It can be a trying experience when your new puppy starts biting you. You finally get the pup home, and then they start nipping at your fingers or toes.
It’s not just frustrating; it’s also worrisome thinking about what kind of dog this little guy will turn out to be! But don’t worry – there are plenty of things you can do to stop a springer spaniel puppy biting!
What Can You Do to Stop a Springer Spaniel Puppy From Biting You?
The first thing you need to do is figure out why your puppy bites.
Puppies are teething, so they might be biting because their gums hurt, and it feels good when biting down onto something, so it’s only natural they are going to want to do it.
But biting and mouthing people is not acceptable puppies have pin-sharp teeth, and they need to learn fast that it is not ok to bite people.
There are a few things you can do to stop your springer spaniel puppy from biting and mouthing.
- Dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarded – so if you want to stop your puppy from biting, make sure that he doesn’t get any reward out of it.
If he’s biting your hand, for example – don’t give him attention or praise.
Instead, use one FIRM correction command(such as NO, STOP, ETC) then, turn away and ignore the dog with minimal fuss. He will soon learn biting gets him the Opposite of what he wants from you “Attention”.Remember both scolding and praise and even touching your dog count as attention to your dog as they are all interactions.
- Make sure your springer puppy has enough exercise – A puppy that is bored with pent-up energy will likely want to take some of that energy out on anything around him.
That usually means they will mouth, bite and chew and nip anything in sight, be that your hands or your sofa!
So make sure to use exercise to help release his pent-up energy and also tire them out a little, but remember never over-exercise a puppy; they are still growing!
- Another option would be teaching your springer some basic obedience commands – This will help teach discipline, and you will be able to get his attention when he starts getting too excited about playing around.
- Giving them something else they enjoy chewing on – Like an old shoe or chew toy that’s been stuffed with treats and kibble, so it smells more enticing than the fingers of their new owner!
Giving praise when they are chewing their chew toy is always a bonus!
- Get everyone in your dog’s family on board – That means you, your partner, the kids, granny, grandad, everyone needs to be on the same page, so your dog does not get mixed signals for what is ok and not ok.
This will massively speed up any form of training with your dog, and everyone needs to know that if the dog starts biting or mouthing, or nipping you need to do XYZ to prevent it.
- Everyone should use the same commands – It’s also a huge help if everyone in your family can all use the same commands for your dog too, as this avoids confusion (you may say sit, for example, but your kids may say sit down); sit down is effectively two commands (sit and down) down for me, gets my dogs to lay on the floor, so you can see how this may confuse my dogs.
- Consistency is the key to stopping puppy biting and nipping – With any of the tips above, will they work the first time you try them? No, they won’t, but if you are consistent and patient, they will begin to work and help your dog understand what you want from him.
Whatever you do, all puppies will go through the puppy biting phase, but they also need to learn that it’s not ok.
- Finally – don’t forget about the importance and power behind positive reinforcement! If they do something good like sitting or coming when called for a treat, reward them with one immediately afterward
How Long Does It Take for a Springer Puppy to Stop Biting?
Puppies usually bite because they are teething, and as such, most puppy biting stops when they get a complete set of adult teeth.
Most dogs have a full set of adult teeth by around six months of age.
If your pup has a complete set of teeth and still biting, it might be to do with the fact that he needs more stimulation in his life, be that exercise or playtime.
Springer spaniels are very driven dogs and do need both mental and physical activity.
In Summary
Springer spaniel puppy biting is something all springer owners will have to go through, but thankfully it can be controlled with a little training, and it does not last forever! Using the above tips should have you on the way to a more well-behaved puppy in no time!
It can become frustrating at times but don’t give up on your little guy just yet!
Disclaimer
Myspringerspaniel.com does not provide veterinary advice. We aim to provide you with information to enable you to make a good decision when making a purchase or to care for your dog.
All content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If you’re concerned about the health of your pet, you should contact your vet for advice.
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