While German Shepards can make loyal companions, they also have a mean bite. Luckily, not all German Shepards will bite, but if yours does you will need to know how to stop a German Shepard from biting.
German Shepards typically won’t bite if they are properly trained and socialized. It’s very important to build a good bond with your dog because German Shepards won’t bite people they trust. If your dog bites in a playful manner, you could have luck redirecting the bite.
Receiving a German Shepard bite is never something you want to experience. If you want to make sure your German Shepard doesn’t bite, you’ve come to the right page. We’re going to break down some of our top tips to prevent your dog from biting. Keep reading to learn more.
How To Stop a German Shepherd From Biting
While German Shepards have proven to be smart and loyal pets, they do have a strong bite. If a German Shepard has received no training, has lived in an aggressive or abusive household, or believes that someone is a threat, it’s very likely to bite. As a dog owner, the last thing you want is for your German Shepard to bite someone else.
Not all German Shepards are biters. If you take steps from the time the dog is at a young age towards training and socialization, it won’t feel the need to act aggressive (unless it’s provoked). As a dog owner, there are a few things you can do to stop your German Shepard from biting.
Start Training Early
It’s best to start training a German Shepard when it’s at a young age. The ideal time in the dog’s life for training is between 3 and 9 months. German Shepard puppies can learn a variety of basic commands in this time frame.
When you’re training your German Shepard puppy, you are also taking on the role of leadership. This is important because the dog needs to realize that you are the one who’s in control of the situation. When you establish this role early, you can use command words when the dog starts to show aggressive behavior.
Always reward training with positive reinforcement. This way the German Shepard will associate your commands with a positive reaction and will be more likely to obey. German Shepards love to please their owners, so showing you’re happy with praise and treats is a great way to make training commands successful.
Socialize Your German Shepard
One of the reasons a German Shepard may become aggressive and bite is because it’s scared. If a German Shepard isn’t familiar with other people, it can become frightened when someone new comes on its territory. Of course, you don’t want your dog to bite your visitors or a delivery driver bringing you a pizza. This is why socialization is critical.
Most German Shepards are ready for socialization at the age of 15 weeks. This is when you should make an effort to start introducing the puppy to different people and other dogs. It’s important to introduce the puppy to people from all age groups, so it’s just as comfortable around children as it is with adults.
Meeting other dogs is important too, but it should be dogs who are socialized so the puppy doesn’t have a bad experience. A German Shepard should always be introduced to new people, dogs, and places in a calm and collected manner. You want to create a positive experience each time so it doesn’t set you back on socialization.
Build a Bond
Establishing a good relationship with your German Shepard is very important. This is how the dog learns to trust you and a German Shepard won’t bite people it trusts. While it may take time, you and your German Shepard will soon be best of friends if you are consistent enough.
These dogs are very loyal. One of the good things about training your German Shepard is that it can help you build a stronger bond with them. The dog will want to keep you happy, so it’s also more likely to obey during training. It will also be more likely to listen to your commands in situations where it may be displaying signs of aggressive behavior, such as growling.
Get Help
There are a lot of great professional training courses that can help if you have a German Shepard that bites. It can be overwhelming for dog owners when it seems like their training methods aren’t moving forward. When you’re in this position, one of the best moves can be to contact a professional.
In the meantime, it helps to learn more about German Shepards. While you came to this page to learn more about the breed’s biting habits, you shouldn’t stop your research after this page. Continue researching more about the breed because the more you know about the dog’s needs, the better you will be prepared to tend to them.
Redirect The Bite
Does your German Shepard ever nip at you while playing? These bites typically aren’t aggressive and don’t mean that your dog will start biting other people. When German Shepards get really excited, they are known to let out a few barks and bites. This is somewhat similar to people letting out a few yells to show their excitement.
While playful bites aren’t mean, you likely don’t want to receive them either. An easy way to get your German Shepard to stop biting during playtime is by redirecting the bite. Try to incorporate a good quality chew toy that your dog can release its excitement onto. This way, your German Shepard will have fun and you won’t have bite marks on your arm.
Daily Exercise
Biting is viewed as destructive behavior. One of the main reasons that a dog of any breed acts destructive is because it’s not getting enough exercise. The dog will start biting and chewing things around the house because it’s bored and needs more exercise. This is why it’s important to make sure your Germa Shepard gets to engage in exercise daily.
It doesn’t have to be high-energy either. These dogs are more than happy to go for a leisurely walk or to romp around in the backyard. They also need mental stimulation, so try to provide challenges when playing with your German Shepard.
How To Stop a German Shepard Puppy From Biting
Puppy bites are a lot different than full-grown dog bites. In fact, biting is actually pretty normal for German Shepard puppies. When a German Shepard puppy bites, it doesn’t mean the dog will be aggressive later on in life. However, puppy biting is something you will want to curb so it doesn’t become a habit.
While puppy bites are harmless, a bite from a full-grown German Shepard isn’t. This is why you need to teach a young puppy that biting is wrong. Let’s take a look at some effective ways to stop a German Shepard puppy from biting.
Show Your Pain
Biting comes naturally to a dog, so we have the show them that it’s wrong. When your puppy bites you, say “Ouch” in a very firm tone. It’s important that you are firm in your tone so that you catch the puppy’s attention. If they were to bite another puppy in the litter, it would react with a yelp.
The loud sound at the action of the bite signifies to the puppy that something isn’t right. However, sometimes the dogs don’t get the message right away. If the German Shepard puppy bites a second time, let out a stern “Ouch” and then leave the room. It’s important to stop all forms of play so the puppy is aware you aren’t happy.
Come back after a couple of minutes and resume play. This may take a couple of attempts, but you need to be consistent to show the dog you don’t approve of biting.
Freeze a Kong
Puppies will often bite because they are teething. This has nothing to do with obedience, as the dog is simply looking to relieve some of the discomforts in its mouth. You can stop the biting while providing relief for your dog with a frozen Kong toy. Kong is a great chew toy that allows you to place the puppy’s favorite treats inside.
When the Kong is frozen, it provides soothing relief to puppies that are going through the teething process. This is also a great trick to use for dogs that are stressed or have anxiety. Chewing on a frozen Kong can be very calming for dogs of all ages.
Final Thoughts
Are you wondering how to stop a German Shepard from biting? Training is very important so your dog knows how to be obedient in different situations. You will also need to socialize the German Shepard while it’s young so it’s not frightened by seeing new people. Additionally, it’s also important to form a good relationship with your dog so it knows that it can trust you.