Don’t stare down, drag, or hold down your puppy
Behavior meant to threaten will teach your dog to fear or challenge you, and physical manipulation prompts them to defend themselves. Neither path produces the outcome you desire, and even if these methods bring your puppy to submissiveness now, they could lead to pent-up aggression which can manifest itself later. The issue is that all dogs, even the best-trained and well-behaved dogs, have a breaking point.
How do you scold your puppy? Puppies learn from the signals we give them, so if our tone of voice seems overly anxious or out of control, they will in turn become anxious and hyperactive. It seems logical that your puppy would be more attentive to your commands if they are loud or angry, but dog trainers recommend using a calm, but firm, tone instead.
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How to discipline a puppy for biting?
Puppies bite. It’s a simple fact of owning a young puppy that you will need to deal with puppy biting. However, it’s important to note that puppies often bite for a reason, and dealing with the underlying reason is much more effective than punishing a puppy for biting.
First, you’ll want to try and figure out why your puppy is biting.
Are they overtired? Puppies should sleep at least 20 hours most days.
Are they teething? Puppies will lose their baby teeth and gain their adult teeth when they are around 4-6 months old.
Are they overstimulated? Puppies can get overwhelmed with new things and turn to a natural behavior, such as biting and chewing, for stress relief.
Once you know why your puppy may be biting you, it’s time to figure out a solution.
For puppies that are overtired, it’s time to put your puppy in their crate or pen for a nap.
For puppies that are teething, it’s time to give them a chew toy to soothe their mouths, such as a frozen Kong.
For puppies that are overwhelmed, it’s time to give them a break and some space.
In general, if you can’t redirect your puppy to a toy or another appropriate activity, it’s time for them to have a break and some alone time to either calm down or take a nap.
How to Correctly Tell a Dog Off! Dog Discipline VS. Punishment!
Puppies are most certainly not born knowing the rules of living in a human world, and it can be incredibly frustrating to help them navigate boundaries. If you are a puppy owner, you may find yourself wondering when and how you should discipline a puppy.
There are many different types of discipline that various trainers may impose upon a puppy. However, some of these punishment methods can be incredibly damaging – physically and/or mentally – to your puppy.
In this article, we’ll explore punishments and discipline that can be effective without causing harm to your young puppy.