No Bite!
This is one of the things I hear that both makes me concerned and makes me laugh. My very first memory of hearing someone saying “No Bite!” was as a kid. My friend would say it to her cat! Like many cats, her long-haired calico cat would occasionally bite in a playful or irritated way. It wasn’t ever serious but my friend was concerned by it. Each time the biting happened, the friend would say “No Bite!” and sternly point her finger right her cat’s face.
Why Shouldn’t You Say “No Bite!”?
When I hear about families using a “No Bite” in classes – I usually give the same advice.
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It’s not normal phrasing.
Dogs don’t speak English, but even if they did – you’d pick a better phrase like “Don’t Bite” or “Stop Biting” or “Keep your teeth to yourself.” This is probably the piece that bothers me the most – and I know it’s silly. By sharing this reason first -and in a somewhat joking way – most families can see that it’s a bit of a silly thing to say anyways.
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Puppy!
The finger point is asking for a bite. Humans love to add a finger point into this routine – which gives the playful-bitey- puppy (or dog who is scared and needing more personal space!) something coming into his personal space – and is a perfect situation to get bit. During dog-dog play sessions I see a similar move when a dog is really trying to provoke another dog into playing – the dog trying to get more play will dart in close and freeze. Keep your hands to yourself!
- The dog or puppy needs to be set up for success. Often in these situations if we just calmly remove ourselves or the puppy from the situation, the biting stops. Puppies are usually experimenting in a “let’s see what happens!” If we know the biting happens in a specific situation – don’t get in that situation. Don’t pet the puppy when he’s feeling bitey. Meet his needs for exercise and play before you relax.