Mouthing and nipping are behaviors that puppies learn as part of play—which is one reason dogs are designed with thick, loose skin that can handle a few nips and nibbles. Pups usually learn bite inhibition from the reactions of their littermates or from older dogs. Unfortunately, people often don’t convey the message clearly that nipping is inappropriate. Many of our reactions unintentionally encourage more nipping.
Coprophagia, or eating feces, is absolutely disgusting to people. Even so, it is a natural dog behavior. There are two good reasons for it. First, a mother dog will stimulate her very young puppies to toilet by licking their genital and anal areas. When they go, she consumes the excrement in order to keep the nest area clean. This is a puppy’s first exposure to the behavior. Second, dogs who persist in the habit may find some nutritional benefit, either from undigested food or from the bacteria that are present. These and many other natural dog behaviors are triggered by instinct, so dogs don’t understand that there is anything wrong with them. They aren’t doing them to make us mad—although that is often the result. When you understand the natural basis for your dog’s behavior, you can more easily learn to modify it. He’ll still be a dog with the personality you love. However, once everyone understands the rules, it’s much easier to play the game.
Luis Silva first started training his own dogs in California in the late 70’s. Basic dog training was provided by a military friend enrolled in the United States Air Force K9 Team. Luis became the dog trainer to many friends and neighbors. After 20 years performing multiple international assignments in the corporate world, Luis went back to his first love. In 2006, he became a professional dog trainer with Bark Busters Home Dog Training and now operates out of central Palm Beach County. www.petplanetmagazine.com
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