guide on how to stop a puppy from biting, click here.
Your dog is biting for psychological reasons
Most dogs do not bite out of aggression, but for psychological reasons. Often stress or fear is in the foreground and in his opinion the dog has no other option than to defend itself by biting.
Dogs that are startled or panicky also tend to bite as their first reaction.
Your dog is biting because it is in pain
Dogs are true masters at hiding pain and illness. If your dog has never bitten before and you notice this behavior now, it could be that he is in a lot of pain.
This often manifests itself in the form of him growling and trying to snap, bite when you want to touch him.
You can find more about dog growls in our article: My dog growls at me?
In this case, an appointment with your veterinarian is in order and the behavior will go away on its own once the trigger is resolved.
Your dog bites for resource defense reasons
There are dogs that defend their resources by biting. Resources are not only the food, but also berths, toys, and also attention. This often happens with dogs that are allowed to do everything and know few rules and boundaries.
Tip: Your dog has bitten
First of all, keep calm. If strangers or dogs are involved, exchange addresses. Dog bites should be treated medically to prevent infection.
As a dog owner, it is advisable to take out liability insurance, which will then take care of what happened.
Your dog is biting because he is frustrated
If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, he will become frustrated over time. In addition to the physical workload such as exercise, the mental workload also plays a very important factor.
Dogs that are physically and mentally exercised are content and less prone to aggression. When dogs are under-utilized, they become frustrated over time, and biting acts as an outlet, allowing them to vent their frustration.
Your dog is biting because it has a behavioral problem
Rare, but they exist. Dogs that, at the slightest trigger, step forward and bite without warning. Intensive behavioral therapy with a suitable trainer is urgently recommended here, which is why this article does not refer to this topic any further.
My advice:
If you know your dog is biting, don’t just work and train with your dog, work on yourself as well. Make sure you exude confidence and confidence when out with your dog.
Don’t go out in fear and insecurity, because you usually unconsciously transfer this to your dog.
How can you stop your dog from biting?
Teach your puppy bite inhibition
Puppy teeth are razor sharp. They like to bite their hands and trouser legs. Your puppy needs to learn to control his bite power first, and you can help him do that.
The important things first. As soon as your puppy uses its teeth too much, you stop immediately. In concrete terms, this means that you end the situation immediately, turn away and no longer pay any attention to the little one. Timing is very important here.
The best way to learn bite inhibition is through play. You play with your puppy. Once he starts biting, which he will, you end the game at the exact moment he bites you. You can also say ouch or no loudly at the moment and turn away from him.
This will teach the puppy: Play is fun! But as soon as I use my teeth too much, this fun game will stop immediately.
However, since the puppy likes your attention, it will automatically learn to use its teeth more gently. Of course this takes time!
Does your dog bite while playing? Then be sure to check out the following article!
My tip: two birds with one stone
Dogs learn through constant repetition. It is important that you remain consistent when learning bite inhibition. Use your puppy’s play instinct. You can use the break word that you use when biting later in other situations.
Breaking the habit of biting in an adult dog
First of all, anti-biting training for an adult dog is very time-consuming. If you live with several family members, it is important that everyone pulls together and works together.
Anti-biting training only leads to success if it is consistently carried out by everyone involved.
Self-protection and protection of others is always the priority. There are now a large number of shops that offer muzzles in all variations. Make sure you build up the muzzle training in a positive way.
If your dog bites your leash, see our article Dog bites the leash.
Does your dog bite out of fear, stress, or insecurity?
An adult dog that feels scared, stressed, or insecure feels threatened. For such dogs, an attack, i.e. biting, is always their last resort. They often try to avoid the matter in advance by sending calming signals.
In this case you are also asked. Learn to lead your dog confidently, give him security and consistency. Since your dog orients itself to you, this will automatically be transferred to him. It is important to know that your dog does not learn this overnight.
If your dog has now learned that he gets his goal by biting, this behavior will strengthen. However, there are a few things to consider here.
Dogs that bite for psychological reasons usually announce this in advance with physical signals, the so-called appeasement signals. Learn to read your dog so you can act and act accordingly.
If your dog is afraid of a situation or object, increase the distance. You will notice your dog when it has reached its individual distance.
Teach your dog that you are reassuring him, that you are literally taking care of everything for him. Structure and always the same processes are very helpful here. Your dog thus knows what will follow next, which provides security for him.
Confront him with situations that make him uncomfortable from a distance first. If he feels comfortable and relaxed, then go one step further. Your dog needs to learn that he can rely on you 100%.
My tip: there is strength in calm
Provide your dog with a safe retreat at home. Dogs process what they have experienced afterwards when they are resting.
Does your dog bite because everything belongs to him?
Today there are many dogs that live without rules and structure. Dogs protect their resource. If you don’t set clear rules at home, he will set them up himself.
Who does not know it? The dog comes to bed and just stays there. Although at first, it was okay, but only tonight. Of course, it’s not just one night.
So your bed has now become your dog’s resource, his place to sleep. And now he will defend it. That said, he’s not going to give up his privilege of his roost that easily.
Here it is important that your dog learns that you make the rules and not him. If your dog bites you when you get too close to his food bowl, hand-feed him for a while. For him, that means you have the resource (the food).
This shows him how important you are to him and can help strengthen your relationship.
Does your dog bite you because you want him to leave his place? Make it clear to him that this is your place. Keep sending him away verbally, offering him an alternative.
Allow plenty of time to teach your dog that there is no reason for him to defend his resources.
Is your dog frustrated and biting?
Let’s be honest, we know that from us. When we’re frustrated, we blow up faster and get angry. The same can happen to your dog.
A balanced dog is less frustrated. Do you currently have stress and less time for your dog? This will probably be the trigger.
Try to keep your dog busy – according to its breed and preferences.
My tip: challenge, but don’t overwhelm
Find the ideal balance for you and your dog. Do activities that challenge him, but don’t overwhelm him. An overwhelmed dog tends to behave erratically.
Dogs can do well without a big program for a while. Over time, however, a pile of frustration accumulates, and most often that frustration is expressed by biting.
Make the dog’s day varied and positive, challenge him so that he can learn something. Long, varied walks are soul food for you and your dog.
Depending on the breed, dogs also like to work. Search games, parcours and tricks are just a few ideas that make everyday life varied and cognitively load the dog. Balanced mind equals balanced dog.
This gives you a dog that is extremely happy and doesn’t need an outlet to vent its frustration.
Conclusion
Biting is a no-go and must be trained. Once you’re aware of the trigger, there are many solutions that can help you train.
Anti-biting training is complex and requires a lot of time, knowledge, and consistency on your part.