Eurasier Puppies

Sometimes it takes patience and time, but your pup will grow out of this stage in a few months.

Mouthing or Bite Inhibition

Pups have very sharp teeth!

• Tip *  stock up on bully sticks, raw knuckles bones (you can freeze these) and chew toys.  The best defense against puppy teeth is distraction or replacing something pup can not chew on, with something he/she can chew on.
  

All puppies love to play by being mouthy and biting or chewing anything they can get their sharp little teeth into.  These sharp teeth are the reason that it is crucial for puppies to learn bite inhibition (controlling the force of their bite)  during the first few months of life.  Normally this is learned naturally and effectively through contact with mom and other littermates.  If the puppy bites mom during nursing, mom can roll the dog over to correct him/her or just get up and walk away.  Hungry puppy learns very quickly to control those teeth if he wants to eat.  Likewise when playing with littermates, if a puppy gets bitten too hard it will yelp and stop playing.  Once again puppy learning that biting hard means the end of something good.  Normally if a puppy stays with his littermates for the first 2-4 months of his life he ill learn bite inhibition.  This is one reason it is so important for dogs to meet and play with other dogs.  A group obedience class is usually the best way to properly socialize pups and reduce possible bad behaviors in the future even if the dog stayed with its littermates for a long time.  It is also helpful to have friends with young dogs willing to play with your pup.  Older dogs may not want to play and tussle with a young pup, because it is hard work for them too.  You need to remember that a puppy is not fully immunized until they have completed the vaccinations, usually around 4  months of age.  So be wise when letting your dog play with other dogs.  Learn what dog viruses and diseases are currently in your area.

when it comes to humans, a new puppy or dog may never have learned that hard biting on humans is never allowed.  When a puppy bites you during play it's almost never an aggressive bite, it is just play.  Dogs play using their mouths because they do not have hands.  They touch and grab and lick, its one of the ways they interact with us and the world around them.  It is up to the dog owner to teach the dog bite control if the dog has not already learned this on his own.  Usually puppies and dogs will bite our hands because that is the way we interact with them during feeding, grooming, playing etc.

The best approach to teaching a puppy or dog bite control is usually adopting the behaviour of one of the dog's littermates.  If the dog gets too mouthy and bites you to hard during play, exaggerate a loud yelp or cry and immediately stop whatever activity you are doing.  Turn away and ignore your dog.  Sometimes this take a bunch of lessons, or tries, but most dogs will learn it over time.  at first the goal should be getting the dog to reduce the force of the bite.  Then the goal is reduce the frequency of  biting.  Expect that it will take a few days or weeks.  Hitting a dog after a bite won't work because the dog was just wanting to interact and play, not harm, it would simply confuse the pup, and may even teach pup to react defensively, this time biting you with intent.

In general teach the dog that playing with dog toys is better than playing with hands directly because the games lasts so much longer and soothes the mouth.  Play with a Frisbee, rope, Kong, ball etc.  Don't use your hands as a dog toy.  Most puppies bite you accidentally and that is how you both learn. 

Remember all family members must be consistent, a bite equals a cry from you and the end of play and attention.