ACD puppies tend to use their mouths a lot. As a general rule, mouths are a dog’s equivalent to our hands. Consequently, mouthing and nipping are perfectly normal and your puppy needs to be taught not to do so. An older dog will also nip and mouth if never trained not to do so. Pup or adult, the cure is the same.

First, you need to be sure that your pup has learned an “inhibited” bite, that is, not to bite hard — something ALL dogs need to learn. Puppies usually gets these lessons from mom and the siblings between the ages of 6 and 12 weeks. But a human can finish what mom started.

Ultimately a puppy needs to be taught that putting teeth on humans is NOT allowed.

When your puppy tries to put teeth on you, immediately substitute a toy and then lavish praise when the pup's mouth is on the toy. Notice when the puppy is about to bite and move to insert the toy BEFORE the teeth reach you. Be prepared to keep this up for some time, as it will take a while to get the message across. And remember that there will be backsliding. Just keep repeating the lessons and be consistent.

If the pup does get his mouth on you, yelp LOUDLY! Really convince him that you’re HURT! The pup will drop your hand in surprise if you do this convincingly enough. This works best with younger dogs, although it can work with older ones. Praise and treat when the mouth and teeth are NOT on you. The pup needs to get the impression that human skin is EXTREMELY tender and that therefore any contact must be VERY soft! Then insert that toy and praise/treat, as above.

To augment the lessons if needed, every time your puppy tries to bite, remove your availability to him/her. Turn your back on the pup and ignore him for about 10 to 15 seconds, then turn back and, before the pup can mouth, present that toy, praise when it’s in his mouth, and give him a yummy treat. Begin teaching a “sit” to greet you and praise/treat for that. When he mouths you, turn away, then offer an acceptable chew toy and praise/reward for mouth on that. For an older dog, it may mean setting up a situation (using gates, etc.) where you can merely step over or shut a door, to isolate the offender. Also, actively teach an incompatible behavior for those times – command a sit, etc., as a replacement for mouthing.

Your puppy needs to learn that “mouth on person” means ALL people will ignore him, refuse to play, go away and leave him alone! No fun for a puppy! The puppy also needs to consistently see that "mouth on chew toy" makes humans give  attention and goodies.

If you puppy keeps trying to mouth you, try the 3 strikes rule. Remove pup from hand, try to redirect to toy two times, but if pup immediately ignores the toy and keeps grabbing your hand, the third time VERY MATTER OF FACTLY (it is important NOT to be emotional in all training), go away and leave him for a 30 to 60-second “time out” or until he calms himself, then return and try again. Do NOT think of this as punishment and do NOT leave the pup alone for a long time when doing this. You want him to connect the mouthing with the lack of contact with you — getting the idea that “mouthing gets me removed from human contact“, just like “water gets me wet.” There is no “retribution” involved. You are just teaching your pup the “laws of the universe.“

Play only when the dog’s mouth remains off humans. Biting stops the play and makes humans go away. Period. Since ACDs LOVE their humans and want to be with them, your dog will eventually learn that his teeth on your skin/clothes does not get the desired results. 

Last updated on February 24, 2011 by Marianne Ahern