Is your dog or puppy constantly grabbing clothing, going
after hands, feet and toes with their mouth?
Do you see your children scrambling on top of the couch when your puppy
or dog enters the family room? The kids grab their legs and tuck their feet
under their bodies making themselves as small and as tight as they can.
This may drive you crazy but that's just what dogs do,
right? Isn't that how they play with other dogs and toys by using their mouth?
Yes they do! To a dog or puppy this behavior
seems natural. So it is very important to teach your dog or puppy that people
are not like them nor are they chew toys.
Play biting is a natural process for a puppy. Puppies will
be using their mouth for all sorts of exploring and purpose. Chewing hard helps
with the teething phase. Puppies need the pressure of chewing to relieve their
growing teeth. Puppies also will learn that too hard of a bite will bring a
"Yelp!" from their puppy playmate. This teaches them how to use their
mouth gently. Besides, if a puppy is young and just left his littermates, this
is the only way he knows how to communicate; with his mouth.
By offering hard items such as nylabones, natural bones, or
antlers, a puppy can take care of the need for chewing. The next thing you need
to do to help your puppy learn is to play with him but not exactly like
"dog to dog" play. Our skin is
tender and can't take their teeth so both you and your puppy need to be careful
while playing. This goes for older dogs too.
I am not a fan of roughhousing or chasing because that is
too similar to "dog to dog" play. But I do think Tug, Fetch and Agility
are great activities that you both can do together.
Of course there are rules to follow such as:
Of course there are rules to follow such as:
- Wait till I offer you the toy; No grabbing.
- Let go of the toy when I ask. No keep away.
- Quit when I so: No pestering.
I thought this short video was interesting to see how dogs
do interact and play. Just don't let them do that to you!
Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070
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