My 1-year-old Lhasa Apso bites and nibbles. How can I stop it?

It is best if you don't let Toby bite at all, even during play! Even play bites in small dogs with sharp teeth can lead to punctures or bruising on human skin. When you play, always play with a toy, not your hands. That means you also have to refrain from using your hands to tease him, I know it can be hard to resist! If he nips, lightly tap him on the nose, tell him no, then re-direct his attention to a toy that you can play with together, like a squeaky toy or tugging on a rope toy. Stay consistent and eventually he will learn that biting humans is not good; it can take several months of consistency when playing for a young dog to learn. With any toy, make sure that Toby isn't tearing it apart or chewing off pieces that he could swallow!

I'm not entirely sure if you're referring to actual aggression (intent to bite), or just nipping behavior, which is very normal and common in puppies. If Cooper is doing the usual puppy nipping (very excited, wiggly body, chewing on everything, jumping up, etc), then there are a few things you can do. One is to just get up and walk away when he becomes too excited, and ignore him (you may need to leave the room). Once he is calm, you can start play again to help teach him that nipping behavior doesn't get attention. Yelping out Ouch! In a high pitched voice can also help, as it mimics playing too rough with a litter mate. Replacing the chewing/nipping with an appropriate toy so his mouth is occupied can also help. Be sure to praise and give him attention when he is focused on his toys, rather than your hand! Puppies do start to get adult teeth around 6-7 months of age, so you may see a surge in nipping and chewing then as well! If Cooper is showing actual aggression (growling, stiff body, whale eyes, pinned back ears, snarling, showing teeth, biting to try and break the skin) then this is a serious and complex situation that should be checked out by a veterinary behaviorist in person. You can look for one in your area by following this link: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

I am sorry to hear about Jack. This can be a very frustrating problem that is common in puppies. I would recommend reading the following article by veterinary behaviorist Sophia Yin which goes into depth on how to properly deal with this behavioral issue: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy_play_leads_to_nip_marks_on_hands_and_arms/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider hiring a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

Tzipora is sure a cutie! What the behaviorist recommend is withdrawing attention from her when she is biting. Yelp very loud and completely remove yourself from her- even if you have to close a door. We need to get her to know that biting on toys is ok and biting you is not. Try to use toys that you can put peanut butter in that will distract her. I would HIGHLY recommend finding a good trainer in your area. There are lots of trainers, but call your veterinarian to find a good one. A good trainer will help you figure out what is causing the biting and a plan to stop it. The good thing is that you are seeking help early. I know that the puppy stage can be frustrating, but with a good trainer- it will be ok. Once she is learning commands- such as sit. You can distract the biting by making her sit and rewarding the sit with a treat. Thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This can be very common behavior for young puppies. It is important that you initiate training with your dog now so that his aggressive tendencies do not continue into adulthood. Somethings you can do to discourage his nipping and aggressive behavior are to try and redirect his aggression by giving him a toy to play with and bite on instead of using your hands and fingers. Also, when he missed behaves firmly tell him no, put him down and walk away and ignore him for 2 to 3 minutes. After that time you can start playing with him again and if his bad behavior returns ignore him again. If you continue to do this he will quickly learn that when he misbehaves you will not pay attention to him so he should stop the bad behavior. It would also be beneficial to start training him with basic commands like sit, stay, and come. This will help establish your role as the dominant one in the relationship. Also be sure he is getting plenty of exercise by taking him on 20 to 30 minute fast-paced walks at least 2 to 3 times a day. This will help drain some of his energy and make him be able to focus on training with you better. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. That’s the one.