My 4-month-old beagle puppy keeps nipping. How can I stop it?

Question

Whwn/how to stop our 4 month beagle to stop nipping? Pet's info: Dog | Beagle | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 29 days old | 12 lbs

Eryn Taormina, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there! Let me see if I can help. Bella is likely being very nippy due to teething, which will go on until about 6 months of age. Some dogs can become chewers as well, so it's important to break the bad habits now. Having some chew toys, like kongs, or nylabones can really help as they're great for chewing, and dogs really like them. Whenever Bella nips or bites, always offer her a toy and give her a treat when she plays with the toy. This helps to show her that she should be chewing on toys and not hands and fingers. It's also important to not play tug of war or hand games with Bella, as this can encourage her to nip more. Sometimes puppies will also be bored and hungry, and that can cause them to nip. It is important to make sure Bella is getting enough nutrition. As a general rule, I'll give puppies 4 meals a day until 4 months, 3 meals a day until 6 months, and then 2 meals a day thereafter. You may want to increase the amount per meal too if Bella seems to be still seeking food after eating. Making sure she is full will help with the nipping. In addition, I recommend treat or food dispensing toys, like the pickle pocket, a dispensing ball, or a kong wobbler. Being that Bella is a beagle, she will probably really enjoy toys like that that make her work for her food. The dispensing toys also keep her busy, help give her more nutrition, and will tire her out even better than physical activity can. If you're not getting anywhere after trying these things for a couple of weeks, then I'd call in a trainer to help you! I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

My 4-month-old beagle puppy keeps nipping. How can I stop it?

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