HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PUPPY:
Our Body language, including, walking toward or away, our facial expressions, the pitch of our voice all inform our puppies about how we are feeling. If you want your puppy to be social with your family and friends then you must help him learn that humans can be trusted.Training with intimidation or dominance often creates an anxious or aggressive dog.
I highly recommend you engage with your puppies toys to put value on them! Yes, I mean look at your pups toy, carry it around as you ask your puppy to walk with you. Focus on the toy and your puppy will follow your lead!
Puppies use their mouths to interact with their mother and siblings. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to teach your puppy what to bite! Never let anyone use harsh handling on a puppy as it does not make sense to your puppy. They just learn that hands are scary which will cause some pups to avoid you or worse, some pups will bite everyone's hands but the Alpha person in your home. NOT what you want.
Link to tug toys on ropes:
us.tug-e-nuff.com/collections...
If you allow harsh handling:
** Holding your puppies mouth shut - (hands are scary, veterinary care will be stressful)
**Sticking your finger down their throat - (hands cause pain, some pups will bite back)
**Yelling "NO" at them - (people are scary, avoid them by looking or moving away)
You will likely end up with an anxious or aggressive adult dog. We know dogs who are trained with cues that makes sense to the puppy mature to be well adjusted adult dogs. Body Handle your puppy often, using gentle hands so they learn to enjoy body handling.
If you encourage gentle handling:
**Gently touch your pup’s ears, mouth, feet, tummy and tail while feeding them.
**Teach them tug!
**Carry a toy around to teach them that toys are fun!
This will make sense to your puppy and teach them what to bite.
**BONUS:Veterinary visits will be less stressful for them!
ENGAGEMENT should be build on mutual respect.
Social Lures involves using your body and voice to engage your pup. At times, rather than using food, I like to clap my hands and back away, lean forward and talk silly, and use physical touch when the puppy greets me. Social lures can be very rewarding to a dog and are the beginning of a great for Recall.
Food Lure - Food is a wonderful motivator for our pups. Always reward wanted behavior and ignore unwanted behavior. Food lures are a great way to begin teaching many behaviors.
Toy Lures should be used to play tug during all puppy stages. This is a great way to teach them a soft mouth and a “drop” behavior.
Playtime with other dogs builds confidence and biting is how puppies learn a soft mouth & bite inhibition. Be specific about who you let your puppy play with as rough playmates will teach your pup to play roughly. Watch for play with a pause and that it is 50/50 for each dog. Never put your puppy in a daycare or pack play setting until he/she has had nearly a year of positive play sessions. One harsh reprimand can set you up for a lifetime of dog aggression.