As any owner of a new puppy knows, nipping and gentle bites are a normal part of the first few months of a puppy’s life. This is especially true with dogs like German Shepherds because they have a strong prey drive, but this nipping and biting can also quickly get out of hand. German Shepherds are powerful, loyal, and fearless animals, and it’s vital to stop this habit early on to prevent future aggressive behavior.
German Shepherds are herding breeds, and as such, it’s in their genes to keep their flock in check. This often comes out as biting and nipping, but puppies will also bite when they are teething and to taste the world around them. This can, of course, quickly get out of hand if not taken care of swiftly. In this article, we look at the reasons behind German Shepherd puppies biting and seven steps to help stop the behavior. Let’s dive in!
- Use Special Toys for Play. …
- Say OUCH! …
- Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates. …
- Offer Them Frozen Kongs. …
- Use Redirections. …
- Use Daily Leadership Skills. …
- Take the Quiet Approach. …
- Engage in Structured Exercise.
Why Do German Shepherd Puppies Bite So Much?
These pups are often referred to as land sharks because they tend to nip and bite. So what is it that makes GSD puppies particularly nippy?
There are a handful of reasons which well dive into next…
Puppy Biting is in The Genes
If youre already the lucky parent of a German Shepherd puppy, youve probably noticed that your puppy is particularly nippy during the natural biting phase.
You might even have seen a meme like the one below depicting the “Evolution of the German Shepherd Puppy” and how it pertains to soft mouth training.
And its a funny meme for sure. But so much of the nipping and biting is linked to their breed and genetics.
10 Extra Tips to Reduce German Shepherd Puppy Biting
Now, heres the stinky truth: you cant stop puppy nipping overnight! Actually to be honest not even in days or weeks. However, you can take steps to reduce its occurrence dramatically.
Heres the thing: For nippy puppies, its important taking a multi-faceted approach. In other words, address all their needs at various levels and use some smart training methods that enforce alternate, more desirable behaviors. With time, these behaviors should start outranking the nipping.
FAQ
How do you discipline a German Shepherd for biting?
How do I stop my German Shepherd puppy from biting and jumping?