Shiba Inus are known for their sharp intelligence, keen senses, and independent nature. While they make for charming and spirited companions, Shiba Inu puppy owners often find themselves facing a rather prickly issue: biting. Addressing this behavior is crucial, especially during the puppy stage, to ensure your Shiba Inu puppy grows up to be a well-mannered adult dog. In this article, we’ll delve into why Shiba Inu puppies bite and offer effective solutions for curbing this behavior.
1. Why Does My Shiba Inu Puppy Bite?
Understanding the underlying reasons behind your Shiba Inu puppy’s biting is the first step in addressing the issue. Most puppies bite as a way of exploring their world, but Shiba Inus are particularly known for their strong prey drive and natural inclination to mouth objects, including human hands. Your Shiba Inu puppy might also be biting because they are teething, feeling anxious, or lacking proper socialization.
2. The Role of Socialization in Stopping a Shiba Inu Puppy from Biting
It can’t be stressed enough how crucial socialization is in the formative stages of your Shiba Inu puppy’s life. Socialization exposes your Shiba Inu puppy to different experiences, helping them understand appropriate behaviors, including the need to refrain from biting humans. This could be achieved by enrolling your Shiba Inu puppy in a puppy kindergarten class or arranging supervised play dates with other dogs.
3. Use Basic Commands to Regulate Behavior
Basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “no” can be incredibly helpful when you’re training your Shiba Inu puppy not to bite. These commands can help you control your Shiba Inu puppy in various situations and offer an alternative to biting. Be consistent in your commands and offer a treat or other reward when your Shiba Inu puppy obeys.
4. Redirecting Your Shiba Inu Puppy’s Biting
Given their energetic and curious nature, a Shiba Inu puppy is more likely to engage in biting if they don’t have an appropriate outlet for their energy. Offer them chew toys, bones, or puzzle toys to redirect their biting habits toward acceptable items. Keep a toy handy so that when the Shiba Inu puppy starts to bite, you can quickly offer an alternative.
5. Bite Inhibition Training for Your Shiba Inu Puppy
Bite inhibition is the process of teaching your Shiba Inu puppy to control the force of their bite. If your Shiba Inu puppy bites too hard while playing, emit a high-pitched “yelp” and stop the play immediately. Ignore your Shiba Inu puppy for 20-30 seconds. This sends a clear message that biting leads to an end in fun activities, teaching them to be more gentle in the future.
6. Consistency is Crucial
When multiple family members are involved in the upbringing of a Shiba Inu puppy, it’s essential that everyone is on the same page regarding training and commands. This consistency will prevent confusion for your Shiba Inu puppy and will make the training more effective.
7. Time-Outs as a Training Tool
If your Shiba Inu puppy continues to bite despite other corrective measures, a brief “time-out” can be effective. Place your Shiba Inu puppy in a safe but boring space, away from stimuli, for a couple of minutes. This helps them understand that biting will lead to less fun and more isolation.
8. Positive Reinforcement Works Wonders
Remember, Shiba Inus responds well to positive reinforcement. Whenever your Shiba Inu puppy shows good behavior or refrains from biting, reward them with treats, praise, or a short but enjoyable playtime. This strengthens the positive behaviors you wish to see.
9. When to Seek Professional Help
If the biting issue persists, you might want to consider getting professional help. Dog trainers can offer you tailored advice and practical exercises to stop your Shiba Inu puppy from biting.
10. Veterinary Concerns
Before attributing biting to behavioral issues, consult your veterinarian to rule out any health concerns that may be causing discomfort and leading to biting. Sometimes, pain or discomfort may cause your Shiba Inu puppy to bite as a coping mechanism.
An Online Dog Training Course Can Help Your Shiba Inu to Stop Biting
Our 2 favorite online courses are:
1. SpiritDog’s “Perfect Obedience” Course
The Perfect Dog Obedience Bundle is an online dog training program designed to help dog owners achieve well-behaved pets. The comprehensive course covers basic obedience, biting, and loose leash walking, and includes bonus mini-courses on training habits and rewards, stopping jumping, and separation anxiety solutions. With lifetime access to expert trainers for personalized feedback and a 60-day money-back guarantee, this course aims to provide effective, accessible training for a variety of dog behavior issues.
2. K9 Training Institute’s “Dog Masterclass”
More than just an obedience course, this more comprehensive training course tackles any behavior problem you might face with your dog.
Conclusion
Training your Shiba Inu puppy not to bite is an integral part of responsible pet ownership. It requires a blend of understanding, consistent training, socialization, and positive reinforcement. Keep in mind that every Shiba Inu puppy is unique, and what works for one may not be effective for another. But with dedication and patience, you can train your Shiba Inu puppy to be the well-behaved, friendly dog you want them to be. If you’re finding it challenging to curb the biting behavior, do not hesitate to seek professional help. Your Shiba Inu puppy’s well-being is worth the investment.
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via Whisker Therapy