Do Poodles Bite? How to Stop Poodle Biting?
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Poodles are one of the cutest dog breeds out there because of their curly hair and the style in which they are cut. However, these attractive looking pooches also have a problem that requires addressing, and that is poodles have a penchant for biting.
While poodles may show an instinct to bite, the problem usually only gets worse when the poodle owner does not address the behavior and allows it to persist.
Some poodle owners may even go so far as to think that this biting behavior is just a characteristic of the poodle’s personality – something that it will outgrow when it becomes older and more refined. The opposite is what happens, though – because when such a problem is not addressed it will continue to be a habit when the poodle is a larger dog that also has bigger teeth.
Stopping the Biting Habit
Because poodles are smart dogs, they are also highly trainable and are capable of learning that biting is never a part of what is known as acceptable behavior. Training a poodle to avoid biting will begin by giving the poodle many opportunities to socialize while it is still a puppy.
As a poodle dog owner, you also need to know that it is not good to take the poodle away from its mother earlier than eight weeks old.
The time it spends in the company of its mother is also a learning opportunity – one in which the poodle grows to have an early understanding that it is not right to bite and should control all of its urges to show that it is more dominant than other dogs or people.
Once the eight weeks it spends with its mother has passed, you can then work on socializing the poodle with other dogs and members of your family. You can also consider singing up your poodle for a number of classes and play opportunities that will help teach it to become bite-averse and friendlier; puppy day care sessions is a good opportunity for that.
As an owner, make it a point to show calmness when dealing with your poodle while at the same time showing it that you are welcoming to it.
It is a no-no to scold poodle puppies for the sole reason that they are too young to actually know better. At the same time, scolding a poodle pup will result in an early exposure to aggression on your part – something that it will eventually mimic as it deals with others, and will become the starting point for many behavioral problems that last in the long term.
If the poodle bites another dog – whether that dog is a puppy or a much bigger dog – put your foot down and send the message across: this is something that is not allowed. If the poodle is showing signs of wanting to bite, give it a toy that it can bite instead of other dogs.
If it bites you, make a soft but clear whimpering sound so it knows that you were hurt by what it did. This smart dog will take its cue and, given that you are its loving owner, will strive not to bite you again. At the same time, this is how the poodle also shows being hurt when it is in the receiving end of pain.
Poodle Biting When Your Dog is Much Older
There are also some older poodle dogs that still demonstrate a desire to bite or just nip other people and dogs, and when this happens you need to address the problem with firmness.
Your first move should be to show the poodle that you are the pack’s alpha – the leader of the household. To show that you are the leader, take control of the dog’s feeding times and walking schedule. Do not let it dictate when it wants to eat or play. Spend time teaching it some basic commands, and persist until it grudgingly shows that it can obey.
You also need to avoid playing physical games like tug of war, wrestling, and chasing – because these games can result in the poodle biting you in an attempt to establish its dominance.
If the poodle is anxious and starts biting as a result, you can probably enroll it in obedience classes so they can socialize with other furry friends and have a way to address their aggression problems in a highly controlled environment.
If the biting problem in your poodle persists, more drastic measures in the form of a dog expert may be necessary. You can also think about visiting your vet just to rule out any possible health concerns that may be a cause of its biting.
Teaching your poodle not to bite and addressing aggression issues may sometimes be a challenge to a dog owner, but if you persist at it you will revel in how obedient and well-behaved a poodle can actually be.
The Causes of Poodle Biting
Poodles do not really bite because they just feel like it – there are actually some reasons that prompt them to bite. This biting problem of poodles is more pronounced in their breed compared to others, and toy poodles in particular have a higher propensity for biting than their counterparts.
But with proper poodle training, they can actually become some of the most well trained dog breeds in the world and will not bite if this is something they have learned not to do.
So, going back to the high rate of biting that is common in the nature of poodles – because it is not a breed that is expected to do anything more than just be a cute pet, it can learn to be stubborn and be unresponsive to others.
They are actually quite smart, but if you combine that impressive intellect with strong instincts that are left untrained, you can be sure that poodles will not only be turning their noses up to you, but giving you a good bite as well to show that you cannot control them!
