Dog Bite Injury Attorney Offers Tips for Training Your Puppy Not to Bite

Colorado dog bite attorneys often see the severe consequences of dog bites. Working to minimize the harmful and devastating effects suffered by victims of dog bites begins by trying to reduce the occurrence of dog bites in the first place. Dog bite attorneys in Colorado would recommend that dog owners begin training their puppy in good behaviors from the very beginning of dog ownership. Start by taking the following tips from experts in puppy training:

1. Respond promptly to puppy biting.

It is common for puppies to bite while playing and teething. It will be your job as the “boss” to teach that puppy that biting is never acceptable. Consequences shouldn’t be severe. Instead they should be consistent. In addition to reprimanding biting, try to focus on rewarding the behavior that you do want to see. In general, you’ll need to provide the following training before the puppies reach four months.

2. Developing Trust and Respect Will Improve Training Results

Without developing a relationship of trust and respect with your puppy, any instruction that you try to provide could be ignored. This is another aspect of establishing that you are the boss, the caregiver, or the top dog.

3. Don’t Resort to Physical Reprimands

Hitting, kicking, or otherwise hurting your puppy will erode the trust that you have worked to develop with your puppy. Positive reinforcement is a much more effective method of training no matter what you are trying to teach.

4. Provide Socialization for Your Puppy

This is one of the most important things that you can do to prevent biting and other aggressive behaviors. By providing plenty of socialization with strangers, new situations, and other dogs in the first months of the puppy’s life, you’ll be able to establish comfort in these situations and make it clear that you expect your puppy to behave in all situations.

While Colorado dog bite lawyers are ready and willing to help you after suffering from a dog bite, they would prefer to prevent the attack in the first place. When a dog owner hasn’t provided this training, turn to a Colorado dog bite attorney to get the representation and professional assistance that you need.