How To Decrease The Frequency Of Your Dog's Mouthing Habit

Once your puppy has been taught to mouth gently, it is then time to reduce the frequency of mouthing. Your pup must learn that mouthing is okay, but she must stop when requested. Why? Because it is inconvenient to drink a cup of tea or to answer the telephone with fifty pounds of wriggling pup dangling from your wrist. That's why! It is better to first teach "Off" using food as both a distraction and a reward. The deal is this: Once I say, "Off," if you don't touch the food treat in my hand for just one second, I'll say “Take it" and you can have it. Once your pup has mastered this simple task, up the ante to two or three seconds of non-contact, and then to five, eight, twelve, twenty, and so on. Count out the seconds and praise the dog with each second: "Good Dog View the rest of this article