You've just had your new puppy, who is cute and cuddly. You're delighted to have him, and he's delighted to have a family. But wait, that's just the start. Jumping on people and chewing are two habits that need to be addressed right away.
Jumping on people
This is a dilemma that you or others can unintentionally contribute to. That little tail is wagging because he's so adorable, and isn't socialization and getting used to people important? Of course, socialization and acclimating to new situations are important, but encouraging him to leap on people isn't the best way to go about it. Imagine your little puppy growing up to be a full-grown 80-100 pound dog. Will he be as adorable when he hops on people? No, even if he leaps on children or small adults, it would be risky because he will quickly knock them down.
Of course, the perfect way to take care of this is when he is a puppy. When the puppy leaps upon you or another person, softly put the puppy's paws on the ground. If he continues to stand there, make sure to lavish attention on him. Give him an option other than jumping up. Puppies jump up on people to show their excitement, so it's crucial to channel the aggression in a more socially appropriate way. Instead of standing up, instruct the puppy to show his paw. It's crucial to be consistent when training the dog not to hop up on strangers. Any training regimen requires consistency, and all household members and mates must recognize that the puppy is not supposed to leap on them at any time.
Biting
Biting seems to be something that every puppy does, and it is something that every puppy must be told not to do. Like many other habits, Biting and nipping can seem adorable while the puppy is young, but it becomes much less so when he grows older, bigger, and stronger.
Many puppies learn to suppress their biting instinct from their mothers and littermates if they are left to their own devices. The mother dog or the other puppies will easily correct the puppy if it becomes too excited while breastfeeding or playing.
Unfortunately, since often puppies are taken from their mothers while they are still young, this form of natural correction rarely occurs. As a result, it is up to you to take control of this crucial operation.
One of the easiest and most successful ways to show the puppy the right and inappropriate ways to bite and curb the biting reaction is to socialize the puppy with other dogs and puppies.
Puppy playtime and puppy kindergarten courses are offered by many families and pet shops. They can be excellent opportunities for dogs to socialize with each other and other people and livestock. The puppies will instinctively bite and nip each other as they play together. When one puppy is too rough or bites too hard, the other puppies will correct him right away.
When the puppy is still young, it is the perfect time to begin socializing it. Any dog must be properly socialized, as an improperly socialized dog, or one that has never been socialized may become unsafe and even neurotic. Puppies should be socialized until they hit the age of 12 weeks, or three months, according to most experts.
Another cause for early socialization is that mothers with small children may be hesitant to encourage their children to play with older or bigger dogs, which is understandable. Since socializing the dog with other humans is almost as critical as socializing the dog with other dogs, it's best to do it when the puppy is already young enough to not be a liability to anybody.
During the socialization process, the puppy must be introduced to a lot of various stimuli. Other species can be introduced to the puppy during the socialization period, including other puppies, adult dogs, cats, and other household animals. Furthermore, the dog should be introduced to as many individuals as possible, including small girls, the elderly, men and women, and people of various ethnic backgrounds.
Although socialization is important for teaching the puppy life lessons and keeping him from attacking, it is not the only way to save the puppy from biting and mouthing. Giving the puppy appropriate toys to bite and play with is another effective method to prevent unwanted biting. To avoid boredom, keep the puppy's teeth polished, and keep him from eating anything he shouldn't, include a range of chew toys, strings, and other items for him to chew.
When teaching the puppy not to bite, consistency is crucial, as it is in all instruction. Everyone in the house, as well as any close friends who might come to visit, should be advised that the puppy should not bite. When one person encourages the puppy to pick on them and the others do not, the puppy will get confused and the training phase will become even more complex than it needs to be.
