Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You

July 17, 2009 -

How many times have you been around a puppy and sure enough they bite you (because they are playing) with those pin sharp teeth?  Ouch! 

Sometimes we tell them “No bite!” and there are a number of other ways that people try to teach their pups not to bite.  They learn a hand in the mouth is bad.

What happens when you need to give them medicine?  Or need to get something dangerous out of their mouth?  Or want to brush their teeth?  All of a sudden it becomes a steal trap that you can’t pry open.  Think back.  In some ways you were teaching them not to let them have your hand in their mouth.

Lets take a step back and rethink this.  We should be teaching them that it is ok to have my hand in your mouth, as long as you are not applying pressure.  This is what is natural to them.  This is how they play. 

With each of my puppies I have always made it a part of daily interaction to let them mouth my hands.  I would play by rubbing their mouths, sticking my hand in their mouth, touching their teeth.  All the while praising them for being gentle.  Of course in the beginning there would be the pin prick of a puppy tooth.

“YELP,” I would respond in a high-pitched tone.

 “Are you part puppy too?”  they would release and look inquisitively.  I am speaking their language.

“Good boy!” I would answer because they let go.

Lets try this again.  I would put my hands back in their mouth, get them excited.  There’s the pin prick of those teeth again.

“YELP,” I would respond in a high-pitched tone.

 “Are you part puppy too?”  they would release quickly and look at me with the inquisitive expression again.

“Good boy!” I would answer.

The next activity would be feeding.  Hand feeding every kibble in the beginning.  Then taking the bowl away.  Then putting my hand in their bowl as they were eating.  All received with a gentle acceptance of the food from my hand or a halt in eating because my hand was there.

With these practices important interactions with my dogs were so much easier.

I could stick pills down their throats with no resistance.

I could open their mouth to see if they had something in there they shouldn’t.

I could keep my fingers when offering them treats.

I could brush their teeth.  Even have them lay with their head in my lap as I used a dental scaler to remove build up from their teeth.  No questions asked.