If you've just welcomed a new fur friend into your family - congratulations! Puppies have a wonderful ability to infuse our lives with extra love, laughter, fun, and affection, but they can also come with their fair share of challenges.
One of the most difficult aspects of pet parenthood is training our puppies to understand what's expected from them. Even with the best puppy toys and treats, learning how to stop a puppy biting takes a lot of time and effort.
However, in a video shared to Instagram, which you can view below, expert dog trainer Adam Spivey reveals that the key to putting a stop to biting is to teach your pup that biting is boring.
"To stop puppy biting, you have to become boring," Spivey explains. "Stop moving your hand away or making high-pitched squeals. Keep it there so the pup learns that no good comes from biting your hand."
So, why is it so important to keep your arm where it is and not make a big deal out of your puppy's biting or mouthing? According to Spivey, the answer is simple:
"Moving your hand away or high-pitched squeals will often only make it more fun for the pup to bite."
Instead, Spivey says to simply allow your puppy to nip while giving zero reaction or affection. If your fur friend learns that they won't get any attention if they try to engage you in this way, they'll soon tire of the behavior.
Spivey says the key is to make a fuss over your puppy when they're not biting you so that they learn that this is the behavior that gets them the engagement from you that they're looking for.
Looking for more great content to help you navigate the first year of your fur friend's life? Then be sure to check out our guide to how to tire out a puppy to ensure they get the rest they need.
