A Labrador puppy is adorable on its legs. When that lovely puppy nips and bites, they suddenly appear less cuddly. However, while a puppy nip is unlikely to do a significant injury when the Labrador is an adult and exerts full pressure on his jaws, this will result in a devastating bite. Keep reading to know why Labrador puppies bite and learn about the age when they stop biting.
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Is it Normal for Labrador Puppies to Bite?
Puppies practice becoming aggressive as they play. They are enthusiastic about the entire play-acting stuff. And they’re fantastic at it. Your puppy’s goal is to sound extremely aggressive and frightening. Everything is part of the game. The most crucial aspect of the game is to create as much noise and seem as furious as possible.
When puppies play, they bite, and occasionally when they try to coax their hapless owners into yet another game, they all growl or snarl viciously. Your dog will not only sound fierce, but he will also look fierce. His small face will be scrunched up, his lips sucked back, and his teeth will be seen.
So, the reality is that all pups bite. And many puppy bites are painful. Some Labrador pups bite more than others, and biting a lot while growling or snarling is usual. Biting so hard that your eyes are wet and you occasionally break the skin is also bad. Puppies bite at hands attempting to pet them, at bare feet, and joyfully tug at clothing, all while trying to sound as vicious as possible. That is all normal.
At What Age Do Lab Puppies Stop Biting?
Even if you don’t do anything, if you don’t play physically with your puppy a lot, biting will naturally start to reduce around four to five months of age. That occurs without much active ‘no-bite’ training in homes with only one or two individuals who are familiar with pups and do not stimulate puppies.
It also occurs in working dog homes when the dogs are kenneled or are not permitted unsupervised interaction with anybody other than their trainer or primary caregiver.
That is not always the case in most young families. Everyone in many homes, especially while the puppy is a novelty, plays with the dog, and that may be rather physical. That excites puppies and tends to aggravate biting. Inexperienced puppy owners may sometimes unintentionally lengthen the biting period by rewarding the dog with attention when he bites.
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How to Train a Puppy Not to Bite?
A Labrador puppy is adorable on its legs. When that lovely puppy nips and bites, they suddenly appear less cuddly. However, while a puppy nip is unlikely to do a major injury when the Labrador is an adult and exerts full pressure on his jaws, this will result in a devastating bite.
That is why it is critical to train a puppy not to bite so that it does not become a habit, and if he is caught off guard as an adult, he restricts himself from biting. As a result, you must be prepared to play the role of an Oscar winner for the sake of the child.
When the puppy’s teeth make contact with your flesh, expect to shriek and seem pained; if you can sob and push off a few tears, all the better. The better the pup learns the lesson, the more believable your ‘performance’ is. The following are some methods that can help you to stop your Labrador puppy from biting.
Provide Chew Toys
Don’t tempt the puppy with a wiggling finger or allow him to play with your hands directly since this teaches him that they are toys and should be put in his mouth. Use distance toys, like balls or tug toys, instead.
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Praise Appropriate Chewing
Puppies like to chew, and giving the pup an outlet for their desire to have something in their mouth during times of frustration is a vital component of training them not to bite people. When you find the puppy chewing on a suitable thing, such as his toy, praise him. That will teach him that there are appropriate (and inappropriate) things to dig his teeth into.
Teach Obedience
Even though the puppy is young, practice simple instructions such as sit, stay, and look. That gets the pup to listen to you and provides you with a tool to get them to stop and calm down.
Socialize Your Puppy
A stressed puppy that has minimal contact with other dogs or puppies is more likely to develop biting inhibition problems. Although the dog is not hostile, if someone treads on his paw as an adult, he may bite on instinct, but that bite will be painful if he hasn’t learned to control himself. The approach is to immediately begin socializing with the puppy and have him play with other pups and dogs.
Use a Houseline
If your puppy nips at your hands when you go to pick him up or when he is overexcited, you need to find a better way to distract him. Using a harness and houseline (a lightweight lead) on your puppy indoors can be quite beneficial in these situations. It will allow you to move him/her away while saving your hands from his/her grasp.
Consistency is the Key
When teaching your Labrador, it is also critical to remain consistent. It is unlikely that you will be able to drastically influence its behavior with just one training session. However, if you exercise it consistently over weeks and months, you will see considerably better improvements.
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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.