Is your Rottweiler puppy not stopping biting? Are you unable to prevent them from repeating this wrong behavior? Whether it’s a Rottie puppy or any other breed of puppy, all of them, at a certain age, build this tendency to bite people and clothes. Although puppy bites are not that harmful, if you don’t put a full stop to this behavior while they are still young, it will become way more challenging to control them when they become adults.So, this unwanted puppy behavior led to a concern about how do I get my Rottweiler puppy to stop biting. Well, worry not, as we are here to give you the best training tips regarding making a Rottie puppy behave. If your concerns are how to stop my puppy from biting when excited, jumping, or biting feet, make sure to stick with this post.
So, let’s start by knowing why puppies actually bite. Later, we will discuss some potential training tips that can help you control your Rottweiler puppy biting tendencies.
Reasons Why Your Rottweiler Puppy Bite
There are various reasons why a rottweiler puppy bites. Furthermore, most of the time, they do this due to their natural behavior. So, if you are unsure of why your puppy has suddenly started biting, know that it is completely natural and part of their development.
Here are some reasons why a Rottie or any other puppy bites clothes, people, or their leash:
Pain Occurrence Due To Teething
One of the most common causes of why a Rottie puppy starts biting is because of teething. If you see your puppy chewing his toys more frequently, it is most likely that it is teething. Most puppy owners who notice their puppies’ sudden behavior change usually report this cause only for the behavior change.
As this is a natural occurrence in Rottweiler puppies, you don’t have to worry about it too much. However, you can surely manage it by following the tips we will mention later in this post.
Playing Instinct
Without a doubt, Rottweilers are one of the happiest and most active breeds. And because of this fact, your Rottie will always be ready to play with you and the other puppies they meet. If you have seen dogs playing before, you know their playing method includes biting each other.
When your Rottie is a puppy, he is in the learning stage of testing how much force it can use to bite a playmate it is playing with without hurting them in the process. So, as already previously mentioned, this behavior is also part of their developing stage. You can easily control it by using suitable training methods.
Maybe You Have Encouraged This Behavior In The Past
Do you remember any play with your puppy in which you give them the things they want whenever they bite you? Well, such a play can indeed look cute at the start. However, you are indirectly promoting your puppy-biting nature. You may ask how that is even possible, but it is actually true.
Every puppy, whether a Rottweiler or any other, learns from its owner’s actions. Suppose your puppy learns it can get rewards, toys, extra attention, and treats by repeating a specific action. In that case, it is totally possible that it will repeat again and again.
Therefore, stop rewarding them for the things that can worsen when they become adults. You should reward them for being well-behaved or repeating a good habit. So, if they bite you, tell them it is wrong, and you can do this by not giving them any reward for that action.
Read More:- Can Rottweilers Be Service Dogs & Therapy Dogs?
Excitement And Curiosity
Whether Rottie puppies or adults, all of them show their excitement to their owners by biting or jumping on them. Such behavior is more typical for situations when you return back to your home after work or after long days. Your puppy will wag his tail with extreme excitement and take jumps on you to show how happy they are.
Now, if we talk about Rottweiler puppies’ curiosity, they fulfill it by chewing the things lying around them. They do it to identify the taste of various items and check what they love and don’t.
If your puppy jumps or bites you when they are in an excited state, make sure you let them calm down first. Afterward, reward them with their favorite treat, so they can understand what is good for them.
Testing Their Boundaries And Limits
A Rottie puppy is still learning about what they can do and what they need to avoid. For that reason, your puppy will use the trial and error method to test their boundaries as well as the limits. It is evident they are unaware of the rules and how they can make things run in their favor. That’s why they work on these rules by running through different things and analyzing what’s best for them.
Your Puppy Wants Your Attention
Lastly, a Rottweiler puppy will try biting you if they are seeking your attention. A bite on the ankle or hand indicates that your puppy wants to play with you or wants to go outside of the house. Undoubtedly, biting you isn’t the best way to ask about playing or going outside. However, this is a natural way for the puppy to ask for things unless you train them to do things the other way.
