My lab pointer loves to nip and bite, she could be an extraordinarily playful dog but what she does not get is that her little nips and bites can do some damage to my skin and other peoples' skin. Although nipping and biting is fun and harmless in a puppydog or kitten, it isn't when a full-grown dog with full-grown fangs does it.

It is vital to keep your pet under control and educate them when they are young so they know what behavior is satisfactory and what isn't. Worse yet, if your pet starts off believing that nipping and biting is OK it can turn into more assertive behavior, so to stop the nipping and biting by following these steps.

A method to stop your pet's relentless nipping and biting is to provide them with enough toys that they can play with and put in their mouth. When my dogs were puppies I frequently let them bite or nip on my fingers , however , you don't want to permit them to do that all the time because they will think your fingers are there for them to chew. Providing them with enough toys to pinch and bite gets their mind off of your fingers. For dogs, rubber toys or rawhide bones are ideal for them to chew. For pussies, a rag or play mouse is perfect for them to play with.

Next time your pet attempts to nip or bite your fingers, let out a yelp similar to the sound of another animal. If your pet believes they have hurt you, they are going to realize that biting or nipping at your fingers is not a nice thing to do. They may even lick your fingers. When your pet stops after your howl, ensure you give them a nice pat or a treat.

This next strategy always worked for me. A straightforward, loud, and firm NO! And ignoring them for a few minutes always seemed to do the job. The firmness and solemnity of your voice will alert your pet to the proven fact that biting and nipping on you is not acceptable. And when you stop playing with them they feel ignored and eventually will associate your unhappiness with their nipping and biting. You may also grab their collar, look them firmly in the eye and shake them sharply informing them who the boss is.

For answers to other questions about pug training, go here How to train a german shepherd

Written by Harvey Wolfe using tags: rawhide bones

The jaw muscles of a dog are some of the strongest muscles in the animal kingdom. The Golden retriever, which is just average sized can strip and tear apart a thick Rawhide bone in just a couple of minutes. And that is why it is a pity that they can treat furniture the same way.

Different breeds will have different tendencies to chew and that is why owners need to know their own breed's behavior patterns. However, mostly all dogs will chew on objects in and about the house. This is why it is important to focus their attention on objects intended for them. Still, making the dog do this can be very difficult.

Puppies and younger dogs definitely do not discriminate between whatever they chew. However, owners can train dogs in such a manner that they do not chew on objects which Owners want them to keep away from.

This can be done by making sure that an object that might cause temptation is put away from the dog's reach. That is also why dogs should not gain easy access to laundry and items like shoes to chew upon. Another good idea is to keep the dog's toys away from children's toys.

One can also keep a large number of attractive toys at different locations, both indoors and outdoors, which can be chewed by the dog. Some of these items may include hard rubber, plastic bones, and rawhide bones according to the breed one has. It is not suggested to give a real bone like a chicken bone to a dog, because it might splinter and cause internal injuries.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of toys made especially for dogs and some of them have treats in hollow interiors. A dog needs to work really hard to get to the treat and not only is it going to have a good physical and mental workout, but it is going to get a treat reward at the end of the activity.

One can also admonished the dog firmly especially when it decides to chew upon unsuitable objects. However, yelling or sharp physical punishment is not desirable. So instead of yelling at one's dog, one needs to vent that anger and frustration somewhere else. That is not easily done, but has to be followed, for a harmonious relationship between the pet and the master.

The development of specific habits can be done by leashing the dog. Then an unsuitable object has to be placed near the dog. The moment, the dog approaches it, the leash should be jerked sideways, and No said very firmly.

Remember that the leash always has to be jerked sideways, instead of the neck being yanked back. The muscles of the neck are strong, but the throat can be bruised easily. The jerking movement is not a punishment, but reinforcement.

A dog may have the tendency of chewing objects found outside like fences, chairs, plants and other items. Such behavior can be contained by coating homemade mixtures like cayenne pepper, upon the surfaces which the dog likes to chew. Some commercial products also have bitter apple, which discourages the dog from chewing any surface.

Successful dog training can only be done with consistency, patience and a lot of persistence. The idea behind stopping chewing is not to start a new behavior pattern, but to "suppress" a natural behavior pattern.

Often, redirecting the dog to acceptable objects is the best bet since it is impossible to eliminate the dog's instincts. That is why it is necessary to be calm and vigilant. Keep your cool even when the dog chews on the new carpet. Objects can be replaced. A good relationship with a pet cannot.

Written by Terry Zinndell using tags: rawhide bones