How to Deal with a Mouthy Pit Bull Puppy

Puppies like to explore the world around them with their mouths. This isn't so different from a human baby. However, those needle-sharp little puppy teeth can hurt! Good news: this is normal puppy behavior. Better news: with some consistency, your Pit Bull puppy will learn that mouthing and nipping is unacceptable.

Puppies are fairly predictable. You can use this trait of theirs to your advantage. Certain actions from you will result in certain responses from your puppy. For instance, if you notice that your puppy becomes over-stimulated and compelled to nip or mouth during a game of tug-of-war, play fetch or hide-and-seek instead. Don't give the puppy any inclination to be tempted to nip or mouth.

If your puppy was taken from its litter before the age of eight weeks, you can expect to have to teach them bite inhibition. Littermates instill this trait in each other. If one puppy bites another a little too hard, that puppy will yelp and walk away leaving the biter bewildered and suddenly alone. The puppies soon learn that if they want playtime to continue, they must play nicely. You can accomplish the same result by yelling "Ouch!", walking away, and completely ignoring the puppy for several minutes. This technique is very effective but must be performed consistently.

Bitter apple spray. While the "yelp and walk away" technique is perfect for long-term bite inhibition, you can get even quicker results by using bite and mouthing deterrents, such as Grannick's Bitter Apple® Spray. These products have a strong, unpleasant taste and were initially used to discourage dogs from biting or excessively licking their wounds. Simply spray some of the product on your hands before a play session, or when your puppy is most likely to be over-stimulated. After tasting the product once or twice, your Pit Bull puppy will be less than eager to have to taste it again. This product may also be used in discouraging the puppy from biting furniture and other "teeth-off" items.


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