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How To Train A Puppy Not To Bite

March 23, 2020 by Mary Telesz

Puppy gnawing on finger If you’re a first-time puppy owner, you may feel both excited and terrified. Don’t worry; you’re far from being alone! Young dogs often need time to learn different patterns of good behavior, like learning not to bite anyone. For most breeds, biting and chewing on limbs and objects is normal for the first few weeks, but not after three or four months of age. The ability to train your puppy not to bite shouldn’t be a daunting task, it’s easier than it seems!

A recent study by caninejournal.com showed that there were 4.5 million dog bites in the United States in 2016 (out of roughly 78 million dogs in the nation), although only 19% of these incidents resulted in injuries. This analysis also found that Kangals, English Mastiffs and Wolfdogs had the strongest bite, while Dobermans, German Shepherds and Pitbulls were determined to be less aggressive when it comes to biting.

Here is a guide on how to train a puppy not to bite.

Praising Good Behavior Moments

Positive reinforcement isn’t just an important mechanism to use with young children; it can also be a highly effective method to use with puppies. Whenever your puppy obeys a command like “sit” or “stay,” reward them with verbal praise. A simple comment like “good boy” (or “good girl”) can go a long way toward helping him or her become less aggressive. Creating a safe space for your puppy is important so that he or she does not feel threatened.

Using A Stern Voice For Negative Behaviors

Just like good behavior merits praise, your puppy should be reprimanded for any bad habits. This means finding a sufficiently loud and authoritative voice and using certain words (like “no” or “stop”) to punish your puppy. Don’t go too far, however and terrify your pet to the point of driving him or her away from you and your home.

Substitute Skin For Novel Toys

Puppy biting toyIf your puppy develops an affinity for biting or chewing on certain body parts (like fingers or legs), consider introducing him/her to novel toys to play fetch with, like plush bones, balls, treat-dispensing toys or even puzzle toys. Always keep these in an easily accessible place. Once he or she plays safely and gently with these toys, you can try switching to outdoor objects like frisbees. Repeat until your puppy responds in a quick and gentle manner.

Taking puppies to a dog park once they have developed a series of good behavior patterns can also be beneficial to their well-being.

Time Out

Just like mischievous children, puppies who misbehave should be scolded with time out to let them calm down and learn to treat people and sensitive objects with respect and care. You can even send your pet to a designated time out area, like a corner. Ignoring your puppy for a few minutes after a bite can also work. In extreme cases, a taste deterrent, like a lotion, can also be used to punish your puppy. Keeping a leash on your pet during time-out can also let you monitor him or her more closely.

As a general rule, there are certain actions you should avoid taking when working to train your puppy not to bite or become aggressive. These actions include hitting the sides of his or her face, making extremely sudden movements, or sticking your hands down the throat.

Ask For Help From Local Paw Experts

Reach out to the experienced professionals at Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC to learn more about the most effective ways to teach a puppy not to bite. Based in Centreville, Virginia, Paw Pals serves pet owners in Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Manassas and Reston.

Puppy being scolded and put in time out Paw Pals, which also provides dog-walking services, was founded by family woman and proud Australian Shepherd owner Mary Telesz, who has worked as a pet sitter for more than 15 years.

A standard, 30-minute visit for a puppy costs as low as $24 ($3 for each additional dog). These visits typically include playtime, brushing and treats, as well as provision of any medications if necessary. Additional fees may apply for overnight sitting and extra services like dog supply pick-up, transportation and waste pickup. Paw Pals are bonded, licensed and completely insured, as well as PetTech certified in FirstAid and PetCPR. Call Paw Pals today at (703) 345-1695 or contact them online to learn more about their services or to schedule an appointment.

Filed Under: Pet Training

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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