By Fran Jewell
Most of us are so enamored with a new puppy that we get on the floor, roll around, play rough house, among a myriad of other things when trying to bond with our new family member What is critical to remember is that what we teach our dogs as a puppy is what they will do when they mature. I hear excuses all the time that the mouthing and biting is “soft” and just because they are a puppy, “It’s okay.” NO! It is NOT!
I don’t care what breed it is, but puppies that mouth, or are encouraged to bite during play, WILL be disrespectful of you and others as they mature. This is how puppies play with each other. It is vital that your puppy not see you as another puppy. It also teaches a puppy that this is how to deal with frustration, or even fear. Essentially, this is setting the dog up for failure. A dog that learns that mouthing or biting is okay in puppyhood WILL do this later on. Biting is always a problem for families with children.
One of the easiest ways to mitigate biting is to give the dog appropriate things to chew instead and never roughhouse for playtime. It is also helpful to use food-dispensing toys for meals. It helps direct the puppy to use her mouth on objects, not people. Playtime should be things like throwing a ball, or hiding treats in a box for your puppy to find.
The second thing that is critical with puppies is height. The closer you are to a puppy’s face, the more likely you are to get bitten… in the face! More children are bitten in the face by dogs than any other place because they are at the dog’s level. So, even if we adults lie on the floor with a puppy, the puppy learns very fast that you are ON HER LEVEL and encourages disrespect. Think about this further. Do you wonder why puppies jump on you? It’s not attention seeking, as many people would believe. It’s to be on the same level with your face, like another puppy. This includes things like going up the stairs. You should go first. A puppy that sleeps in bed with you does not see you as her leader. She sees you as another puppy because you are on the same level. We love the cuddling in bed, but this can come later once your puppy is trained and you have earned her respect. Puppies should learn to sleep on the floor in a crate until they have earned the PRIVILEGE to sleep on any furniture.
In short, getting down on the floor and roughhousing with a puppy actually encourages the dog to disrespect you, which also relates to the dog not coming to you or paying attention to you as she matures. It encourages a puppy to use her mouth to deal with frustration or even fear. Build respect with your puppy when she is a puppy, not later when your adult dog has behavior problems much harder to change.
There are more ways to play productively. Puppies do not know the difference between fun obedience and play. Include little bits and pieces of obedience in your play. Ask her to sit before you throw a ball. Teach her to “leave” a toy and to always allow YOU to win the toy.
When you take your pup to play with other pups, have both pups sit or down, then settle before they get to play. This is a GREAT step to teach your pup not to mug unknown dogs on a walk when they are older. Play becomes the reward for self-control and good manners. When two pups are playing with each other, call them out of play to sit and get a treat, then go back and play. This is an excellent way to teach your pup that coming does not mean the end of a good time.
Play with toys that you can tie on a 5-foot rope and then let her chase it. Once she has it, let her tug, but remember you always win the toy. Then she should sit to chase the toy again.
Puppies need to be puppies, but great dogs learn through play what good behavior is. Directed puppy play enhances your relationship, too! Think of directed puppy play like taking a toddler to preschool. Make that your goal. It is so rewarding for everyone when she is mature!
Fran Jewell is a dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor and vice president. She owns Positive Puppy Dog Training LLC and can be reached at (208) 721-7221.