How to Teach a Dog to Stop Mouthing and Nipping

For this Omaha training session we worked with Athena, a one-year-old Chocolate Lab mix that was recently adopted into a new family. Her guardian set up a dog behavior training session to learn how to teach a dog to stop mouthing and nipping. We also worked with Athena on listening to commands and to stop her from feeling anxious around new dogs.

I was surprised by the lack of initial mouthing at the door. Dogs are usually most excited when guests arrive. They often nip and mouth when they are overly excited.

Why do Dogs Mouth and Nip?

Dogs mouth and nip for a variety of reasons. One of the most common activities is play. This is especially true for puppies.

They use their mouths to explore their surroundings. They also interact with objects, people, and other animals. This behavior is natural and helps them learn about the world around them.

Puppies often chew more when they are teething. Chewing helps ease the pain from their new teeth. This teething process can last for several months. Additionally, dogs may mouth when they’re excited, such as when they’re happy to see you or eager to engage in play.

If a dog does not get enough exercise or mental stimulation, it may mouth things. This behavior helps them release extra energy or get attention. Sometimes, mouthing is unintentionally reinforced by owners who inadvertently reward the behavior with attention or play.

Mouthing is a normal behavior for dogs. However, it’s important to teach them how to interact with people properly. To stop unwanted mouthing, do not encourage the behavior.

Avoid waving your hands or feet in front of your dog. Also, do not pull away quickly. This can make your dog more excited and lead to more mouthing.

Instead, teach alternative behaviors, such as sitting or fetching, that can redirect the dog’s energy. Improving basic training with commands like “leave it,” “sit,” “stay,” and “go to bed” can help your dog. These cues teach your dog self-control. They also show when mouthing is not okay.

As the in-home dog training session went on, I noticed more unwanted behaviors; not just mouthing and nipping. To help the guardian stop Athena from being loud, I spent a few minutes sharing dog training tips. These tips should help her redirect the dog or show that the behavior is not wanted.

Another tactic the guardian can use is called negative punishment. This means taking away something the dog enjoys; in this case, her guardian.

So if the redirecting techniques don’t work, immediately leaving the room and close the door behind her is the next step. She should wait at least 1 minute. If there is no barking or whining for 20 seconds, she can return. Then, she should act as if nothing happened.

How to Teach a Dog to Stop Mouthing and Nipping

A dog behavior expert once gave me a tip about mouthing. They suggested playing tug of war with a rope or a suitable toy.

Whenever Athena’s teeth touch a person’s skin, whether on purpose or not, they can yelp. Stopping the game can help the dog learn good bite control. If the dog continues, the negative reward would be the next step.

I made several suggestions for the guardian. These ideas can help change the leader-follower dynamic.

One suggestion is petting with a purpose. Another is rewarding desired actions and behaviors through passive training. These positive dog training methods will help Athena see her guardian as an authority figure, not just a playmate.

I tried to use the Leadership exercise I created a few years ago. It was created to help with the leader-follower dynamic.

However, Athena was determined. She used her athletic skills to get past the guardian.

After thinking about the situation for a moment, I suggested she practice the kennel training exercise. The dog should stay in the kennel until she gives the release command. Then, she can go back to the leadership exercise.

We wrapped up the session by shooting a roadmap to success video the includes a number of free dog training tips. Feel free to watch the video and use these dog training secrets and exercises with your own dog.