Now, from the points mentioned above, it is clear that your Rottweiler puppy is not doing this purposely. On the other hand, such behavior is even common in human babies, where they bite things and chew on them.
So, you can surely correct or manage such behavior of your Rottie puppy. However, remember that this is entirely natural for puppies when they are in their growing stage and heading toward adulthood. When you train them, keep this part in your mind.
Do Rottweiler Puppies Have More Tendency To Bite Than Other Dogs?
Before we finally jump into the topic of how to train your Rottweiler puppy for bites and unwanted behaviors, we think it is essential that we cover this part too.
Many want to know whether the biting problem is precisely in Rottweilers only or if it is common with every breed. Rottweilers are not naturally aggressive, and in no way do they have an extra tendency to bite people or other pets. We at Vom Hause Stan want you to understand this. It is all about how well you train your puppy and raise them to stop their biting tendency as much as any other dog.
The problem with the Rottweiler breed is that people usually adopt them when seeking an aggressive breed. So, if you’re raising a dog for its aggression, it is prominent that they have an extra biting tendency and whatnot. Our breeders, Marian and Othilia, always emphasize the fact that proper care and training are highly crucial if you want to manage your dog’s aggression and biting nature.
However, you don’t have to raise your Rottie puppy in such a manner. Let’s explore that only next! By training your puppy over its biting tendencies, you can control them effortlessly. So, what are these training methods?
How To Stop A Rottweiler Puppy From Biting: 5 Steps To Get Started
The basic idea of stopping your puppy from biting revolves around training them over their biting force. This means that you must make them understand their biting force limit during play instead of training them not to bite. So, to make things easier for you, here are five steps that can help you achieve this for your Rottweiler.
Method 1: No Playing If Your Pet Bites Method
Step 1: Allow your Rottie puppy to bite you when you are playing with him.
Step 2: Use the commands like “No!” or “Easy,” or bring out a yelp wherever your Rottweiler bites too hard.
Step 3: If they don’t stop biting, instantly stop playing with them and keep doing this for around 30 seconds every time they repeat it.
Step 4: After 30 seconds, you must start playing with them again while rewarding them with treats and praise for gentle behavior.
Step 5: Keep repeating the second and third steps until your puppy understands what they need to avoid.
Using a loud yelp works amazingly whenever you want to stop your Rottweiler puppy from misbehaving. Such a technique is even used by dogs to stop their playmate from acting too rough. So, work on the things that your puppy understands, as this is part of their natural instinct.
However, things don’t stop on commands like “No!” or “Easy” only, nor do they stop at yelp. So, what else do you need to stop your Rottweiler puppy from biting? Here are some things you must consider while you are giving them training:
Stay Consistent
Consistency is the key when you are training your Rottweiler puppy over basic obedience like controlling biting force. Suppose you stay consistent with the methods we explained previously. In that case, you will notice significant changes in your puppy’s behavior only a few weeks after adoption.
However, one of the significant parts of being consistent with your Rottweiler puppy training is to make them familiar with other dogs. And also to those who stay around them or play with them occasionally. So, if you have friends, family members, or guests who love to play with your pup, it is recommended that you instruct them on teaching the Rottie puppy not to bite.
As Rotties are intelligent dogs, they will learn not to bite when they get the same reactions from everyone who plays with them.
Take The Help Of A Chew Toy
As a puppy grows its teeth with age, biting becomes a natural habit for them. This is due to the irritation they feel inside their gums. And for such a period, expert dog veterinarians recommend using a chew toy that can help with the growth of adult teeth. Furthermore, using a chew toy will give relief to your dog’s sore gums. Also, this toy does wonder if you simply want to use it for your Rottweiler chewing practice.
Therefore, you must understand the importance of a chew toy dedicated to your Rottweiler puppy. So, whenever you are playing with your paw buddy, make sure you give this toy. Once your puppy knows that chewing this toy comes with no punishment, they will direct their biting habit toward the toy instead of people or other pets playing with them.
