How To Get Your Dog To Stop Nipping

Both dogs and puppies are prone to a behavior known as “nipping.” Especially prominent in herding dogs, nipping is an instinctual dog behavior designed to keep “herds” in place. It is also common in puppies as a way to deal with teething. Regardless of the reason for nipping, it is a behavior that can be at minimum annoying and at maximum a little bit painful.

Training your dog out of nipping depends on the age of your dog. As mentioned, puppies often nip due to teething, so reducing these behaviors is easier than a dog that nips as an adult.

Nipping in Puppies

Just like infants, a teething dog feels an overwhelming urge to chomp down on something. Often times the thing that looks the most chewable is your toes, fingers or sock. Training a puppy out of nipping requires two different steps:

1. First, when your puppy tries to nip at your foot, make a loud, whiney “yelp” sound and look your puppy in the eyes. This will teach your puppy that nipping can hurt, and it will be less tempted to do so.
2. Second, after you have made the yelp sound, take your feet/socks away from your puppy and replace it with something they are allowed to chew, such as a rope. Your puppy needs to chew something, so giving it an alternate item once it tries to chew on your toes is usually enough to move the behavior to something more appropriate.

Nipping in Grown Dogs

If you have an older dog that is still nipping, chances are very slim that your dog is trying act out. Rather, the likelihood is that your dog is simply used to communicating with its teeth. It may be hungry or trying to get you to play. Dealing with your dog requires firm training:

1. Any confusion about when nipping is “okay” is going to make it hard to get your dog to stop nipping. When you say “No,” you must say no to every little nibble, even if it does not bother you. You should even say no if your dog comes near nipping you. Be firm – if you let your dog nip at all, it is not going to understand when you want it to stop nipping later.
2. Play less aggressive games – Take a break from tug of war, teasing, and other games that are generally acceptable but teach your dog that biting something aggressively is okay. Fetch should still be acceptable.
3. Remove the area that your dog is trying to nip and replace it with a toy that your dog is allowed to chew. Be sure not to hold on to the rope, because you do not your dog to think you are about to play tug of war.

Nipping is a common but easy to manage dog behavior. When you remain firm and give your dog a new toy to play with, it is easy to reduce the nipping and help yourself live pain free. To learn more about dealing with dog behaviors, read about our newsletter.