How to Train a Schnauzer to Not Bite
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Introduction
Your Schnauzer is a biter. They bite during games and nip at your heels when they want their dinner. You mostly ignore the behavior, until one day, your pup nips at the wrong person. Suddenly, your friends are upset and don't want to hang out with your Schnauzer anymore. You need a solution. Training your Schnauzer to not bite is an important part of raising a well-behaved dog.
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Defining Tasks
There are many reasons why a dog would naturally bite. Excitement, anxiety, and unfamiliar situations all bring out a Schnauzer's natural instincts. In addition, your pup may be biting because you have accidentally trained him to bite in certain situations. Dogs quickly learn how to get the results they want, so if biting worked in the past, they will try it again. You can train a Schnauzer not to bite at almost any age, though it is easiest with young puppies. The training process will require firm rules and consistent enforcement. Make sure everyone who interacts with your Schnauzer is on-board for the new 'no biting' rules.
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Getting Started
Two helpful tools for training your Schnauzer not to bite are toys and rawhide bones. They can serve as a substitute chew toy when your pup decides to nibble on your figures. If biting becomes severe, you can use a spray bottle filled with water as a deterrent. Keep in mind that your Schnauzer will not learn to stop biting overnight. Patience and consistency are required to help your dog, whatever their age, understand that biting is not an option.
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The Ouch! Method
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Most Recommended
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React consistently to biting
For this method to work, you will need to react the same way to biting every time it happens. Dogs aren't very good at generalizing, so if you let them bite sometimes and not others, they will quickly become confused.
Make a loud noise when biting occurs
Whenever your Schnauzer bites, react with a loud, high-pitched "ouch" or a firm "no." Don't yell at your pup, but indicate to them with your reaction that you didn't like being bitten.
Ignore your pup
After the reaction, turn away from your Schnauzer and proceed to ignore them completely. If they continue to try and gain your attention, leave the room. You want to show your pup that biting ends the fun and causes their friend to leave.
Return after a minute or so
After a short period of time, return to playing with your Schnauzer. If they bite again, repeat the same series of actions. Remember, the best way to train your pup is to be consistent with your behavior.
Reward good behavior
If your Schnauzer plays without biting, give them positive reinforcement in the form of praise and affection. By leaving when they bite and loving on them when they don't, you can show your pup how to behave properly.
The Spray Bottle Method
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Effective
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Use as a last resort
If you have tried other methods but your Schnauzer's biting issue persists, you can fill a small spray bottle with water to use as a deterrent.
Set the nozzle to spray, not jet
Before using the spray bottle, make sure the nozzle is set to a gentle spray, rather than a harsh jet. The goal of the spray bottle is to startle your Schnauzer and interrupt their biting, not to hurt them.
Say "no" and give them a squirt
When your pup bites you, say "no" firmly, but without yelling. Accompany the verbal cue with a quick spray from the bottle. It's best if you can point the bottle at them without your Schnauzer seeing it, so they don't start to connect you with the spray.
Return to playing
Go back to playing with your pup and praise them if they remain gentle. If they go back to biting, you can repeat the combination of the spray bottle with a verbal reprimand.
Phase out the spray bottle
As soon as you can, stop using the spray bottle as a punishment. Spraying your Schnauzer can make them wary of you at other times and you want a positive relationship with your pup. Try using "no" by itself and see if it stops the biting. If not, continue to use the spray bottle sparingly until you can say "no" and get the result you want.
The Redirect Method
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Effective
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Pay attention to when your Schnauzer bites
Keep a close watch on your dog for a few days and figure out what situations most often prompt them to bite. Is it when they get excited during play time? Or is it when your child goes in to pet them? Knowing when to expect a nip can help you prepare to redirect your pup's teeth.
Use a bone to distract your pup
When you reach to pet your Schnauzer, offer a rawhide bone or other chew toy with the opposite hand. This offering acts as both a reward for not biting and a way to keep their mouth busy while you pet them.
Stop petting before a nip
At first, you should only pet your Schnauzer for a short period of time, especially if your pup tends to get excited when you pet them. Ending your petting session on a positive note is better reinforcement for good behavior overall.
Discourage biting
If your Schnauzer turns and bites you while you are petting them, say "no" is a calm, but firm voice and turn away from them. You want to be dramatic about the process and make a big show of ignoring your pup to show them that biting is a bad thing.
Alternate between hands
Each time you pet your pup, use the opposite hand to give them a bone. Swap back and forth between hands to help your Schnauzer universalize the idea that petting is good and biting is bad.
Written by Christina Gunning
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 04/18/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Christina Gunning
Training Questions and Answers
Lil Eddie
schnauzer
Three Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
He very protective and will bite anybody that’s coming near me or my wife. Anyone that might come in the yard
July 31, 2022
Lil Eddie's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, To address this need, I recommend hiring a private trainer who will come to your home, who specializes in behavior issues like aggression, and works with a staff of trainers, who can one at a time accompany the trainer to your home, to practice desensitizing pup to your "guests" - who are actually the training staff. This process will likely involve a combination of desensitizing pup to wearing a basket muzzle first, using a back tie leash to ensure pup can't bite the guest trainer, working on obedience commands ahead of time to build respect and listening with you, like Place, Quiet, Down, Out- leave the area, Leave It, and Say Hi, and then counter conditioning pup around the visitors by rewarding calm responses from a safe distance. First with you rewarding pup while the guest ignores, then the guest tossing treats over and speaking to pup more, and progressing gradually to more interaction with the "guests" gradually. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Aug. 1, 2022
Frankie
Miniature Schnauzer
9 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
He’s kind of biting and we would like for him to stop because when he does bite, it hurts.
Jan. 12, 2022
Frankie's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello Genesis, Is pup biting playfully or aggressively? If playful, check out the Leave It method from the article I have linked below. You may also need to desensitize pup to wearing a basket muzzle for a little while too so you can train without being bitten in the process during practice and interactions with pup. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite If the behavior is aggressive, I would hire a professional trainer who specializes in behavior issues like aggression to work in person with you. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 12, 2022