Having a puppy can bring you so much joy – especially an adorable and intelligent breed like a German Shepherd. However, you’ve probably noticed that your puppy is prone to nipping and biting. How do you stop your German Shepherd puppy from biting?
You can stop your German Shepherd from biting by ensuring proper training, discipline and routines are established. A strategy known as bite inhibition will also stop your puppy from biting for good!
By the time this article is through, you will know why exactly your dog bites and how to stop them. To learn more about the reasons that German Shepherd puppies bite, just keep reading!
Why do German Shepherd puppies bite so much?
The majority of the time, German Shepherd puppies bite and mouth for normal reasons. There are certain exceptions such as fear, anger, or confusion that could cause your puppy to bite. However, body language and the unique situation will make it clear when your puppy bites out of fear or anger.
Most of the time, your puppy is just biting to explore the world around them. Here are some other possible reasons that your German Shepherd puppy might be biting!
- The breed has a strong prey drive. German Shepherds are incredibly intelligent, and their breed has a strong prey drive. This means that little movements or small toys and creatures can cause your puppy to get excited and start to bite.
- Overstimulation. Much like human babies, puppies can get cranky and need a nap or to retreat from an interaction. When your puppy is feeling overstimulated, they are more likely to bite and nip at you. In addition, those bites can be less controlled and potentially more painful.
- Being removed from their litter too soon. Some breeders can take a puppy away from their mother and siblings too soon or might keep the puppies separated. Puppies can learn to inhibit their biting instincts with their mom and siblings, so being taken too soon can limit their ability to safely bite.
As you can see, there are a wide variety of reasons for why your German Shepherd might be biting. They are all harmless and can be trained out of your puppy with proper discipline and the correct use of bite inhibition.
How Do I Get My German Shepherd Puppy To Stop Biting?
Now that you know the variety of reasons why your puppy might be biting, the next step is learning to stop them. Different methods work at different times, and it really depends on how your puppy is feeling at the moment. Here are some ideas to try for the most common things that trigger the instinct to bite!
– When they are overexcited
An excited puppy is more likely to bite or nibble, as a way to express its emotions. If you want to teach your dog not to bite when they are excited, consider leaving the room or making yourself appear boring to calm an excited dog.
If you want, you can try another method known as a “treat scatter”, where you take some small treats and scatter them on the ground. Your dog will calm down as they search for the treats, and you can go about your business.
– When they are tired
As we have covered, a tired dog is more likely to become overstimulated. If you notice your dog acting tired, try to remove them from a situation that might be overstimulating. For example, a dinner party that goes past your puppy’s bed or naptime might mean moving your puppy to another room to sleep.
– When they are frustrated
Activities such as being brushed, tied up, or restrained might make your German Shepherd puppy frustrated. As they grow, you can identify what frustrates them and avoid it. Always try to end the frustrating activity as soon as possible.
– While teething
Teething is not fun for anyone, and that includes puppies! You’ll find that special teething toys can be your best friend when it comes to stopping biting. Specialty toys are more fun for your dog to bite than your hands and feet!
– When aggressive
A well-trained dog will typically only become aggressive in stressful or frightening situations. If you notice your dog acting aggressively, remove them from the situation as quickly as possible. Try to avoid things that trigger aggressive behavior until your dog can be fully trained.
– When they are just being a puppy
Sometimes a puppy is just biting to be a puppy! Exploring the world can often mean little bites and nips. In this case, try to use special toys and treats to distract your puppy from biting. You can also rely on training and simply growing up to teach them not to bite.
At What Age Do German Shepherd Puppies Stop Biting?
Like we said, sometimes all you need is time and age to stop your puppy from biting. If your puppy is teething, you can expect them to stop biting after at least six months. However, they might continue biting if teething was not the primary reason.
After about one year, your puppy is no longer a puppy. The training and socialization you’ve done as they grew will hopefully stop them from biting altogether. If not, it might be time for obedience school!
How To Discipline A German Shepherd For Biting?
If time does not stop the instinct to bite, it is time for discipline! You will generally find that bite inhibition is the best training to stop this behavior. However, there are some disciplinary behaviors that can be your first resort.
For example, denying affection and attention are good ways to let your puppy know they have done something bad. Once they bite, drop what you are doing and leave the room without acknowledging them. This tactic, compared with a stern word, is a good way to discipline your puppy.
How to teach my German Shepherd puppy bite inhibition?
Bite inhibition training is meant to teach your dog to limit or cease their bites, usually by showing them that it hurts you.
· Make a high-pitched yelp
Remember how puppies learn to limit bites from their mother and siblings? They learn because a harsh bite will result in a yelp or squeal of pain that quickly lets the puppy know what they did wrong.
By saying “ow”, yelping, and generally acting like you are in pain, you can show your puppy that bites hurt and they need to be careful. You may need to do this several times, but German Shepherds are highly intelligent and capable of making the connection.
· Give plenty of toys
Puppies can sometimes bite out of boredom or even frustration with teething. In both cases, giving them plenty of toys can direct their focus from you to the object. By immediately giving them a toy when they start to nip at you, you can help make the connection between the urge to bite and the toys available.
There are tons of toys available for teething, as well as for mental stimulation. With these, you can be sure to teach your dog that there are much better things to bite!
· Ignore them and leave the room
As we’ve mentioned, ceasing to give your dog attention can teach them that biting will not be rewarded. This can include standing up and walking into another room each time your dog bites you.
A breed as intelligent as the German Shepherd will quickly realize that leaving and biting are connected. Let sufficient time pass between the bite and ending your “ignoring” behavior so that the effect is truly felt.
· Praise them for stopping
Just like you want your puppy to connect biting with an absence of affection, you want them to connect stopping biting with getting praise. You can use this in connection with other tactics such as directing their attention to toys. When they stop biting you, praise them heavily.
You could also give your puppy a treat when they move their attention elsewhere. Eventually, they will realize that biting their toys brings praise and treats and make will be more likely to do so in the future.
· Don’t punish them
The biggest rule of inhibition training is that you should never resort to punishing your dog. Yelling, threatening posture, and striking your dog for biting will make them less likely to trust you rather than less likely to bite.
You want that bond of companionship, and punishment is the worst way to go about it. After all, they’re only a puppy!
Final thoughts
A German Shepherd puppy is playful and adorable, but their biting can be a real issue. Luckily, training is available to stop this behavior. Bite inhibition and general discipline are great tools to stop your puppy from biting. Sometimes all they need is time to mature!
