Q & A With Our Very Own Dog Trainer

Like many of our readers, we have trouble with our own dog Teddy, but we’re fortunate to have our very own and FANTASTIC celebrity dog trainer, Inger Martens!

Every week Inger shares dog training tips on the site and even takes the time to help out a reader and answer their specific question.

This week, Marissa Do asks:

Please give tips to help w/ puppy nipping my weimaraner is about 13 weeks and nips at our hands and my kids and really hurts. We have tried…

-yelping
-saying NO Teeth
-giving her toys she can bite
-walking away

I don’t know what else to try? Please help, any tips are worth trying.
Thank You,

Marissa Do

Inger says:

Hey there Marissa! Thanks for your question!! Well… you are right! Yelping, saying no teeth, giving toys and walking away, does NOT help stop a teething puppy!
Think about it? Yelping puts YOU in the same league as another puppy. No teeth? What’s up with that? I know it’s annoying and you’re trying everything but having a conversation rarely works with most people, let alone dogs! Believe me, if that worked, I could simply explain all of this stuff to every dog on the planet and just call it a day! lol.. : )

The one thing that you did not say is the word… chew bone! Every puppy has baby teeth that begin to fall out during puppyhood. By the time your pup is 6 months old he will have all new adult teeth!! Having children and raising a puppy can mirror having a LOOSE SQUIRREL IN THE HOUSE.

During the “puppy training” phase, a helpful tip is to use a baby gate to section off your kitchen or hallway. This gives your puppy a safe temporary chewing space. Creating a safe chewing space teaches a pup not hide or hoard the chew bone. Check with your local vet and ask about giving your puppy a bully stick to chew. This type of chew is a great for teething because it doesn’t break off in large strips and can give a large puppy something to sink his (sharp needle) teeth into and loosen them up. Remember, teething is not a bad behavior ( it’s just a function of a puppy ) but it could turn into one if not handled correctly!!

peace ☺ Inger

Thanks for the tip, Inger!

Good luck with your nibbling puppy, Marissa!

[Image via AP Images.]