How to handle puppy biting! - Page 1

Curious what the best method is to handle a new puppy biting all of the time (hands, ankles, toes, feet, etc.). I keep trying to redirect, but it isn't always successful, and since he is working line and I plan to do IPO, I am wondering what the suggestions are?

Redirecting can give the message to the pup that he is being rewarded for the unwanted behavior.

As for affecting IPO training....the puppy biting you has nothing to do with ipo bite work....a puppy can do serious damage...if a fish hook sharp puppy k9 snags your arm and hooks a vein lying beneath the skin, you're going to have a mess with blood spurting all over the place.

With puppies that are very determined, that will come back twice as hard when I pull them off as they cut into my flesh, I will actually get hold of the scruff of their neck and shake them a little ( not violently, so queesy folks need not be gobsmacked, lol) lifting their feet off the ground. At the same time I give a strong 'No !'

If they bite your hands every time you get near their face, a pinch on the nose and 'no' will discourage that. And none of this will effect bite work, assuming the pup has the genetics for bitework to begin with.

Puppies investigate using their mouths (biting)...They are testing out everything...including you...
What I do is to put something in their mouths when they begin to bite too much and/or too hard...I use whatever's at hand...a toy...a stick...whatever I have at hand...I also try to keep something with me (in my pockets) so I'm ready for this action...
Puppies will also be "teething" so their gums are sore and itch...So they're trying to relieve the itch...You can give them Ice Cubes or even put their toys in the freezer then let them chew on them...it will help...
I know the feeling when puppies are biting on you and like others said you can correct them to a certain degree...Grab them by the scruff of the neck and say NO...But in the end I'm always just hoping I make it til they grow out of this stage...and they will...just be patient...The good news is that...These puppies that show so much tenacity make some of the best working dogs...

~Bob~

First decide what are the things you want him to bite and what are unwanted. Then try to make the wanted bites interesting and unwanted bites boring.

When any of my pups try to chew on my body parts, I in return try to push that part of the body in the mouth, and hold it there. It's very boring for the pup if you're not squealing, flailing your arms or trying to get away.