Teaching your dog not to bite shows the obedience level of the dog. Biting is a dominant behavior in dogs and has been a part of his behavior since he must have been a puppy in the form of teething and gnawing. However, biting in adult dogs is a serious issue and should be trained not to do so at the earliest.

 

A few methods to teach your dog not to bite are:

 

Let him know it hurts: When your dog tries biting or mouthing your hand and bites a bit hard, yell at a sharp high pitched voice “Ouch” or “Ow”. This tone would startle your dog and make him release you hand instantly. You could either look angrily towards your dog or praise him when he lets go of your hand. Practice this a few times until he learns not to bite too had. However, remember not to hit or shout at your dog as he could get aggressive.

 

Ignore him: Whenever your dog tries to bite you, move away from him and ignore him for a while. If he tries to get your attention by again biting you or tugging your shirt, leave the room to show disapproval. When you notice that your dog’s behavior has subdued, you can continue playing with him. Keep repeating this until he learns from his mistake that he will be ignored if he bites you.

 

Give him other objects: If your dog has a tendency to bite or mouth you, give him alternative toys like chew bones or sticks which are more appropriate incase he wants to chew on something. In case he does not stop biting, give him a small tap on his nose with a newspaper to show your disapproval. You can also play a game that involves less physical contact and yet keeps your dog active like fetch.

 

Use a spray: If your dog still does not understand that biting is wrong, you could use a bitter tasting spray or lotion on your exposed parts or on your clothes to put him off. He will eventually stop biting you.

 

Introduce him to other dogs and people: If your dog starts meeting other dogs, he will get less anxious and thus bite you lesser since he will be among other dogs. If he feels threatened and feels the urge to bite, try calming him down. You could also take him to a professional dog trainer or vet incase his biting gets uncontrollable.