Shih Tzu puppies are known for their playful and affectionate nature. However, they can also be quite mouthy, and their sharp little teeth can be quite painful. If your Shih Tzu puppy is biting, there are a few things you can do to train them to stop.
1. Understand Why Puppies Bite
Before you can start training your puppy not to bite, it’s important to understand why they do it in the first place. Puppies bite for a variety of reasons, including:
To explore their environment. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world around them. They may bite to investigate new objects or people.
To play. Puppies often bite during play. This is their way of interacting with other puppies and people.
To communicate. Puppies may bite to express their emotions, such as fear, pain, or excitement.
2. Teach Bite Inhibition
Bite inhibition is the ability to control the amount of pressure you use when biting. Puppies learn bite inhibition from their littermates. When a puppy bites too hard, the other puppy will yelp or cry. This tells the puppy that they have bitten too hard, and they will learn to bite more gently in the future.
If your puppy was not raised with littermates, you will need to teach them bite inhibition yourself. Here are a few tips:
Yell “ouch” when your puppy bites too hard. This will signal to your puppy that they have hurt you.
Remove your hand or toy from your puppy’s mouth if they bite too hard. This will teach them that biting will end playtime.
Redirect your puppy’s biting onto a toy. Give your puppy a toy to chew on when they start to bite you.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a great way to train your puppy not to bite. When your puppy bites gently, praise them and give them a treat. This will help them to associate gentle biting with positive things.
4. Be Consistent
It’s important to be consistent with your training. If you only teach your puppy not to bite sometimes, they will not learn the lesson. Be consistent with your commands and your reactions to biting, and your puppy will eventually learn what is expected of them.
5. Be Patient
It takes time and patience to train a puppy not to bite. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy doesn’t learn overnight. Just keep at it, and eventually they will get the hang of it.
Additional Tips
Avoid playing rough with your puppy. This can encourage them to bite more forcefully.
Provide your puppy with plenty of chew toys. This will help to keep their teeth clean and their jaws exercised, and it will also give them something to chew on instead of you.
Take your puppy for regular walks. This will help to burn off their energy and reduce their chances of biting out of boredom or frustration.
If you follow these tips, you can teach your Shih Tzu puppy not to bite. With patience and consistency, you can have a well-behaved and gentle companion.
Here are some additional tips that may help you train your Shih Tzu puppy not to bite:
Never hit or yell at your puppy for biting. This will only make them afraid of you, and it will not stop them from biting.
If your puppy bites you, do not react in a way that will make them think they are playing. Do not laugh or squeal, and do not pull away quickly. Instead, simply say “no” in a firm voice and remove your hand or toy from their mouth.
If your puppy is biting you out of frustration or boredom, try to redirect their attention to something else. This could be a toy, a game, or even a walk outside.
If you are having trouble training your puppy not to bite, you may want to consider hiring a professional dog trainer. A trainer can help you to identify the reasons why your puppy is biting and develop a training plan that will be effective for your individual dog.
With patience and consistency, you can teach your Shih Tzu puppy not to bite. With a little effort, you can have a well-behaved and gentle companion who will be a joy to have around.
