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Video: Hand Block Game for Puppy Biting
Here’s the video and description that @RADS was talking about in this post about puppy biting. Thanks for reminding us of this one Radhika! ????
One great method for teaching puppies not to bite is to use a hand block when you are playing games with toys. This is a way for your puppy to learn about self-control and bite inhibition. The goal is for the pup to learn that teeth on toys is acceptable and fun, whereas teeth on skin is NOT allowed and will end all fun immediately.
Select a toy that is small or “scrunchy” so that you can easily hide it behind your two hands when the time comes. A tennis ball, small rope bone, small stuffed animal, or small squeaker – all will work great. Once you have a dog who loves to play with a toy, you are ready to go! Get the dog excited about the toy by letting him chase it and pounce at it. Then, suddenly pick up the toy and hide it behind your two hands with the back of your hands facing the dog. Watch the video to see what I mean. When you hand block the toy, it is critical that you keep your hands out right in front of the dog to give him a choice. He can either bite your hands, or stand back for a second and wait. If he bites your hands you will NOT continue the game. You can completely ignore him and keep your hands still, right where they are, or you can stand up and turn away for a few seconds. I like to completely ignore, but some people find their pups bite too hard for that. If you did ignore the biting, you will notice that at some point the pup stops and stands back. Watch for that split second when the pup stops biting and moves back. NOW, praise and immediately start moving the toy around on the floor again as a play reward! You are rewarding the instant the pup decides to stand back and wait rather than jump at your hands and bite them.
Repeat this over and over, making it NO fun if the dog bites or jumps at you (no play), and LOTS of fun when the dog shows self control by waiting for you each time you do a hand block (the reward for the pup standing back is another chance to chase the toy, tug, or fetch). Notice how the Westie in the video never touches his teeth to my skin. Watch him carefully when I hand block. See how he turns his mouth away right when I do it? He didn’t start out that way. He learned it!
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7 Replies
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This is fantastic, @David Thanks so much for sharing!
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This is a new approach to me @David – thank you for sharing it!
Firstly, I was grinning to see you picked a feisty little terrier as your Demo Dog. I’ve found they can be some of the most tenuous tuggers but also, somewhat conversely, the ones who can be most driven to figure out how to keep the game going.
I’ve used a similar pattern which involves putting the toy behind my back during the pause in play but I’m guessing your version allows more thinking on the pup’s part and I very much like that!
Have you seen frustration get in the way of learning with this method?
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Good question, Jen. Some pups can get frustrated but most catch on very quickly and as needed you can set a very low criteria at first. For example, a micropause without jumping means the game will continue.
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That can be such a delicate balancing act – challenging the learner enough while not pushing them over into frustration mode where they are doing more reacting than they are thinking!
I try to frame it as a dance that we are doing together with our dogs.
I was working with a client yesterday, whose dog does not like to be touched on her face. Our goal is muzzle training for safety. This team has done some Shaping together before so we began to build a head rest into her person’s hand. It was such a joyful experience for all of us, learning together balancing challenge and success, seeking to avoid frustration.
By the end of the first session, this sensitive and lovely Akita mix was choosing to press her chin and cheeks smoothing onto her person’s cupped hand!
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This is so beautiful and a great analogy, Jen!
I try to frame it as a dance that we are doing together with our dogs. – Jen W.
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I use that with my dog Lido for eye cleaning and ear cleaning, too. He rests his chin in my hand when he’s ready. Such a simple, great approach.
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This takes me back to working on getting my Masters class diploma! I still use this method for training. (especially puppies)
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