: At Home

Mouthing behaviour and puppies: Should I allow my puppy to mouth my hand?

Mouthing, nipping and biting are all normal puppy behaviours, but they are not ones to encourage. Mouthing is part of a pup's natural play drive, and it's a way to explore and get a 'taste' for new objects. When pups are still with their littermates, they learn to inhibit or restrict their bite ('bite inhibition'). Their siblings soon let them know if a bite was too hard. They either yelp, or walk away. But people don't always know how to send those messages to a canine, and sometimes play biting can get rough or out of hand. And those puppy teeth are sharp!

Play is vital to a pup: it's one of the key ways they learn. It's important that your puppy has plenty of opportunities for safe play - not only with you, but also with other dogs and people when possible.

If, while playing, your pet nips you or mouths too hard, learn from the littermates - make a yelping or sharp 'ouch' sound, immediately stop the play session, and ignore the pup. (Making a noise with a shake can - a sealed tin filled with stones - can also be effective.) Your yelp will be a signal to the pup that they've bitten too hard, and by withdrawing your attention, you also reinforce your role as the 'benevolent boss' or 'pack leader'. Puppies live to play, so they will catch on quickly how to keep the sessions going.

As with everything, it's important that all the members in the household are giving out the same messages to your pet. Pups soak up information like a new sponge, so if one person allows play biting and another doesn't, your pup will just get confused.

If the above measures don't work, you can try a head halter, which fits over the dog's face, and controls their movements in a similar way that a horse is controlled by a bridle. Pulling the head halter under the jaw will immediately close the pup's mouth (while saying "No!") is a far kinder and more effective than physical discipline. Hitting or smacking your pup is not the way to go - it only makes matters worse, and can lead to aggression.

Bite inhibition is one of the most important things a dog can learn. All dogs are not only capable of biting, but of controlling the pressure of that bite. If you feel your pup has a problem with biting, consult your veterinarian. Your pup is still young, so you have an excellent chance of 'nipping' the problem in the bud.