As we watch our corgis develop from little fluffballs to, well, not-so-big fluffballs, our hearts are overjoyed. We take note of the tiny changes in their bodies and behaviors, and we get excited as they grow in front of our very eyes. But among these cute traits is one thing that we should not ignore: Their biting behaviors.
Why do corgi puppies bite, and what practical tips can we do to stop them from biting? Keep reading to find out the answers to these questions and more!
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Why Do Corgi Puppies Bite?
There are several reasons why Corgi puppies bite a little more than puppies of other breeds. This isn’t because Corgis are innately aggressive, contrary to common opinion. There are a variety of reasons why Corgi pups bite, and all of them may be taught to stop.
Continue reading to learn why your Corgi’s teeth are biting!
Learning About the World Around Them
One of the primary reasons why Corgi pups (and many other young dogs) bite is to get a better understanding of the environment in which they live. Dogs, unlike humans, do not have hands to adequately investigate the environment, thus they use their teeth to accomplish so. Humans also gnash their teeth, although not to the same extent.
Biting objects, siblings, or even owners, might be a reflection of your puppy’s need to learn more about the world it lives in.
Teething
Teething is not only a fun way for your dog to learn about the world, but it also gives comfort for its gums, much like it does for human newborns. Your Corgi’s teeth are still coming in, so it’ll have to find a way to scratch that itch.
There’s no avoiding the reality that it’ll bite something, so making sure it bites the proper object is critical.
High Energy
Corgis are a breed with a lot of energy. This isn’t always a negative thing, and it may lead to a lot of enjoyable playtime with your Corgi puppy. However, if this energy isn’t appropriately channeled, your puppy’s fun biting might easily turn into a harmful habit. Even if your dog isn’t trying to hurt anyone, its bites can be quite painful.
Biting might just be an outlet for a lot of pent-up energy that your puppy has accumulated over the day. When it comes to preventing your Corgi puppy from biting, making sure you find a means to burn off that energy is critical. Scroll down to find out how to exhaust some of your Corgi puppy’s excess energy.
Lack of Bite Inhibition
It’s also possible that your Corgi lacks biting restraint. Bite inhibition refers to your puppy’s ability to regulate how hard and how frequently it bites. This is one of the most crucial lessons a corgi puppy may learn in order to become a well-behaved dog. Because pups aren’t born understanding this talent, it’s critical to instill it in them as soon as possible.
This is usually learned through playing with their siblings. You and toys can be substituted, but you won’t be as naturally successful, so pay attention and respond with suitable training techniques, which we’ll discuss later in this article.
Corgi Puppies Get Scared
Another reason a puppy may bite is that it is afraid! Although this may seem self-evident, many owners overlook it when trying to figure out why their dog is biting. Puppies are little and inexperienced; therefore, they are easily startled.
If your puppy is cornered or feels threatened, it will not hesitate to bite to get out of what it thinks to be a dangerous situation.
This is one of the most common reasons pups bite, even if your dog appears to be generally well-behaved. At all times, make sure your dog is secure and comfortable. This may be accomplished by speaking in a calm tone, not playing too rough, and not forcing your puppy into new social situations.
Breeding
Unfortunately, Corgis were bred to be fighting dogs in the first place. Don’t get me wrong: this doesn’t mean they’re naturally more aggressive. In fact, on the American Temperament Test Society’s aggressiveness test, Corgis do better than the typical dog. This does, however, mean that your Corgi will be a little more passionate while playing with other animals.
Not only that, but their notoriety may cause other dog owners or even random passersby to be concerned. Your dog will be able to know, and if it considers these unpleasant feelings as threatening, it may become protective.
How Do You Stop a Corgi Puppy From Biting?
There are a variety of reasons why your Corgi is biting. The first step is to understand! But how do we get from understanding why your puppy’s teeth are a little too busy to put a stop to it? There are a few excellent strategies to teach your puppy when and how to bite, as well as when and how to keep its jaws locked.
Continue reading to learn some helpful hints and techniques for preventing your Corgi puppy from biting!
Let it Bite Toys!
Making sure your dog is biting the proper item is one of the most essential techniques to stop them from biting. After all, with all of the reasons why puppies bite listed above, your puppy is certain to bite something. That means it’s up to you to make sure your dog is only biting the appropriate objects.
Give your dog a toy to chew on if it starts biting shoes, furniture, pets, or people. This will not only safeguard your safety and property, but it will also educate your puppy that chewing on toys is a good way to let off steam.
Time out!
If your puppy bites during fun, it’s critical that you don’t continue to play and overlook the problem. Say “No,” “Ouch,” or another term sternly and loudly to tell your dog that your mood has shifted. You should also quit playing right away and refrain from doing so for a time. This will educate your puppy that biting means that it’s time to stop playing.
This is something you can store for when your puppy nibbles a few times. If you don’t play with your dog for too long, he won’t remember why you aren’t. After around 15 minutes, you can resume.
Discouragement
There are a few things you can do to deliberately dissuade your young Corgi from biting. Loud and forceful verbal cues like “No,” or “Ouch,” as said before, are a great place to start. These will warn your puppy that the activity it just made was incorrect, and with enough training, it should be able to eliminate the habit.
A spray deterrent, such as a bitter spray purchased at a pet store, can also be beneficial. This quick deterrent will not harm your puppy, but it will taste horrible and create a link in your dog’s head between biting and unpleasantness.
