Dogs can often be prone to biting hands and fingers if they are distracted, excited, or engaged in play. The key to overcoming this habit is to identify what triggers this behaviour, and then redirect your puppy by giving them a toy. If you’re trying to get your puppy to stop biting your hands and fingers, consider engaging in activities that have a lower risk of physical contact, such as playing fetch instead of wrestling.
Bitter apple spray
If your puppy is prone to biting and chewing your hands and furniture, you can spray him with bitter apple spray to stop him from doing so. The spray contains a bitter substance that can actually be unpleasant for your pup. Because dogs don’t like the taste, you can apply it to your puppy’s hands and legs to prevent him from doing this. It can be effective in stopping the behavior, but you have to repeat this process a number of times, and this can take a few days. You should be aware that some dogs are stubborn and will refuse to respond to this treatment, and that the spray may not have any effect at all. Therefore, you need to be patient and understand your puppy’s motivation to stop this habit.
The spray contains water, isopropanol (20%), and bitter principles and extractives. It should not contain tea tree oil, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Rather, look for sprays that only contain purified water, emulsifier, copaiba oil, and a bitter agent.
Another popular anti-chew spray is Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray, which was developed by a pharmacist in the 1960s. Despite its bitter taste, it has no odor for humans and doesn’t stain clothes or furniture. Although the spray isn’t effective for every dog, it consistently gets higher ratings from customers than other chew deterrents.
Bitter apple spray is a deterrent that works by influencing your dog’s sense of smell. When your puppy sees this spray, it associates it with a bad taste. Using it on your hands will discourage your puppy from repeating this behavior. This spray is not harmful, but it can be irritating to your dog’s eyes and mouth.
Cotton gloves coated with a substance with an unpleasant taste
Using cotton gloves coated with an unpleasant taste can help you train your puppy not to bite your hands. By squirting your puppy with this spray, you will quickly prevent them from nipping and biting on your hands.
Time-out procedure
When your puppy begins to bite your hands, you should use the time-out procedure to stop it. This involves tying the dog to something solid for three minutes. This will teach the puppy that biting will have consequences. Another alternative is to leave the puppy alone. This works 50% of the time.
A leash is a great tool to use for the time-out procedure. Using a long leash, you can tether your puppy so that he can’t escape. To tether your puppy, you should use a leash that is three feet long. Then, you can hold it and lead it to a quiet area. Once the puppy is quiet, turn around and untether him.
Another method to use is a taste deterrent. This is another way to discourage your puppy from biting your hands. After applying it to your dog, wait for a reaction. If your puppy stops biting after a few seconds, give a reward. Do this for two weeks. Remember, this is a normal behavior for a puppy, so be patient with your puppy and keep applying the taste deterrent.
Another technique is using a squirt bottle or spray to put on the dog’s mouth. The spray or lotion should make the taste of human hands unappealing for it to stop the behavior. You can also use a toy to redirect the dog to a more appropriate activity. If your puppy bites your hands frequently, you might want to try games that involve less physical contact, such as playing fetch.
While this method may be effective for younger puppies, it is best to start early and avoid rewarding a puppy for mouthing your hands. The goal is to teach the puppy that mouthing your hands is not acceptable and should be replaced with a more appropriate activity.
Teaching your puppy not to bite
Whenever your puppy starts to bite your hands, stop what you’re doing and make a loud yelp sound. Then, let your pup cool off in his crate. When he does so again, repeat the yelping sound. This will teach your puppy to stop biting hands.
If your puppy continues to bite your hands, try placing your hand in front of its mouth. Then, if he doesn’t bite, reward him. You can also wave your hand in front of his face slowly. You don’t want to set him up for failure. It’s better to give a treat than to make your puppy bite your hand.
In order to discourage your puppy from chewing your hands, you can give him a small chew bone or a chew toy instead. This will help redirect his attention when you want to pet him. Also, it will keep his mouth busy and help him learn to love people. You can also use a gated area or a crate to confine him.
It’s important to understand that your puppy is simply trying to explore the world around him. It needs to learn to regulate its mouth and not to bite too hard. While this is natural, it is not a desirable behavior. If your puppy bites your hands, it may cause you to have to stop playing with him.
You should also avoid scolding your puppy. Having a dog that bites people can put you and your family at risk. This behavior can also lead to destructive behavior in the future. If your puppy continues to bite, it’s a good idea to hire a professional dog trainer. It’s never good to let your puppy grow up with bad habits.
Avoiding physical punishment
Avoiding physical punishment is one of the best ways to stop a puppy from biting your hands. Instead of yelling or physically punishing your dog, take a few minutes to collect your thoughts and regroup. Whether your puppy bites your hands or not, it is important to remember that physical punishment only serves to reinforce a negative behavior, and it will only make your puppy afraid of handling your hands again.
Avoiding physical punishment is not always possible, especially for young puppies. Physical punishment can cause stress, teething, and fear, which can lead to even worse behavior. In addition, it can also lead to an increase in aggression. If you are unable to prevent a puppy from biting your hands, try using other methods of punishment.
During play-time, start by saying, “Ouch!” if your puppy bites your hand moderately hard. If your puppy continues to bite you, disengage from play-time. Repeat this process until your puppy no longer bites your hands. As time goes by, you can start enforcing stricter rules.
Yelling is ineffective and may confuse your puppy. Using a high-pitched yelp will startle your puppy, and they will likely stop their mouthing behavior if they get the message that a bite is not acceptable.
