My puppy won't stop nipping everything. What can I do to train him?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Dogs teeth until about 6-8 months. Do you have some time to go. I would work on training and not using your hands to play with him. Stop playing when he gets nippy and re-direct with an appropriate toy or put him in time out. Below are links for some teething toys. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/nylabone-puppy-teething-keys-for-dog Good luck

Biting and mouthing during play and at other times including when you pet her, when you are walking, etc. is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. I do not recommend scolding her for this or telling her "no!", as this often makes dogs more frustrated and worked up, and tends to make the problem worse. Instead, redirect her to one of her toys and encourage her to bite the toy instead. Make sure that she has a variety of different toys available to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. She also needs lots of different things to chew on - bully sticks, rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter are all good options you can try. This behavior normally resolves on its own as puppies get older, so there is no need to attempt to punish her for it - just redirect her to something more appropriate, and be patient while she learns :)

Otis is adorable! I would actually recommend a trainer for him. They will be able to work with you and him to stop this behavior. in the mean time when he starts to nip then I would recommend stopping all play until he has calmed down. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chewing on lots of things, including human hands and clothing, is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. She will grow out of this behavior as she gets older, but there are some things you can do in the meantime that will help. Make sure that your pup has a variety of different toys to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. She should also have lots of different chews and long-lasting treats to chew on such as bully sticks, large rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. You will need to keep your belongings put away out of her reach for now, just like you would with a toddler or small child. For furniture or other items that can't be put away, you can use Bitter Apple spray to make them taste bad, which should help to discourage her from chewing on them. If you are playing with her and she bites you, just redirect her to one of her toys and use that to play with her instead. If she bites your hands when you pet her, calmly stop petting and wait for her to settle down. I would not recommend restraining her against her will, or pinching her ear to punish her for this behavior - these techniques often make things worse by causing frustration, and do not help her to understand what you want. In addition, doing things like this may cause her to be afraid of being picked up or handled, since she associates pain and discomfort with these things. Just be patient and calm, and redirect her to appropriate things to chew as needed - this behavior will go away on its own with age :)

Sorry to hear you are having so much difficulty with this part of Parker's training. By this age, I am sure it is getting very old already! I won't go over any of the techniques you have already tried with him. One that you have not mentioned is teaching him the touch command. It can be used as a deterrent for almost anything that you find undesirable happening with Parker. With dogs that are biting or nipping, I suggest training the touch command with some sort of stick or wand. Basically, you want to be able to say "touch", and then have Parker touch his nose to the object. If he accomplishes this, he should be rewarded. In this case, you just have to make sure he is definitely touching with his nose and not his teeth! We don't want to reward him for an inappropriate behavior. You should also consider that Parker may still be teething. While most of his adult teeth should already be present, dogs all develop at different rates. This is still not a habit we want to allow Parker to continue to develop regardless, so breaking it sooner than later is important. If you are unable to work things out with him at home, you might want to also consider hiring a professional trainer to work with him. Hope this helps!

Hi, I totally understand you chewing ca be a bit of a problem during these early months. You need to try to be consistent and not to give up and play with your hands. Even during normal play, interrupt play and ignore him if suddenly starting to play too rough. You should try to praise calm behaviour and when he manages (eventually) to sit and be focused. As times goes by, he will get better and better and hopefully grow in a well balanced adult !

Congratulations on your new puppy! What a cutie. This is a normal but frustrating puppy behavior! I would highly recommend reviewing this article by veterinary behaviorist Sophia Yin https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy_play_leads_to_nip_marks_on_hands_and_arms/ for strategy on how to deal with this problem. I would also recommend her book Perfect Puppy in 7 Days. It is a great resource for puppy owners, as is The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell. How long this behavior lasts depends on the puppy and how quickly you work on training, but it is not uncommon for several months if the behavior is not addressed.