Socialize your Corgi
Early socialization of your Corgi with other animals might help to prevent biting. This will lessen the tension it feels in social situations, which frequently results in bites. This is especially crucial if you have other pets in the house or want to take your Corgi out frequently.
The greatest approach for your Corgi to learn bite inhibition is to play with other dogs. Socializing your puppy with humans, dogs, and cats will simply acclimate it to being around other people and animals, which will help it remain calm in these settings.
Poke the Roof Of Their Mouth
When your Corgi puppy bites you, curl your finger and press your thumb against the roof of their mouth. Don’t put too much pressure to not hurt them, though. The goal of doing this will help them learn to associate biting with pain and that when they bite, they can actually hurt others.
Get Some Exercise
Corgis, as previously noted, are a high-energy breed. Biting is a common reaction to having too much energy. It’s critical to ensure that your Corgi gets enough exercise to burn off this energy.
Going for walks is the greatest method to ensure that your puppy gets enough exercise. These will also help your puppy mingle and become acquainted with its surroundings. Consider taking your Corgi to a dog park for more playing and socialization.
Playing is another excellent method to expend energy. Playing fetch in the yard, tug of war, and other activities will keep your dog active while also allowing it to have fun and use some excess energy.
Neuter/Spay
Although it might be controversial, neutering or spaying your Corgi can be an effective way to combat its aggression. This is also beneficial if you want to prevent your dog from producing puppies of its own in the future.
Your puppy’s drive to mate as it grows older can cause it to become more aggressive—having it neutered or spayed while it is still young will save you some hassles in the future.
This should be completed before your puppy reaches the age of six months. According to some experts, this also aids training by allowing your dog to focus on you rather than on other dogs.
What to Avoid When Stopping a Corgi Puppy From Biting
There are a few things you should avoid while educating your puppy to stop biting. Continue reading to learn what you should avoid doing while educating your dog to stop biting.
Don’t Discourage Bite Warnings
Although you want to keep your puppy from biting itself, you should try not to stop it from notifying you when it’s going to bite. Baring its fangs, snarling, and snapping are examples of these actions.
Although these actions may appear frightening, they are crucial. Corgis seldom bite without provocation. If you do manage to educate your dog to stop doing these behaviors, it may begin biting without warning, which is even more hazardous.
Simply move away if you detect your puppy snarling, baring fangs, snapping, or showing other behaviors that indicate it’s about to bite. This will educate your dog that displaying these behaviors is preferable to biting, as well as that these behaviors are acceptable while biting is not.
Don’t Punish
If your dog bites you, don’t punish him. Punishments, both physical and verbal, frequently worsen rather than improve the behavior you’re attempting to prevent. This is because you are frightening your puppy, which will result in more biting in the future.
Rather than punishing your puppy for biting, ignore it. Positive reinforcement for good conduct and neglect for negative behavior. This will educate your dog that biting isn’t acceptable in a more constructive way, without making you an object that your puppy fears, but rather one from whom it seeks more affection and attention!
Don’t Use Your Hands as a Toy
Avoid using your hands as a toy when playing with your puppy. It’s critical that your puppy understands that hands, and humans in general, are not intended to be bitten. It may not hurt at first and appear to be a lot of fun, but it will teach your dog that biting is OK, which is the exact opposite of what we want!
This includes your feet, ankles, shoes, and other personal items. Play-biting should be limited to toys alone. This is critical information!
Don’t Assume Your Corgi Is Aggressive!
Don’t assume your Corgi will be aggressive just because of the breed. Dogs have a keen sense of when humans are nervous around them, and these negative feelings are often misinterpreted by them as a danger.
If you’re terrified of your dog, it’ll become more aggressive because it thinks you’re a threat or that you’re trying to take over the house. Both of these things must be avoided.
Don’t Take Your Pup Away From Mom Too Early!
This isn’t always possible because you can’t always control how your dog came into your life. If you can, try to keep your puppy with its mother and litter if you have control over it.
Playing with its siblings and living with its mother will socialize your puppy, teach it social skills like bite inhibition, and teach your Corgi when and how to bite. Keep your Corgi with its mother for at least eight weeks.
When to Call a Vet
Calling your veterinarian during training may be a smart idea for a variety of reasons.
To begin, phoning your veterinarian is a smart idea merely to keep them informed! It’s a good idea to let them know about the newest training strategies you’re utilizing and the behaviors you’re attempting to encourage and prevent. Take your veterinarian’s advice and suggestions carefully. After all, they’re the experts on your dog!
It’s also a good idea to contact your veterinarian if your Corgi starts biting out of nowhere. This might indicate that something is wrong with it physically or that something else has changed to cause the behavior to occur at random. Calling your veterinarian may provide you with further information and, perhaps, a solution to your situation.
It’s also a good idea to contact your veterinarian if your Corgi is displaying aggressive behaviors other than biting, especially if it’s a new habit (or if you see a large increase in the behavior).
Want To Train Your Dog With Peace Of Mind?
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Recap
From what we have learned, there can be multiple reasons as to why corgi puppies bite. We also learned that it’s not too late if we see them developing these behaviors. With proper training and by applying the useful tips found in this article, you can ensure that your corgi puppies can grow into well-behaved yet oh-so-cute playful corgis!
