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Dog Training Article's
Name: Zen Dog Training Academe
Puppy Play Biting - Fact versus Fiction
One dog training method myth I'd like to bust is the idea of stopping puppy play biting by holding your dog's nose and saying "NO BITE!"
I feel strongly about this topic because it so obviously contradicts what we know about dogs - one of their primary methods of communication is body language. To quote Carina Norris on BeanTown Dogs.net, "…dogs use a large proportion of this constant motion for communication, as their emotions and intentions are reflected in their movements and posture."
Here's why it's so ridiculous. The second a person touches strokes, caresses, or even "grab's violently" as a way to teach their dog a lesson, their dog is most likely expecting some kind of love and attention. Even more worrisome, is that grabbing a dog while is he play biting (more highly stimulated/aroused) the dog is even less likely to understand what a person is trying to tell them. Your dog may be thinking -- "I'm revved up and you what to play the Hold My Mouth Game? Great! I love that game, let me at em'?!"
According to the SF SPCA, dogs, are prey animals with extremely strong jaws, who often use 'ritualized aggression' - threats, body postures and inhibited bites to communicate. The ability to bite without maiming is rehearsed during puppyhood - with play biting! Dogs learn to inhibit their bite in the pack. In the wild, if one puppy bites another too hard, play grinds to a temporary halt, which teaches the biter to become gentler in order to keep play going.
What to do?
While your puppy is young, (6-18 weeks) some minor play biting should be allowed as long as it doesn't get too hard. If your dog bites too hard, you should say "Ouch" to let your dog know they hurt you, and immediately withhold ALL attention! (Touch, eye contact, voice) As with almost all dog training, timing is of the utmost importance.
Ideally, if your dog bites you hard, you should say "Ouch" then quickly get up and leave the play pen. Your dog will soon learn that hard bites makes the play stop AND even worse, you to go away. After withholding attention for 5-20 seconds, go back and try to pet your dog again, focusing around the mouth and head, are they still trying to bite? Go back to "Ouch!" and start from the beginning.
Once your puppy is old enough to have acquired bite inhibition (ABI) which should be around week 18, should you phase play biting out all together. Teach alternative behaviors by using the golden rule: Interrupt / Redirect / Provide legal alternative.
Remember not all dogs are created the same, some dogs may just get more excited when you say "Ouch!" so you have to make less noise (deep intake of breath, almost a whimper) and in some cases there maybe early stages of aggression or resource guarding. Aggressive behaviors that do not get better over time, if you suspect you have an aggressive dog, get yourself into competent professional hands.
About the author:
Gordon Fontaine, founder of Zen Dog Training is a graduate of Jean Donaldson's, SF SPCA Dog Trainer Academy www.SFSPCA.org. Gordon specializes in puppy training and travels the Boston area providing in-home dog training. Gordon also teaches Aikido a Japanese martial art and group puppy classes every week in Belmont, MA.
More information on SPCA Certified Trainers - http://www.sfspca.org/academy/referral.shtml
More information on Zen Dog Training - www.BostonZenDog.com
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