Welcome back to the ACI Newsletter. In our Fall 2001 edition we'll cover anti-bite training, canine dreams, scent signals, teaching your dog to "Spin," and some easy pumpkin recipes you can make for your dog to enjoy during the Fall season.

Please send your favorite treat recipes, stories, pictures or contributions to our editor at
editor@dogskool.com. We really enjoy getting feedback from our readers. Have a safe and happy 2001 holiday season!

Dogs bite for many reasons, including teething, fear, playfulness, and illness. Nipping and mouthing begins when dogs are puppies, and it is often tolerated because it is seen as cute. However, if not corrected at an early age, it can lead to more serious problems. Puppies bite and chew on almost anything they find. Biting is included when playing with their littermates. Biting also teaches them how to use their main hunting tool, their mouth. When puppies are brought into a new home with people, these interactions carry over to the new members of the pack (all the people including children). Puppies have very sharp teeth and a bite or nip can be painful and terrifying to small children. There are several methods used to curb this behavior, but if you find you are frightened or intimidated by a dog that bites, please call your vet or a qualified dog trainer.

Why Nipping and Mouthing Occurs

Teething - Between the ages of five weeks and six months, puppies are teething. Provide your puppy with chew toys during this time to help alleviate the pain of teething. Soaking a washcloth in water and freezing it also works well. The coldness will help numb the gums; replace the cloth every two hours.

Owner-induced behavior - Excessive games of tug of war, waving your hands in front of the puppy instead of toys, or general rough housing with a dog will encourage him to nip or mouth.

Communication - Dogs communicate with their mouths. Nipping and mouthing may be an expression of anger, defensiveness, frustration, or anger. It may also be an expression of playfulness, fear or insecurity.

Proper Training to Prevent Nipping or Mouthing

Protect your hands with hands and wrist area with gloves, such as denim or heavy work gloves to prevent scratches and nips during the learning phase. Puppies have very sharp teeth and safety is a primary issue. If your puppy bites or mouths while you are wearing the gloves, overreact to the bite so as not to encourage further biting.

Startle response and redirect - Just as the puppy bites down, make a sudden and abrupt, high-pitched yelping sound. This would be the type of sound that a littermate would make if bitten by the puppy. The sound should be sudden and sharp so that the puppy is startled and stops the behavior. Try not to pull your hand away, even though your reflex will be to do so. A dog's instinct

Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail.  --               Unknown

Online training advice is a very sticky area, since every dog, owner and situation is different. Everything written in the ACI News merely offers suggestions to get dog owners thinking. We encourage all dog owners to take obedience classes, talk to their vets, and work with professional trainers so that their relationships with their dogs can be everything they should be.