Pitbull puppies are adorable, this is the perfect time for you to learn how to train a pitbull puppy not to bite? and enjoy each of its stages of growth.
How to train a pit bull puppy not to bite
A pit bull puppy under six months old is very easy to retrain because he is still in the formative years of his life. You can’t blame Pitbulls for biting as puppies. After all, it is an innate behavior.
The difficulty people have with their pitbull puppy biting is that many people assume their puppy is playing or teething and not trying to hurt them. Your Pit Bull puppy may be doing just that as they are generally very energetic dogs who love to play.
Unfortunately, if they start biting, even playfully, like puppies, those bites can become more serious than adult dogs. This is why it is so important to curb biting behavior when your pitbull puppy is young.
If you want to take advantage of the best time to stop your pit bull from biting, this is the ideal time to do it. They are small and cute and may look like they are playing and may not hurt yet, but this is your best chance to avoid a bigger problem in the future.
To curb this behavior, you’ll need to teach your puppy manners using positive training methods.
1. Give your puppy time with mom
One of the main ways a puppy learns bite inhibition is by playing with its siblings. During rough play, if one puppy bites its sibling, the other puppy will scream and stop playing. This will teach your pitbull puppy that forceful biting kills the fun.
When bitten by his siblings, your pup learns that biting hurts. After all, even small pitbull teeth can be quite sharp. This understanding teaches the puppy not to bite as often and not to bite as hard even during playtime.
2. Teething toys
Young puppies go through a teething phase where their gums hurt. Puppies are born toothless before their baby teeth come in between 2 and 8 weeks of age. Their permanent teeth appear between 4 and 7 months of age, so during this time, they will need to chew on something to ease the pain of teething.
With chew toys, your pup will be less likely to try to bite you, your shoes, or your couch. Carrying these toys everywhere is a great idea so you have them ready to play when your pup gets restless.
Replace old and worn toys with new ones to prevent your pup from ingesting parts that can lead to intestinal blockages.
3. Let him know that it hurts
Pit bulls are energetic dogs that may bite you while playing, but stop playing if they bite. If this happens, this is what you should do:
- If the pup bites you during play, yell loudly: The yell mimics the cry of an injured littermate, and withdrawing from play shows the pup that biting leads to the end of playtime
- Stop moving so you don’t become a more interesting target.
- Let your pup sit for about 20 to 60 seconds before re-engaging him in play. With longer breaks for each successive bite
- Each time you bite, repeat this process until your puppy stops biting.
- Briefly pausing playtime with your puppy is the best way to prevent unwanted behaviors like biting because your puppy wants to interact with you and pit bulls are very devoted to their pet parents.
- Repeat the process if he bites you again
- After your pup bites you more than three times in 15 minutes, it’s time for a timeout.
For pitbull puppies that chew on items like shoes or bedding, use a bitter spray deterrent. This type of spray is found in pet supply stores and tastes unpleasant to your pup, but won’t hurt him.
4. Redirect biting behaviors to toys
In addition to ignoring your dog when he tries to bite you, you can also redirect the behavior to something acceptable like chewing on a toy. This way, your excited pup has an acceptable outlet for his desire to bite when he’s very excited.
Since this is an acceptable object to chew on, remember to praise your puppy when he chews on his toys.
If your puppy tries to put his hands in his mouth, give him a toy. As he plays with the toy and chews on it, praise him for this behavior. Very soon he will understand that toys are acceptable to chew on, but human appendages are not.
5. Don’t let your hands be their toy to bite
It’s tempting to engage your pitbull puppy in games using their hands as toys. After all, your pup is so adorable and tiny, but he won’t be tiny forever, so he resists the temptation.
The same goes for your feet and ankles if your pup loves to chase you. Only let him chase the toys you knock over, not your feet. If she chases you and bites your feet, it’s time for a break. She may also redirect her behavior to an acceptable toy.
6. Exercise your puppy every day.
Pit bulls are very energetic dogs, and too much pent-up energy can cause your pup to bite out of boredom. Take your pup out for frequent walks and play sessions, and throw down his favorite toy to encourage him to let off steam.
Once your pup has received his shots, frequent trips to the dog park will be another great way to socialize and work off excess energy.
7. Supervise your pit bull around other animals
Pitbull breeds were originally bred to fight other dogs, and while your pitbull puppy may not bite you, he could injure another animal.
This is unacceptable and a good reason why socialization with other dogs and cats is a good idea from a young age. With proper supervision at all times, you can keep an eye on your puppy when he is around other dogs and deter him from trying to bite another dog or cat.
Just like with yourself, you’ll want to keep all interactions with other dogs or cats positive. Don’t put away favorite toys or food that your puppy might get jealous of with another animal. Allow the dogs to play and if a bite occurs, immediately take your pitbull puppy to stop the behavior. Remember, you want to teach your pup that biting stops the fun.
8. Teach your puppy that you are the best dog from day one.
Pit bulls can be extremely dominant, so showing the puppy that you are the boss from a young age will curb dominance-related biting and aggression. In a natural pack setting, submissive dogs will turn around to show their bellies to the alpha members of the pack. Pick up the puppy and gently hold him on his back to show him that you are in charge.
Walkthrough doors in front of the dog, rather than letting him lead, and keep him on a leash during walks to keep him under control. Feed him on a set schedule, serve his food and have him wait before diving.
9. Reduce any biting behavior because it strengthens your bond.
Pay attention to your dog’s body language and use it as a way to avoid a bite. Pit bulls, like all dogs, will continue to bite if they feel threatened by you or someone else. When you notice any signs that your pup is upset and warns you of a bite, walk away to defuse the situation or prevent others from bothering your pup.
Not only does this let your dog know your bite warnings are okay, but it also establishes that you won’t be forcing him into unsafe situations.
10. Don’t punish your dog for biting
It is important to remember that physical or verbal punishment of your pitbull when he bites will only serve to make this behavior worse. Over time, your dog will grow to fear you and will be more likely to bite to remove that fear.
Ignoring your puppy when he bites and redirecting his behavior are the only ways to deal with a biting pit bull. Positive reinforcement of desired behaviors, such as playing with toys, through treats and praise works well with pitbull puppies.
Pit bulls have a hard bite as adults and can inflict a lot of damage if they have been taught to fear humans through physical or verbal punishment. These types of punishments can lead to lifelong aggression problems, which is something you don’t want.
If you have rescued your puppy from an abusive situation, it is important to consult with an animal behavior specialist to prevent his behavior from becoming more dangerous as he grows older. The behaviorist can work with you to prevent fear-based reactions, such as biting.
