How to Stop a Pug Puppy From Nipping People

The pug is a toy breed, meaning that it is naturally small and energetic. It is completely natural for a pug puppy to nip people, clothing and other items, especially during the teething phase. Still, this is a habit that you should break early so that your pug does not continue to nip and bite into adulthood.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure the puppy only bites what is acceptable, and remember that friendly gnawing or playing is different from aggressive biting. Additionally, pay attention to what the puppy bites, making sure the puppy is not biting furniture, clothes or skin.

    • 2

      Address the puppy adamantly when it bites skin or items that it should not. Use a word like "ouch" to indicate to the puppy that what it is doing is incorrect. You should be assertive but do not yell, shriek or become angry with the puppy.

    • 3

      Administer a brief timeout if the puppy fails to respond to your indication of dissatisfaction. Isolate the puppy in the room where the incident took place for a period of 30 to 60 seconds. Taking immediate action indicates to the puppy what behavior you are trying to discourage.

    • 4

      Maintain these actions during the course of your puppy's training. Ensure that your response is exactly the same after each occurrence. Failure to follow the same training practice can complicate training, as it may confuse the puppy.

    • 5

      Obtain a product that is intended for puppy training; most of these are natural and will not stain but contain a bitter taste that is disliked by the puppy. These are safe for furniture, clothing and other surfaces, and will not hurt the puppy.