Give Your Rottie Enough Opportunities To Learn While They Play
The motive of the biting training is to make your Rottie puppy understand that biting is not good and they must not do it. However, the only way your pup will know this is if they know that their actions are wrong in the first place.
Suppose you don’t let your pup bite you. In that case, your puppy will lack opportunities to learn about what they are doing wrong and what they need to change in their behavior. So, don’t stop your puppy from biting you at the start; they will only understand through trial and error since they don’t have the talking benefit.
Training your Rottweiler over this while they are still young is the best approach, compared to forcing the training when they become adults. Your puppy will be very interested to learn things as they are curious about how things work around them. Whereas adult Rottweilers already have a developed behavior and are persistent in not changing it, sometimes. So, train your puppy when it is easy for you as well as for them.
Reward Them
Rewarding your pet during its training is something you cannot ignore whatsoever. When you start giving your Rottweiler the bite training, you must stay frequent with rewarding them wherever they behave the way you want. Afterward, when your Rottie stays consistent with that good behavior, you can decrease the frequency of rewarding them.
The best way to start is by rewarding your pup with praise and treats after every 30 seconds of them behaving well. You must keep increasing this rewarding time, so your puppy can adapt well to what’s going on. Continue repeating this training plan until there is no need to do it to make your Rottweiler behave.
So, let’s talk by considering an example. You can reward your Rottweiler for their excellent behavior after 60 seconds of play. And, for the next play, keep the reward time to 90 seconds. Keep increasing this rewarding time period until your puppy can play with you without biting or hurting you for the entire play session.
The Previous Training Method Wasn’t That Successful? Try These Alternate Methods!
The previously mentioned training method for stopping your Rottie from biting is the most commonly used. However, sometimes it takes more than a simple playing session or reward system to make your puppy behave. So, in case the training method mentioned above doesn’t work for your Rottweiler puppy, you must not lose hope.
We also have alternative training methods which you can use to make your Rottweiler act together. Before we discuss these methods, you must understand that the basic idea behind these methods is similar to the last one. However, although the process is simple, there is a new thing about these methods, which is physical punishment.
But don’t worry since these punishment methods will not harm your Rottie if executed carefully. So, here are some methods you can use to stop your puppy from jumping and biting you, your family members, and other individuals and pets.
Method 2: The Spray Method
Step 1: Grab A Spray Bottle
You must get your hands on a water-filled spraying bottle in the spraying method that can help with training your Rottweiler not to bite. The process, as mentioned, will be the same, where you will not play with Rottie for 30 seconds wherever they bite you. Keep the spray bottle beside you while you’re playing with the puppy.
Step 2: Play With Them Normally
While you play with your Rottweiler, don’t stop them from chewing on your hands. And, as the process goes on, stop playing with them. However, if you feel the biting force is too much to endure, you should use commands like “No” and “Easy.”
Step 3: Use The Spray Bottle
Here, the water spray will be a surprising element for your puppy. When your Rottie puppy is biting your hand while playing, use your free hand to grab the spray bottle. Press the spray bottle gently to let out a spritz from the bottle. And, in most cases, your puppy will not like to get wet.
However, using the spray at the right time will matter a lot. While working on the physical correction, ensure you only spray from the bottle wherever your puppy bites you too hard. Repeating this, your puppy will start associating the spray with the bite.
Step 4: Play With Your Puppy In The Loop
Now, after some time, when your puppy is back to its senses, start playing with them again, the same as before. However, this time while you use the basic commands like no, ouch, and easy, you must also use the spray bottle. But make sure you don’t direct the water spray toward your puppy’s nose or eyes, as it can hurt them, so be careful with that.
Step 5: Minimize The Use Of A Water Bottle
With time, if you follow the training procedure correctly, your puppy will start understanding the concept of gentle biting. So, suppose you notice that your Rottweiler is not repeating the unwanted behavior. In that case, there is no point in using the water spray bottle. Therefore, you should transition from using a spray bottle to only using vocal and hand commands.
