Puppy biting ankles

[adrian hyslop]

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My puppy has taken to nipping our ankles.he is jack Russell/ pug..he dosent do it constantly just the odd occasion..I do tell him off in a firm voice and tap him on the bottom but I'm wondering wether I'm just better off ignoring him as when I tell him off he thinks it's a game.he is 5 months old I realise he is probably teething

 

[JudyN]

As you've discovered, telling them off doesn't usually work. And smacking their bums will either seem like part of a fun game, or scary abuse - you really don't want him ever to be scared by your hand coming towards him. Ignoring him is the way to go - by which I mean calmly walk away to somewhere he can't get you, or pop him behind a stairgate or other barrier, so effectively giving him a timeout. No need to say anything at all - you just want him to learn that when he puts his teeth on you, the fun stops.

He only needs to be in 'timeout' for, literally, 5-10 seconds. Then let him out and return to what you were doing. He'll probably go straight for your ankles again, so calmly put him back in timeout. Let him out, put him back in, rinse and repeat... Eventually he will twig and will hesitate before biting you. He might then still bite you anyway because he's young and doesn't have much self-control, but it's a good start

Other strategies are to always have a toy in your hand that you can stick in his mouth when he gets that look in his eye, and to make sure he does have plenty of things he can chew. Cardboard boxes to shred are popular. Also, wear old clothes so you're not stressed about him damaging them and will find it easier to keep calm. Some people even wear wellies!

I like the video It's Yer Choice' for teaching a dog impulse control to help him actually control the urge to bite: