How to Train a Boxer Puppy to Not Bite

To begin, whenever your puppy bites you hard enough to cause pain, say "Ouch!" in a loud and high pitched voice, then turn your back to your puppy, cross your arms, and ignore your puppy for five minutes. This is to let your puppy know that biting too hard hurts, and that you will stop playing with him if he does it.

After it has been five minutes, if your puppy has left you alone, then call your puppy over, have him do something for you, such as 'sit', and then resume playing with him. It is important for you to be the one who initiates the playing again by calling him over and having him do something for you. If your puppy is biting your pants or trying to get your attention in some other way at the end of the five minutes, then wait until he stops for two minutes before calling him back. This may take up to thirty minutes the first time. Hold your ground and stand firm. If it gets really bad then leave the room rather than stand with your back turned to him.

Practice yelping and ignoring your puppy every time that he bites you to the point of pain, until your puppy begins to bite more softly. When your puppy's bite hurts less, then begin to yelp and ignore him whenever he simply applies pressure. When you ignore him now, rather than simply turning your back to him, leave the room for the five minutes.

Like before, when you return after the five minutes, call him to yourself and have him do something for you before you resume playing with him again.

When your puppy stops applying pressure when he bites you, and is only touching you gently with his mouth, then begin to yelp and ignore him whenever he even touches you with his teeth. When you leave the room now, leave the room for ten minutes. After the ten minutes are up, return and call him back to you. Have him do something for you, and then resume playing afterwards.

Repeat yelping and ignoring your puppy for any form of biting until your puppy no longer touches you with his mouth at all.

To begin, place several pieces of food in one hand and several more in a location that is out of your puppy's sight and reach. Good options are your pocket or a shelf or table nearby. Make a fist around the pieces of food in your hand and allow you puppy to sniff your closed hand.

Tell your puppy to "leave it" while you keep your hand tightly closed. When he gives up trying to get the food for even a couple of seconds then praise him, tell him "take it", and then offer him a piece of the hidden food from the nearby location. Do not offer the food in your hand though.

Practice having your puppy leave food in your hand alone until he will immediately leave it alone when told to. Gradually make it harder by having your hand open when you do this, by placing the treat on the floor with your foot next to it, and by dropping pieces of food onto the floor for him to leave. Whenever you do any of this be ready to close your hand or cover the food with a foot or hand if your puppy tries to get the food. Otherwise he will not learn to 'leave it'.

When your puppy will leave food alone whenever he is told, then practice having your puppy leave other tempting items in your hand or under your foot alone. Items might include tennis Balls, socks, gloves, shirts, shoes, paper wads, stuffed animals, sticks, leaves, or anything else that your puppy finds really desirable. Practice with these items until your puppy will leave whatever you tell him to alone.

When your puppy will leave objects and food alone very well, then whenever your puppy begins to bite you or your clothing, tell your puppy to 'leave it'. While you do this, keep very still and quiet to prevent your puppy from thinking that you are playing. When your puppy stops for even a couple of seconds, then praise him and tell him "take it" while offering him a treat. Practice this until your puppy will immediately stop biting you whenever you tell him to 'leave it'.

Once your puppy will stop biting you whenever you say "leave it", remain consistent by always acting boring and commanding him to 'leave it' whenever he bites you. By always commanding him to 'leave it' and never tolerating biting, you are discouraging him from attempting to bite in the future, and you are convincing him that biting is no longer fun for him.

To begin, find a thick glove such as a leather gardening glove. If your puppy's bite is hard enough to hurt, then either choose another method, or if you feel comfortable, wear the glove while doing this.

When you are interacting with your puppy and he begins to bite you, place your gloved hand in front of him to block his mouth from grabbing other areas of your body.

If he bites your hand instead, which he likely will do, then with your hand flat, press your hand into the back of his mouth so that you are putting pressure onto the area where his upper and lower jaw meet. Do this until he tries to spit your hand out himself. The area where his jaws meet in the back of his mouth is a sensitive area, so pressure applied there is uncomfortable for him and will make biting you uncomfortable rather than fun for him.

If your puppy tries to bite you again after doing this, which many excited puppies will do, then repeat the pressure on his jaws. Do this every time that he tries to bite until he decides that biting is unpleasant and gives up. When you do this it is important to be firm and still, and not act excited, loud, or run away. If you act excited or scared then your puppy will think that you are playing and it will encourage him to bite even more.

Every time that your puppy tries to bite you, block him with your hand and apply pressure if he bites your hand. Your puppy should gradually bite less and less often as you remain consistent.

When your puppy stops himself from biting you when you show him your hand, then praise him in a calm and kind tone of voice. It is important to praise his efforts at being good so that he learns what he should be doing when he is excited, which is exhibiting self-control.