Virtually everyone loves puppies because they’re so cute and fun-loving. As appealing as their behavior is when they’re little, owners will benefit from reining in nipping and biting. That super-cute puppy will become a big dog capable of inflicting injury as an adult.
How do I stop my Great Dane puppy from biting?
The key is stopping biting is consistent training. These dogs grow up to become wonderful companions but require some guidance as puppies to become what owners look for in companions.
What Are the Main Reasons Great Dane Puppies Bite?
Most puppy biting, unlike biting by adult dogs, is not aggression-based. One of the most important things to remember is that anger should not be your responsibility.
One of the most critical reasons Great Dane and other puppies bite is because of teething. Because your puppy’s mouth feels sensitive, he may try to relieve the pressure. Biting and knawing are the two most straightforward ways to ease the tension.
Biting to relieve pressure often uses more force than a puppy customarily uses. Bones chew toys, and ropes give puppies something to chew, which is unlikely to damage their mouths and teeth at a crucial stage.
As crucial as chew toys are, it’s important to avoid using only hard toys, which may further aggravate sensitivity. Softer plush toys can help alleviate some of the gum pressure and help soothe the puppy’s mouth.
Play is another reason for biting, which puppies learn very early. Biting and nipping that simulate hunting or defensive behavior are common in puppies. When puppies bite or nip, they’re being playful, not trying to harm you.
Many new puppy owners aren’t aware of how sharp puppies’ teeth are until they get a “love bite.” Puppies lack boundaries that allow them to distinguish their owners from their littermates.
Can You Teach a Great Dane Puppy Not to Bite When They’re Little?
You will be pleased to know there are several methods to stop your Great Dane puppy from biting.
The most effective strategies involve disrupting the biting in progress. There’s nothing wrong with using more than one method, but you must be consistent.
One thing to remember is that training your puppy correctly takes time. Your puppy must keep receiving the message that his biting is not okay. Some puppies learn quickly, while others are a little more headstrong and take their time knowing.
Does Crying Out or Yelping Stop a Great Dane Puppy from Biting?
One of the most effective methods to get a puppy to stop biting involves a dramatic performance on your part. Have you ever seen a puppy yelp and run away for a few minutes when a littermate plays too roughly? This behavior should be a model for owners getting a puppy to learn not to bite.
When a puppy yelps because a littermate bites, they tell the other puppy, “No!” Ignoring the offending littermate further shows that the puppy has done something wrong. Puppies love the interaction and won’t want to stay in “timeout” long.
Discouraging biting when your puppy is small will help prevent later problems. Great Danes become very large dogs, often unaware of their strength. Rough play on an adult dog’s part can cause serious injury if left unchecked.
You’ll need to do a high-pitched squeal or yelp when your puppy bites, even if it’s not painful. Ideally, you want to sound as much like a hurt puppy as possible. As silly as this idea sounds, it is very effective.
Pull the body part your puppy bit away and turn your back on him. The puppy needs to know that the part is off-limits. He will soon learn that your hand or foot isn’t one of his chew toys.
Walking away or confining the puppy to his crate or kennel shows that playtime is over. You’ll need to give the puppy a cooling-off before initiating other play. The puppy will be motivated to behave after having had playtime cut short.
Remember to be consistent every time your puppy bites and make him associate his behavior with losing play privileges. Puppies are less likely to bite if they associate this behavior with negative consequences.
Does Providing a Distraction Discourage Great Dane Puppies from Biting?
An alternative to yelping when your puppy bites that is also effective involves getting your puppy distracted. How distracting your puppy works is by directing his attention towards an option he’s allowed to bite, such as a toy.
As with reacting by yelping or squealing, you’ll need to distract your puppy every time he bites. He won’t fully appreciate your efforts unless you’re consistent with your puppy. The result will be a puppy ill-equipped to respond to training.
Like the first method, you’ll also need to pull away the body part you don’t want to be bitten. The puppy will get the message he has done something he shouldn’t have done. Great Danes have a strong desire to please, even as puppies.
If you have a bone, rope, or toy at hand, you should offer it to the puppy as quickly as possible. Keeping whichever toy you’re distracting your puppy with one hand is a helpful practice to adopt.
Once your puppy has completed a play session without further biting, you’ll want to reward him with a tasty treat. Your puppy will start to associate behaving himself by not biting with getting pleasure.
Are There Commands You Can Use to Make Your Great Dane Puppy Stop Biting?
Some dogs respond better to a single-word command that serves as a motivator to stop biting. Great Danes are very smart dogs who respond well to verbal cues. Many trainers recommend “Enough!” as a command.
This technique works by using the command every time the puppy bites. After the puppy stops biting, be sure to praise him. You can follow up on the praise by giving your puppy a treat or a toy he can play with.
Like the other methods intended to discourage biting, the technique shows the puppy he needs to stop his behavior. Setting boundaries is very important in making your puppy as well-adjusted as possible.
What Social Skills Are Involved with Bite Training?
Training your Great Dane puppy not to bite serves a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, it teaches him to stop his behavior when you tell him to. Teaching him how to stop biting also helps him restrain his bite force.
If your Great Dane shares or will share your home with other dogs, bite training helps set boundaries for his interactions with other dogs. Understanding that there are consequences for biting too hard will discourage naughty behavior.
Most adult Danes are gentle dogs that get along well with others. However, these dogs are unaware of their size relative to most other pups. These giant dogs could seriously injure other dogs without intending to because of their size.
When a dog does not know enough to back down from his biting, he can easily cause fights with other dogs of varying severity. Dogs of similar size can easily injure Great Danes, especially if biting in the leg area.
If playing with a smaller dog, a Dane could cause serious injuries or worse. Unrestrained biting can also injure small children. The sooner your puppy learns limits, the better.
In short, training your puppy about appropriate limits during play is better for everyone in your household, especially your Great Dane puppy.