Dogs bite for a variety of different reasons. As a dog owner, you owe it to your pet to understand these reasons. Here, we will look at the reasons dogs bite and the methods to train them not to bite.

Sometimes, the puppy fails to learn not to bite. As a puppy, your dog will play constantly with their siblings. When they bite another pup, what happens? That puppy yelps and withdraws from the play. On that note, if your pup bites you when playing, do the same thing; yelp and stop playing. they'll learn what appropriate play is all about and get the message.

1. Give Alternatives

Lots and lots of toys that are bite safe. These toys should not resemble hands or feet or anything you do not want them to bite later.

2. No Aggressive Play

When playing games with your dog make sure they don't get aggressive. If you're playing tug of way with them and they begin to grow, or snarl them stop playing and reprimand them immediately. Plus no wrestling. It's ok to run with each other but NEVER get aggressive with them. They'll start to think that this behavior is OK.

3. Socialize Them

To minimize the likelihood of them biting a stranger, make sure to socialize them. Let your dog meet many different types of people, and other animals as young as you can start introducing them. The younger your dog is the better. The best time to start socializing your dog is between 12 weeks and 14 months.

As an adult, dogs can bite because of they are confused about their role in the household. They may think they're the boss or "alpha" dog and you are trying to invade their territory. Breaking the dog of this is fairly simple and teaches that YOU are the alpha. Those ways are:

4. You Always Sit Higher Up

Never let the dog up on the living room couch or chairs.

5. Make Sure You are in Control

You need to be in control of everything you two do together. If your dog demands attention from you don't give it to them. If they place their head on your lap or under your hand, IGNORE THEM! Plus if you play make sure you initiated it.

6. You Eat First Eat your meal and wash up BEFORE feeding your dog.

7. No Games in Where You Can Lose Again, NO tug of war with the animal. If you happen to lose, they become "top dog".

8. Go Where You Want

Always be in control of where you're walking when walking your dog, and be the first in the door.

9. Reprimand Them

When they bite you, isolate the dog in a box or cage for about 5 minutes.

10. One on the Snout

Rap them gently on the nose and say to them "no biting!" I do NOT mean to beat the dog, but just a little rap on the snout with a newspaper or even your fingers. Lightly, lightly, lightly!

11. A Light Spritz

Have a spray bottle handy. Anytime your dog bites spritz them with the water in the bottle. If you want to make the bottle more affective, put a little apple vinegar in it and dilute it with water. Then when you spritz them it's more than just getting wet. It will have a bad smell that your dog doesn't like.

12. Illness

Older dogs that begin to bite are a whole different ball game. This can be due to pain or the loss of sight or hearing that causes the animal to startle. These are simple and easy to remedy with either pain medication or simply telling people to be sure the dog is aware of them before approaching or petting it.