How to Keep My Dog From Nipping

Nipping by a dog usually is a form of play biting. It is one of the most common behavioral problems of puppies. Most dogs nip because this is the type of play they engage in with their litter mates. It's fine for puppies to play this way with each other, but humans find those sharp little teeth painful when they chomp into a finger. Fortunately, there are ways to correct this behavior

Things You'll Need

  • Dog chew toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin with prevention. Don't let your dog use your hand as a chew toy. It always helps to avoid a problem before it starts.

    • 2

      Don't overreact if nipped. Don't holler or wave your hands around if the dog nips you. It will find this great fun and continue the misbehavior.

    • 3

      Place your hands behind your back and give the dog a forceful command to stop nipping. Say "no" or "stop" in a firm voice.

    • 4

      Use toys to redirect the dog from nipping your hand. If the dog starts going for your hand, give it a chew toy.

    • 5

      Talk with a dog trainer if the problem persists. Sometimes nipping leads to serious biting behavior if not corrected.