How To Stop A Whippet Biting Or Nipping
There is certainly nothing good about being the owner of a Whippet dog or puppy who is biting. This type of behavior can progress into a very serious problem if not taken into consideration from the moment it starts to occur – which can be as early as when they are still a puppy. It might be that some considerable time has passed since they started to bite and not much effort has gone into to preventing it from being a regular issue. Generally speaking, the longer the biting has been taking place – the harder it will be to overcome this unwelcome trait. We have to understand the reasons behind biting and the current severity.
For example, a whippet puppy that is gently nibbling on your fingers or toes is quite different to a full grown dog who has aggressively attacked you and broken the skin. How you approach the biting will vary a little in terms of their age and their reasons for biting.
The Reasons Behind Whippet’s Biting
We will be presenting some of the more common reasons behind your dog’s biting to achieve a better understanding and awareness. However, the most common instigator is stress or awkward situations. The more stress that surrounds them at any given moment – the more likely they are to react through biting. So when we think of stress as the main cause – what are the key stress factors for dogs?
* Bad Social Skills – If the importance of socialization training is ignored from being a puppy, your whippet may see certain situations or people and link it with a fear or unknowing of how to behave. Fears that accumulate from being a puppy or young dog might progress into biting with an older dog.
* Lack of Obedience Training – Without proper obedience training, your dog will not know the rights and wrongs of behavior and they will not respect you as their leader. Without having someone to be their leader, they will act up when you least expect it.
* A Medical Problem – If a dog has pain then they can get very nervous if someone tries to touch that area or move them. Older dogs who have limited hearing or vision may get a shock when sounds or sights are not noticed until within very close proximity. This shock could create fear and biting.
* Bad History – If you have adopted an older dog and they are biting frequently, it might be that they have had a bad history of abuse and subsequently fear. If this is the case, the problem is already deep rooted and you may require the help from a professional – as soon as possible.
All young dogs should go through obedience training which will not only teach them how to behave in various situations, but they will learn to listen to you – their owner and leader. This gives you a better stance when further training is needed to prevent the onset of bad behavior such as biting.