22/02/2024
PUPPY BITING - Dear Wags and Purrs readers again sorry for not posting for a while. I have had a few clients asking me this year about how to stop their puppy from mouthing them constantly. When they shout at the puppy or push the puppy away the puppy just becomes more frenzied and bites even more. I have just recently done a puppy course and heard some interesting tips on biting.
So the reason why puppies mouth /bite us is for the following reasons.
1. Teething - puppy teeth come through at around 8/9 weeks and then the baby teeth fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. This can go onto until around 9 months so it's quite a sore time for puppies. chewing things can help puppies with the pain. Try and give your puppies frozen kongs, tea towels dipped in water or chicken broth and then frozen etc the coolness of these things is very soothing for your puppy.
2. Diet- is your dog eating properly. If they are not eating properly and feel hungry this can make them feel a bit irritable and want to bite . make sure your puppy is eating their 3 meals a day and that they are having a good balanced diet.
3. Tiredness - this is something most of us don't think of. Puppies need to have a lot of rest time. They need around 14 hours a day of rest/ sleep. When puppies get over tired they can become very cranky and this can be shown in biting owners and not listening to the owners when they try and stop them biting. Think of an over tired toddler throwing a tantrum. Make sure your dogs is getting enough down time during the day. Put them in a puppy pen ,crate or a quite room where they are not being disturbed by people or other animals and let them sleep.
4. Play - \some puppies mouth just to play. They think we are siblings that they can play with and so bite and jump on us. You can try and replace your hands with other more suitable toys or stand up and leave the room when they get too much.
Hopefully this helps you with your mouthing pup!
All the best
Clare