However, suppose your Rottie starts behaving in the same previous way, where they bite your hand without controlling the pressure. In that case, you can always count on the water spray bottle. It can work perfectly as your temporary reinforcement for stopping your puppy from biting you and your clothes.
Method 3: Shaking The Scruff Method
Step 1: Start With A Less Aggressive Method
While physical methods are not highly recommended to train Rottweilers, there are some cases when they are the only option. A popular physical correction method is scruff shake, which you should use only when the other two methods don’t show any improvements in the puppy’s behavior.
Another big reason why the scruff shake method is the last resort is that it can backfire in some cases where the puppy becomes more aggressive. Therefore, if you are thinking of using this method, keep an eye on the behavioral changes of your Rottie. Also, if the biting force of your pup increases, make sure you stop using the method right away.
Step 2: Start Playing With Your Furry Friend
So, stick to the basics and start your Rottweiler training session by playing with them. And, like before, let them bite your hand or fingers. Keep doing this until they bite too hard.
Step 3: Try With A Verbal Correction
Before using any physical correction for your Rottweiler behavior, you should start with a verbal correction. Wherever your puppy bites too hard, make them stop by saying words like “ouch” or “stop or no biting.”
Step 4: Time To Introduce A Physical Correction
If the verbal correction doesn’t stop your puppy from biting, you should gently grab its loose neck skin and give it a firm shake. Make sure you keep the shake as little as you can so that your puppy doesn’t get scared or hurt. Such behavior is standard in dog mothers. They use such methods to get their puppies under control when they continuously bite them.
Step 5: Transition Away From Physical Correction
You should not use the scruff shake method repeatedly on your puppies. After using it a few times, quickly transition out of it. Your Rottie will be able to understand that they need to stop this behavior, as you don’t like it. Once they stop biting you, reward them with treats or praise so they keep the same behavior.
At What Age Do Rottweiler Puppies Stop Biting?
In usual cases, a Rottweiler puppy stops biting between six and 12 months of age. Now, the reason why there is a six-month difference is that each puppy has a different time frame to grow their adult teeth. Furthermore, once your Rottweiler has their teeth fully grown, their tendency to bite you and your clothes will decrease drastically. In some cases, the urge to bite becomes almost negligible in Rotties.
Now, how will you notice whether your Rottweiler has grown their complete set of adult teeth? Well, it isn’t that complicated, as the best way to detect is to check if your Rottweiler has bigger teeth now. Furthermore, additional signs to notice in their adult teeth include less sharp teeth and in more amounts than before.
On average, a Rottie puppy possesses around 28 teeth. And, these puppy teeth, later on, get replaced with the 42 adult teeth. With fully grown teeth, the sore gum and irritation completely vanish in your Rottweiler. Therefore, your puppy becomes much more obedient, no more biting you and other people around them.
However, as mentioned above, there are other reasons too for why your Rottweiler puppy bites more than expected. So, even if you execute the training practices correctly, your Rottie may continue biting even after 12 months of age.
Therefore, you must find the cause of why your Rottweiler continues biting even after growing adult teeth. If the behavior continues with no improvement, it becomes highly essential that you train them not to bite. And you can teach them not to bite by using the five steps we mentioned in the first method. Or, you can always use the alternative training methods if the first one doesn’t show impressive results.
Conclusion
So, these were all the training methods on how I get my rottweiler puppy to stop biting. Our recommendation would be to prioritize the first method only. However, if your Rottweiler stays persistent, using the other two methods will be your only option.
Sometimes your Rottweiler bites more often because they feel they are not getting enough love from you. So, spending time with your paw friend by playing with them daily can help you significantly improve their behavior. With enough love and the proper training, you can train your Rottweiler not only for biting but for other things too.
If you are curious about other things about Rottweilers, make sure you check our other exciting and informative posts regarding Rotties. Furthermore, if you or any individual you know is looking to adopt a purebred German Rottweiler, be sure to tell them to contact Vom Hause Stan. We have healthy and even temperamental Rottie puppies bred under perfect conditions. To connect with us, call us at (425) 329-9996 or email us at VomHauseStan@yahoo.com.