Biting puppy causing people pain

Question:

We have a smart, beautiful 5-month-old collie. He has the bad habit of always wanting his mouth on us, usually biting. He’s not mean at all. It just seems that biting or mouthing is his favorite way of communicating and playing. We don’t like it. It hurts. We are expecting a grandchild in a couple of months and we can’t have the puppy biting the baby.

Dr. Nichol:

Your puppy is enjoying you much as he would another puppy. He’s an active young hellion, play-fighting with the nearest warm body because he has no one of his ilk for mutual mouthing and slobbering.

Reprimands would be pointless. There are people who believe that since it’s the puppy’s mouth that causing trouble they should hit him on the mouth. Please don’t do that; you would only damage your good relationship while teaching the little guy nothing of value. It’s the cause of this problem that needs attention which, by the way, is not dominance.

May I pontificate on dogs dominating people? Utter BS, and I don’t mean bachelor of science. There is plenty of dominance politics among dogs in a group but it’s exceptionally rare toward humans. People who intimidate by alpha rolling, scruffing, and pinning pets to the ground can reduce the frequency of a behavior, only to trigger fear and defensive aggression. That’s not a trade-off you want.

Have this pupster drag a leash from his collar whenever he’s inside. When you’re about to become a surrogate playmate, you must completely ignore as you grab the leash and march to the time-out room. When the little devil calms himself he will earn a kind word and a rawhide that he can mouth to his heart’s content.

The kid needs to scratch this essential itch. The Nichol family dog gets his social needs met at the K9 Resort. Their big indoor/outdoor play area has him horsing around with his wild knucklehead friends so he can be more civilized at home. You’ll have this problem managed well before your grandbaby resembles another puppy.

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For help with behavior problems, you can sign-up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist. He provides consultations in-person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions through my website, drjeffnichol.com/contact/ or by US Post to 4000 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuq, NM 87109