Redirection: How To Effectively Deal With Playful Nipping 

Let’s face it: puppies like to nip. Not only is it a way to cope with teething, but this is also a puppy’s way to communicate and explore. When they’re little, a puppy’s nipping can be tolerated, even when it’s on our belongings or fingers. But as they grow, and those teeth come in all new and sharp, then the nipping becomes a problem.

Nipping is a common puppy behavior, and they should be allowed to nip/bite, to soothe themselves during the teeth process. They can continue to use their mouths (gently) to communicate with other dogs, and to explore new things. But as responsible dog owners, we have to allow our puppies to nip/bite on appropriate things, showing our fur babies that there ARE restrictions.

Dog Trainer Atlanta Blog on Redirecting

George here is a sweet, housebroken puppy, but his nipping is out of control! He goes for hands and even at his owner’s dress while she’s walking him! He is currently in training with us, and he’s learning the boundaries his owner has now set for him.

Many dog trainers will bring up “redirection” when it comes to nipping and other problematic behaviors. Redirection is basically leading a dog to something more positive and appropriate, away from the stimulus that sets off the dog’s inappropriate behavior. For instance, if a dog is on a walk and he’s known for lunging aggressively at other dogs while on the leash, then redirecting would have the owner distract (perhaps with a correction or lure/treat) the dog away from the trigger. In this example, there would have to be solid leash training and handling involved as well.

With a nipping case, redirection would involve redirecting the dog away (from your hand, shoelaces, ankles, etc.) to something more appropriate to chew on, such as a toy or bone. When I get clients that have puppies or dogs that love to nip, the majority of them will say they tried this type of redirection, and yet the behavior continues. “What am I doing wrong?” asks the client, who is pushing a toy in their dog’s face, so that they’ll stop nibbling on their hand (some of these clients even have battle scars from their dog’s nipping/biting!).

Redirection is a great technique to teach puppies and dogs out of inappropriate nipping and playful biting. The problem is that many people do not use this method correctly and fully. Showing your dog that there is something better to chew on other than your body is great, but they need to understand that what they are doing is wrong in the first place. The most consistent missing component in many of these disgruntled dog owners’ redirection is timing.

Think of it this way: your puppy is on your lap, being sweet and adorable. As you begin petting your puppy, they start to nibble on your fingers. In response, you grab the nearest toy and put it in the place of your fingers, allowing the puppy to nibble on the toy instead. Or perhaps your full-grown adult dog is laying down by your feet. Suddenly, you look down and see him undoing your shoe laces and gnawing on them. His bone is right by your other foot, so you gently kick it over to him, showing him that this is a more appropriate thing for him to chew.

While this is redirection, I find these types of situations to be counter-productive redirection. With that puppy, his tiny yet extremely sharp teeth around your fingers, is given a toy to help him deal with his teething. But do you know what we are telling this young puppy through this action? That by chewing on your fingers, he is then rewarded with a toy. The same with the adult dog and his bone. “I chew on your shoe laces = I get a bone!” Instead of effectively redirecting, we are actually teaching our puppies and dogs to keep misbehaving with their nipping and biting.

So that’s where timing comes in, and it makes a huge difference. Also, communicating the boundaries and showing the dog what is right and wrong, is what makes redirection complete and successful. If the puppy or dog does not understand that chewing on your hand or shoes is wrong, then they will continue to do it. But we don’t want to just say “No No NO!” all the time at our dog. Along with communicating the boundaries, we want to also show the dog how to be successful. This is where reward-based dog training comes in, and makes it balanced and fun for the dog, and also allows the dog to see that better behaviors brings rewards. So when we are able to clearly show a puppy that our fingers are not for them to bite, we give that puppy time to learn it and to then demonstrate calm, good behavior. Once they achieve this, we then reward the dog, simultaneously redirecting the dog to something more appropriate to chew on. So for instance, once I get my dog’s attention away from my shoelaces, I can then give them a few moments to stop and be calm. After those few moments, I can then reward the calm behavior with a bone, or maybe ask the dog to perform a command, and then give them a treat after they obey. With good timing, the dog or puppy will see that they are not being rewarded and given a toy for their bad behavior, but because they stopped, remained calm and showed more appropriate behavior.

Timing is important with all behavioral issues, and must be applied carefully and consistently. Dog owners who want to train their dogs are fantastic, responsible pet parents. However, they must be cautious about the possible mixed messages they could be sending to their dog. Consistency is key here, and once you have that and the reward-based techniques to apply to your dog’s behavioral growth, then you and your furry companion will be set for life!

Interested in learning more about reward-based dog training? Do you need a hand in getting your dog’s behavioral issues under control? Do you need someone to clear the airways and help you establish consistent, effective communication between you and your dog? Call 800-649-7297 to schedule an initial consultation, or shoot us an email at training@peachtreedogtraining.com!