Puppies are explorers; they enjoy biting and chewing on almost anything that enters their world. Just as with jumping, biting between littermates is their style of play. Biting also teaches puppies how to use their main hunting tool-their teeth- later in life. Unfortunately, this often carries over into their interactions with their new family; especially children. Puppies have very sharp teeth and a bite or a nip can be frightening to a small child or result in inappropriate behavior towards the pet. It's important to have plenty of playtoys for your pet during puppyhood; as this is when he or she is teething! Choose toys that are soft, without buttons or any other material that can be chewed off and choked on. Also, please avoid any type of rawhide chew toys. They can damage your Havanese's intestines.
Here are a few methods that have been found effecting in eliminating biting and nipping!
Holding the mouth shut
The simplest method that has been found to help nipping is to very, very quickly grab your pet’s mouth and hold it shut and simultaneously say a single, stern “no” in a low tone. This is usually done by having your thumb over the top of their nose and your fingers below the bottom of their job. Your pet will whine because this is uncomfortable and they will not like being restrained this way. There is no need to firmly squeeze the upper and lower jaws together. Simply hold your pet’s mouth closed for 4-5 seconds and then let go. Don’t make any further fuss about the nipping. You will end up doing this a few times but after a few sessions, your pet will come to realize that when he bites, he instantly gets his mouth held shut. Only the adults in your family should hold your pet’s mouth shut at the appropriate times. Sometimes, children think it’s fun to do this to the puppy so they will instigate the nipping. This can cause hurt to them or to your puppy.
Startle response and redirection
Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., an animal behaviorist and professor at the University of Wisconsin suggests that you use a method that startles your puppy. Just as your puppy bites down, make a sudden, abrupt, loud, and high-pitched “AWRP” sound. This sound should be so sudden and sharp that your puppy becomes startled and stops the behavior. If done correctly, this sound will instantly cause your puppy to let go and look bewildered, at which point you substitute a toy, such as a ball that the puppy can chew on instead. This way the puppy learns it is no fun at all biting you, but chewing on the toy is ok. Some puppies get very excited during play, but if you are persistent this method will be effective. Another approach to this same method is to simply and dramatically leave the room when your puppy bites. After multiple times your puppy will learn that every time she bites she looses her playmate, which is no fun at all. This method is great for children to use!
No matter what method you use, DO NOT entice your puppy to bite you! Games like tug-of-war and waving your hands in front of your puppy instead of using play toys may encourage him or her to bite you.
