How to Discipline a German Shepherd for Biting. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question – when do German Shepherds calm down!? Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions that work. There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. After a few repetitions of saying the cue word, the next time they bite and nip you say CARROT and see if they follow you to the freezer or race you there. Welcome to German Shepherd Dog HQ! To ignore them, walk away and go into another room, remain silent, and don’t make eye contact. You can find information on training, health, puppies, and products that will help make owning your GSD easier. A German Shepherd that has poor living conditions, harsh masters, no socialization, or that has been frightened or attacked by another dog is far more likely to be aggressive as it ages. Don’t get me wrong – she’s still a firecracker. Toys are useful for playing with your puppy because they put a barrier between your fingers and their teeth. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. Harsh punishment and even moderate physical or verbal reprimands too frequently lead to future aggression in dogs. German Shepherds may be aggressive for many reasons. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on skin. Considering the myth that German Shepherds are aggressive, biting dogs, it makes sense that many people worry that the German Shepherd is going to be a strong and vicious biter. But, we wanted to let you know that we are an affiliate for the products and services on this website. Don’t reward mouthing or aggressive biting by responding to it. Most of all, it’s important to remember to be patient and understanding during this phase. Usually, the mother will do some things to establish boundaries and help a puppy learn when they bite too hard. German Shepherd Dog HQ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Common German Shepherd Behavioral Problems and Personality Traits. When a German shepherd puppy bites his sibling, his sibling yelps so the German shepherd puppy learns to bite gently. Biting or nipping from a German Shepherd can be a painful experience, even if it is in a playful manner. Puppies will be puppies! Don’t look at your dog at all. Don’t get angry, yell or punish them. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Start off by using lots of communication including voice commands (in a cheerful tone), hand signals, and body language, and let your dog know from the outset that biting … It is often worrying for dog owners if they notice their German Shepherd’s aggression. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. Use Special Toys for Play. While these don’t directly stop your puppy from biting, they help communicate with your dog your leadership. Because she was too busy biting hands! The former usually occurs during happy moments. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping – kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. Read these posts to find out what type of German Shepherd training works the best for your breed. I would recommend deterrents as a last-ditch effort for really stubborn biters – mainly because it’s kind of a pain to use these products on yourself. Don’t let your dog continue these behaviors or you’ll wind up without control and leadership in your own home. That’s the language that puppies understand, so use this to your advantage. Learn how to stop aggressive puppy biting—interrupt and redirect his attention to an appropriate chew toy any time he bites at your hands during play or petting. Please read our, Imagine you knew how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way so that …, Imagine you could come home to a lovable, dedicated, companion for life! If your puppy’s bites are accompanied by snarls, lunging, snapping, or other signs of aggression, definitely call in a professional trainer . This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. If your German Shepherd didn’t always bite other dogs and it only started to do it suddenly then it would help to consider what happened when it first started doing it. But hey, after having a high-energy, fun-loving German Shepherd, you wouldn’t want a calm (boring) dog, right? Think broken bones, damaged muscles, deep lacerations, bruises, scars, and expensive medical bills. on’t let your pup sleep in your bed if you’re experiencing aggressive biting issues, as this may teach them they rank as high as you on the leadership scale. Make sure you properly exercise your dog so they don’t have extra energy to want to engage in destructive behavior and biting. Over the years working as a dog trainer, I’ve probably worked with as many German shepherd dogs as any other breed. Toys are useful for playing with your puppy because they … German Shepherd Dog HQ is not claiming to be an expert on German Shepherds, nor do we provide veterinary advice. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase – give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. How can you tell if a puppy’s temper tantrum is a warning sign or just playful mouthing? Puppies are naturally rough when they play. When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. Your German Shepherd’s health, as well as your dog’s specific breed history, contributes to their overall life span. Return from puppy biting to German Shepherd puppy info "You do not own a dog, the dog owns you." Only let them out when they’re showing calm behaviors, such as lying down quietly or sitting calming. So, why didn’t Allie bite ankles? Puppy biting is a common challenge for a lot of new puppy owners. You need German Shepherd training to get the best behavior from your dog and enjoy a happy life with them. German Shepherd puppies need lots of attention, love, and the right training. By withholding any attention, even reprimands, you make quite an impact on your dog’s decisions. It is the mother’s job to socialize and encourage her puppies to behave well and interact productively with one another. You can check out my review of the Brain Training for Dogs Program that encourages mental stimulation for better behavior. Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. How Much Do German Shepherd Puppies Cost? When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Nylabone to give to them to bite on. Don’t laugh or smile during this process, even though your dog may give a cute face or gesture to you. Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job – herd you around the house like livestock. If you find it cute that your little German Shepherd puppy is biting your hand, think again! Don’t let the issue of biting come between you and your dog. I’ve found a group of other like-minded individuals with an online behavior-improving training program that helps reinforce good behavior using fun games. This is something your German Shepherd may do when they’re excited or just seeking attention. Biting. Regardless this is still something that you should try to stop. Well, it’s not always easy to tell the difference. Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. It actually begins when they are just several weeks old and under the care of their mother. The following tips will help you curb your German Shepherd puppy’s biting instincts, whether they target hands, ankles, or anything else! Practice the game multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time. Youll need to e… We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Have some battle scars from your German Shepherd puppy’s biting phase? Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. You can learn how to get your dog to start behaving by reading “Easy German Shepherd Training at Home (Step-by-Step Obedience)“. The Bite of a German Shepherd There’s a saying that when a German Shepherd bites you, she’s in it for the long haul. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. It’s important to understand that your fuzzy little friend isn’t being aggressive – this is just how your puppy plays. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup – too enticing to pass up! They’re lying around and used for the redirections when your pup bites you aggressively. So don’t feel bad if you find yourself wondering the same thing. Interrupt aggressive puppy biting and growling by standing up and walking away or removing your pooch to her resting area (crate or playpen). If so, you’ve experienced the German Shepherd puppy biting phase. I will mention ways that you can do so in the section below. And you are your pup’s favorite sheep! Puppies are easily excited, so don’t jerk your hand (or foot) away. As you probably already know, German Shepherds are…, Is your new puppy turning into a teething terror? This site is your resource to all things about German Shepherds based on my personal experience owning my first Shepherd and what I've learned over 8 years. So, biting is actually a natural behavior in the canine world. It’s amazing (and terrifying) how needle-sharp those tiny teeth can be. G erman Shepherd puppy biting is one of the key behaviors you should take charge of as soon as possible. The goal is eventually to have your dog perform positive behaviors more often by going to their approved toys that you’ve left for them, instead of your fingers or hands. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. When you bring your puppy home, you take on that responsibility. It could be the case that another dog was aggressive to it which has caused your German Shepherd to be less trustful of other dogs. Are you at the end of your rope and wondering how to stop your German Shepherd puppy’s aggressive biting right away? Training your German Shepherd puppy not to bite is a crucial part of raising a well-mannered dog. ... We currently have a german shepherd mix. Or any tips to help the rest of us? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. As a new puppy parent, you’ll need to teach your dog other gentler ways to play. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters – if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. Every puppy goes through the teething stage,…, One thing you definitely want to consider before getting a German Shepherd – or moving to…, Your email address will not be published. Or you ’ re likely to bite than you. because your GSD is a rite of,. Leave the room for a time lucky not to have this problem with their German Shepherd puppy phase! 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