How to Train a Husky Puppy to Stop Biting

The first step to stopping biting is to understand the puppy's motivation. A very young pup is unlikely to be being aggressive, instead, he's just doing what puppies do. (Not that this makes it OK!) In a litter of healthy pups there will be rough and tumble, which includes biting. As part of the learning process, when a pup bites too hard, the other pup will screech and possibly end the game. This is valuable insight for the biting pup, as he learns that biting too hard ends the fun.

Let's look at how pups learn to be gentle in a litter. We've already said how they screech and squeal when bitten too hard. This makes the biting pup back off. The game then resumes once the bitten pup has regained confidence in the other one. Since pups want to play, the nipping puppy will be keen to avoid another interruption to the game and be careful to have a softer mouth next time. This process is known as learning bite inhibition and is a valuable tool for stopping a pup from nipping people.

Communicate with your Husky pup in a way he understands, by acting the same way a littermate would. If he gets too rough and nips your hand, then immediately let your hand go limp and at the same time squeal and look hurt. Nurse your hand as if dreadfully injured and perhaps even force out a few fake tears. The pup should then and take stock.

Stop the game until the pup has calmed down and looks repentant! Only once he is calm can the game start again.

If the pup doesn't get the message and keeps nipping, say a short sharp "No", get up and walk away. Key here is withdrawing attention so that the puppy realizes that being overly rough stops the fun. Next time he'll try to inhibit himself from biting.

Punishing the puppy for biting serves little purpose. He may stop biting you, but only because he is fearful of you. He won't generalize this lesson to other people, and could continue to pose a risk to them. Instead, pursue other methods that teach the dog self-control.

It's important the Husky pup learns early on that human skin is fragile and his teeth should never contact it. This means acting up when the pup even lightly nips, so that he receives a message that people are very fragile and must be treated with care.

Avoid games that involve the pup chasing your hands or a finger. This makes the hand into a toy, which in the pup's mind makes it fair game for nipping. Instead, use toys such as balls or tuggers, which don't involve direct contact with human skin.

When the pup nips your hand, let the hand go limp (rather than pulling it sharply away.) Rapid movement will trigger chasing instincts in the pup, which make him excited. Whereas a limp hand sends a strong signal that it's 'broken' and can't be played with.

If you in any way feel out of your depth with a pup that bites excessively, then do seek the help of a qualified animal behaviorist or dog trainer that uses reward-based methods. A young puppy is still learning. Act swiftly so that this golden opportunity to get him on the right path doesn't slip through your fingers.

Pups don't bite out of malice, but because they are overexcited and get carried away. They also thrive on attention and love to play games. When you understand this it helps to prevent biting. Simply withdrawing attention or getting the pup to calm down gives you another two options when it comes to stopping a puppy biting.

If you've squealed and the pup didn't back down, then it's time for a short but sharp "No" or "Uh-oh". This is to mark the bad behavior (biting) so the dog understands why the game stopped.

Now end the game and ignore the pup. Try folding your arms and turning your back. Wait for the pup to calm down before resuming play.

If the pup keeps jumping on you and trying to nip, then quietly get up and leave the room. Again, this ends the game, which is the last thing that the pup wants. Only return when he has calmed down.

Return to the game but as soon as the pup shows signs of nipping, say "No" and get ready to fold your arms. The pup will most likely realize what's about to happen and calm himself down in order that the game continues.