Page 308 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

308 C ARE AND TR AINING

PLAY-BITING
If your puppy is a persistent play-biter, keep a
soft toy nearby to grab quickly whenever you
spend time playing with him. Use a big toy so
that you can hold onto it without needing to
put your hands too close to your dog’s teeth.

Teething troubles
Dogs investigate the world with their
mouths. Young dogs in particular want
to chew everything they come across to
find out more about it. This habit often
becomes more pronounced at around
4 months of age, when puppies begin
to lose their first teeth. It is natural for
puppies to play-bite their littermates,
but they must learn never to use their
teeth on humans in the same way. This
lesson is an important part of teaching
a young dog good manners. When
your puppy play-bites at your hand,
form a fist to make it harder for him to
chew and offer him a soft toy instead.
Engage him with the toy and play a
fun game with him, but stop if his
teeth touch your hand. Either get up
immediately and walk away to indicate
the game has ended or keep your hand
still and let out a yelp as another puppy
would do.

TRAINING | TAKING FOOD GENTLY

Hold a tasty treat firmly in your fist and show it to your dog. Keep When your puppy moves away from your hand, even for
1 t still as he tries to get the treat, but do not open it if he is 2 a moment, open your fist and allow him to take the treat.
our fis
y
touching your hand or chewing or pawing it. This will teach him not to snatch food but to wait for it calmly.

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