Staffy Puppy Training – How To Control Biting
Fortunately, it is easy and fun to learn effective ways of staffy puppy training.
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staffy pup has to be one of the cutest things around, and their friendliness and need for love are impossible to resist. These characteristics of the breed make staffy puppy training easier than the same training for other breeds. However, staffy pups, like many other breeds, can be very keen on biting and chewing, so it is a good idea to deal with both of these issues at an early before those famously-powerful staffy jaws reach their full strength!
Uncontrolled biting habits can lead to aggression and dominance problems later in your dog’s life, although it can be easy to forget this when you are playing with your new pup. Fortunately most puppies will learn to stop biting if they are kept in the litter with their brothers and sisters for at least 2 months after birth. They soon learn that if they bite, they will get bitten back and in most instances this is enough to control any biting tendencies. However, in some cases this adjustment time is cut short and you may have a puppy who still wants to nip and bite at your fingers. In this situation it is a good idea to take quick action with some staffy puppy training before things get out of hand.
Click Here to STOP Your Puppy’s Biting Problems FOR GOOD!
Firstly, it is extremely important not to hit your puppy if they start to bite you because they could become fearful of you and unnecessarily anxious, which could in turn lead to behavioural problems later in life. Remember that they are only trying to play, and need firm guidance, not punishment. One thing you can do is to re-direct the biting behaviour towards something like a bone or chewing toy. Saying “No!” when they nip at your fingers and handing them a toy instead will quickly teach them that biting your fingers is a no-no, but chewing the toy is OK. Another useful training trick you can try is to make a small whining noise or ‘yip’ if your puppy nips at you. This will remind them of the response they got from their siblings in the litter, and lets them know they are causing you pain. It should be sufficient for your puppy to let go and leave you alone. Any staffy puppy training should be based on rewarding good behaviour, not punishing ‘bad’ behaviour. If you want to curb their biting tendencies, avoid games such as wrestling or tug-of-war that will encourage your pup to bite at you or any object you might be holding. As mentioned before, staffies have a very powerful grip and a natural tendency to hold onto something once they get their teeth stuck into it. In this regard, consistency is very important. Don’t make the mistake of encouraging biting behaviour one day and then trying to stop it the next. Your pup will become confused and your staffy puppy training efforts will be seriously undermined. When you are just starting out with how to train a staffy, it is a good idea to enrol in socialization or obedience classes, which often include training to teach the puppy that biting is not socially acceptable. These classes will also help to control any aggression that your pup may show when other dogs are around.
Staffy Puppy Training & Stopping Biting
Staffy puppy training to stop any biting tendencies is a very important part of the settling in process, especially if your pup is very young. With the right training, your pup will know that biting is not OK by the time it is 10-12 weeks old. Some focussed and consistent staffy puppy training in the first few weeks of its new life will make your relationship with your dog much, much easier and great fun for both of you.