How To Stop Puppy Biting And Build Focus In Less Than 10 Minutes, by Dogs That on YouTube. 13 min 56 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 56 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Stop luring your puppy with food held in your hand. Luring teaches the puppy to watch and grab at hands, which feeds the biting you want to end.
Start with a short tug game using a toy, not your hands. Let the puppy win, then pause and wait for it to release before tugging again.
Play ItsYerChoice with the toy. Hold the toy still and wait for the puppy to back off or look at you before you start the game again.
Use a spotlight cue such as Cook to mark the moment the puppy chooses to look at you instead of the toy or your hands.
Repeat ItsYerChoice with food. Show a treat in a closed hand, wait for the puppy to stop mugging, then reward the calm choice.
Send the puppy to search for a treat with a Spotlight Search cue. Searching gives the puppy a job and breaks the habit of grabbing at hands.
Teach a mat target. Reward the puppy for standing or lying on the mat, then build duration a few seconds at a time.
Keep sessions short, lively and fun. End while the puppy is still succeeding, then repeat the games daily to grow confidence.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep sessions under a few minutes so the puppy does not get overexcited and start nipping again.
Never yank your hand away fast, since quick movement can make a puppy chase and bite harder.
Reward the choice to disengage, not just the trick, so the puppy learns to think before acting.
If the puppy keeps biting, end the game calmly and give it a short break.
Questions
How long until my puppy stops biting?
It varies with age and practice. Short daily games that reward calm choices usually reduce hand grabbing over a few weeks as the puppy learns to focus on you.
Can I still use treats in my hand?
Yes, but keep them hidden and reward after the puppy makes a good choice. Holding food out as a lure is what encourages mugging and nipping.
What if my puppy ignores the games?
Move to a quieter room and use a higher value treat or toy. Build one game at a time before layering them together.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
