What is bite inhibition?
Bite inhibition is the ability to control the force of the jaw when mouthing. If your puppy hasn’t learnt the sensitivity of human skin, there is a risk they will bite to the extent of injury. However, if your puppy has learnt to have a gentle bite, even when in an aggressive state or in pain they will likely not pierce the skin if they bit a human[1].
Why do dogs bite?
During your puppy’s critical period of development, it is important for them to play fight and bite while rough housing in order for them to learn how hard is too hard so that they can a soft mouth as they grow up – a soft mouth is a gentle jaw that is less likely to cause injuries to others. Biting is natural and necessary. They will learn to develop a soft mouth as early as when having play sessions with their littermates, where they are taught that biting too hard will result in a loud yelp and a pause in playing. Your puppy will get the message that sharp teeth and a tough bite can hurt. Playing is highly rewarding for puppies, so learning that biting can remove play time is enough incentive for them to soften/slow down biting[2].
How do you get your puppy to have a soft mouth?
Puppy play biting must be monitored in a controlled and safe environment. Make sure not to startle or hurt your puppy when they bite too hard – a simple “ouch!” and pause of play time will suffice. This mimics playing with their littermates described in “Why do dogs bite?”. If your puppy ignores your cry, yelp and then leave the room so they learn that continued biting will mean they lose their playmate. Return after 30 seconds, go through a few commands like “sit” to gain control and then continue play time if they listen. It would be beneficial to teach your puppy a command to release their jaw if they’re getting too rowdy, some use the command “off!”. If possible, teach your puppy to only be mouthy when instructed. Even as the bites begin to hurt less, still yelp for the harder bites so that your puppy believes all humans are very sensitive – this could prevent them biting a child (with more sensitive skin) with the same bite threshold as an adult.
What should I avoid doing?
It is important that you do not prevent your puppy to bite altogether. By not learning to what degree they can bite, when they do eventually end up biting it is unlikely they will know how hard is acceptable and could cause severe injuries in the long run. If your puppy does bite too hard, do not grab their collar and force them into a confined “time out” space, this could trigger a lack of control and potentially have future, aggressive bites.
[1] The Humane Society of the United States. Nd. Stop your dog from jumping up. Available from: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/stop-your-dog-jumping (Accessed 20 April 2021) [2] ASPCA. Nd. Mouthing, Nipping and Biting in Puppies. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-puppies (Accessed 20 April 2021)
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