3) Invest in a Flirt Pole
A flirt pole can become your best friend and take most of the nipping in place of you. Most pups find it irresistible!
As your German shepherd puppy therefore approaches you with an intent to bite (I can tell it from the pups expression on the face) dangle the flirt pole in his face and let him play with it. I recommend training your puppy how to leave it and drop to add some structure to the game. Please note: it is important to catch your German shepherd puppy *before* he actually bites. Once your puppy is already actively nipping and tugging on your clothes, he may not be easily redirected as when catching him *before* he hold on to you and tugs.
Redirect the Biting with a Chew Toy
It’s vital to quickly redirect your German Shepherd’s biting by giving him an alternative, such as offering a chew toy or a teething ring. Make sure you have a range of chew toys everywhere and keep them in your pocket at all times, so you always have quick access to them when the biting starts.
Be one step ahead of your dog. As soon as you anticipate your German Shepherd will bite or even if you slightly miss the moment of the nip or chew, quickly distract him and redirect his behavior towards the chew toy.
Check out the KONG Puppy Toy from Amazon. This is not only great for chewing but also for playing chase and fetch. KONG is my favorite brand of dog toys. You can learn more about why I like these and see pictures of my German Shepherd using them in this article, 15 Best Chew Toys For German Shepherds.
Other good alternatives are rope toys such as this handy puppy selection from Amazon. You can also soak these in water and pop them in the freezer for a while, as the cold rope will help to soothe your pups’ gums. You can also try frozen vegetables such as carrots, but remember to supervise your young puppy when feeding treats.
By the way, if you are considering buying a product or toy for your dog, check out my favorite gear below. Also, check out the 10-year warranty on the dog bed!
Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation.
In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action.
Training treats are the most effective reward when training your young pup, and it’s helpful to always have these to hand or in your pocket. Zuke’s Puppy Naturals from Amazon are ideal as they are tiny and only 3.5 calories per treat so that you won’t feel guilty!
You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose.
You can also use cuddling and petting in reward-based training; however, don’t pat your dog’s head as most dogs dislike this. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd.
What Not to Do When Discipling a Dog for Biting – The Don’ts
Punishing your German Shepherd is never fun – for both of you! It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. So, let’s now look at what not to do when disciplining your dog.
3 SIMPLE WAYS TO STOP PUPPY BITING! – Training German Shepherd not to Bite.
If you find it cute that your little German Shepherd puppy is biting your hand, think again!
If you encourage them when they bite or make ‘aww’ sounds, it will adopt biting as a habit. However, once a GSD pup grows, its biting habits are not cute at all. Trust me on this one.