Pooch and Mutt's expert trainer, Jon, is here to show us step-by-step how to deter your puppy from mouthing.
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. It's a natural instinct to get their chops around something but when they get too rambunctious it can get a little out of hand - especially when they get older. To deter your pup from learning problematic behaviour, and to keep them from sinking their teeth into something they shouldn't, they should be taught to keep their mouthing at bay from an early age.
Puppy mouthing: Top tips on how to stop it
- Mouthing is an instinctive behaviour that puppies usually grow out of after their teething phase. Their teeth ache so they mouth and chew anything that will alleviate or soothe that.
- Make sure that your puppy has plenty of different chew type toys to take their frustrations out on. There are so many on the market and you’ll quickly work out your puppy’s favourite type.
- Mouthing tends to happen when we handle the puppy. With prevention being easier than the cure, it’s better that we don’t inadvertently encourage mouthing.
- Puppies learn through experience, so don’t teach them to mouth by letting them use your finger as a chew toy or worse play fight with your hand. This is teaching the puppy that teeth on human skin is ok.
- Puppies repeat mouthing behaviour with us because it prompts a reaction. We move our fingers away from them erratically and quickly, this can activate their prey or hunting drive; it becomes a game to them.
- When tackling mouthing, try to keep all physical interactions between you and the puppy calm, quiet and measured. Excitement is a trigger for mouthing, so don’t interact in a way that will rile them up.
- As soon as the puppy tests your hand or finger with their mouth, sharply tell them “No” and stop stroking. Keep hold of them but don’t move.
- If they try again, tell them “no” again but with a bit more energy. This should be enough to deter most puppies. As soon they stop doing it, it is important that you immediately continue to stroke and give them affection.
- If the puppy is mouthing when you pick them up to move them or just to care for them, don’t put them down else they will connect mouthing to getting what they want.
- Instead, hold the puppy. They may struggle for a bit and try to get their mouth on you. Don’t put the puppy down until they're calm and not struggling.
When it does stop, calmly praise them for a few seconds, to be sure it isn’t going to start mouthing again. When you are sure, the puppy is still calm, put them down.
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