In this article we show you why Poodles bite and how to train a Poodle not to bite, including older dogs.
One bad stereotype about poodles that sometimes come true is that these dogs bite.
Run a quick Google search of “poodle bite,” and you will see many photos of these otherwise adorable dogs looking rather aggressive.
The standard Poodle is excellent at hunting and retrieving, but this breed’s toy and mini varieties are not so good.
However, the ability to bite and pick up things and hold them in their mouths remains.
Train a Poodle Not To Bite Through Socialization
Socialization of your poodle is going to be the number one way that you can keep your dog.
By socializing them in many different situations, you can teach them to be comfortable in any setting.
It is best to do this during the puppy years, but we do have a section for people who have an older poodle.
Always be sure your dog is on a leash when out in public for safe socialization.
Socializing a Dog
Daily Walks-Always, ensure you take your pup out for a daily walk or outing at the dog park.
By doing this, your puppy will get used to seeing cars, people, kids, birds, and cats walking around.
Everybody from a UPS driver going about his work to a child who wishes to pet the dog will not be a pain point for your poodle, and this is a big step in ensuring they don’t bite.
All Kinds Of People-Part of making sure your poodle doesn’t bite is showing him around people of varying sizes and genders.
If your dog is only around your family or yourself, they may think others are something to be avoided.
Therefore, set up puppy play dates and see if you can bring your dog to family functions or other places dogs are welcome.
Gently introduce them to new people and only allow pats where hands can be visible, such as the top of the head.
Start Early. Socialize your poodle puppy around ages 3 to 12 weeks.
Have them experience people unfamiliar to them dressed and wearing different clothing like hoods, sunglasses, or hats.
Allow them to be gently petted on their ears and tail. Have them experience water such as a lake or pool. Take them to new spots, like the woods.
Get them familiar with vehicles and car rides.
Cats should also be introduced, as many people allow their cats outdoors, and your poodle should learn that they are not prey.
Remember that after 18 weeks of age, it becomes markedly more difficult to socialize with your dog.
It is not impossible, but it does get more challenging. Therefore, start early and have your pup go wherever possible.
The Reason Behind Poodles Biting
The first step in knowing how to train a Poodle not to bite is to understand why they bite in the first place.
Poodles tend to bite a lot more than other dog breeds do. They love to chew toys, and the love of doing this is innate.
If you do not correct this behavior during the puppy years, they will continue to do it even when they reach adulthood.
It should be noted that a dog of any breed, age, or size can bite.
It all depends on the situation the dog is in-if they are pushed to the limit and feel threatened; they will bite.
Are They Stressed?
A bite is mainly due to a reaction to something. If your dog is stressed, it may bite as a defense.
If a dog is started or has been scared, it may bite because its security and safety are threatened.
If somebody or something comes near an object or being they care about, like puppies or a toy, they may bite.
Biting during play is common, too. Nipping during the act of play might be fun for your pup, but it is dangerous to people, especially children who play with dogs.
Stay away from sports such as wrestling or tug of war with your poodle.
Poodles are stubborn but very smart. You must bring your patience and your consistency when you work on training these dogs.
After all, these are not aggressive dogs by any means, but they can learn to be aggressive if not socialized properly.
Biting Due To Medical Issues
Is your dog biting himself, or maybe biting at the air for no reason?
This could be a sign of a bigger problem that you need to address.
So long as your dog has normal vision, the act of “fly biting behavior” or when a dog snaps at the air as if attempting to grab a flying insect is likely the reason behind a partial seizure in dogs.
This is caused by abnormal activity within a small part of the dog’s brain.
Partial seizures are not the only reason behind the act of fly biting, but they are a common one.
Seven dogs studied at the University of Montreal that demonstrated fly-biting behavior was diagnosed with GI (gastrointestinal) diseases, such as inflammation of the GI tract, a distended or flaccid stomach, and gastroesophageal reflux, just a few issues.
When the dogs were treated, five of them stopped fly-biting altogether.
One of the two that did not was diagnosed with a disease of the neurological variety and had to be given seizure medication. GI treatment drugs did yield a favorable response.
Meanwhile, the seventh dog’s owners opted out of all treatments, and his behavior remained unchanged.
Therefore, if your dog is biting but not in a sense, you might think, get him to a vet immediately for help.
Biting Themselves
Meanwhile, dogs that bite themselves might suffer from allergies, boredom, or simply feeling pain.
Parasites may also be the reason behind a dog biting at himself, trying to achieve biting at himself, trying to gain some relief.
Make sure your poodle is not bored or anxious. Humans with anxiety may bite nails, drum their fingers or tug at their clothing when they feel this way.
Dogs can deal with this by excessively licking, scratching, and sometimes chewing.
You will get to know your dog inside and out as a poodle owner.
Be sure to watch them as you feed them, play with them, and walk them to see if anything seems “off,” Call the vet for an appointment if you feel anything is incorrect.
Teaching Older Poodles Not To Bite
Older poodles we adopt later in their lives may be trained to stop biting, but this requires you to be the “alpha” dog and show biting, but this requires you to be the “alpha” dog and establish your dominance.
Older poodles will already see you as the alpha, so use this to your advantage.
Begin by laying down the law about feeding, potty, and walking times.
Schedule these out so your dog always knows what to expect.
Next, make sure that you teach your basic poodle manners. Be sure to avoid play that encourages biting, such as tug of war.
Allowing your poodle to chase you around is also not recommended, as the poodle may see this as hunting and take the opportunity to bite.
For some older dogs, asking for help from a professional trainer may be the way to go.
In some situations, dogs may need therapy to help them overcome a harsh past and lack of proper socialization.
You should also see a vet be sure that medical reasons are not the cause of your older poodle’s biting.
Extra Tips
If you find for any reason you are having trouble socializing your puppy or feel you do not have the time to do so due to family or work circumstances, it is highly advised you hire a dog sitter or specialist or have a friend or family member help with socializing your dog.
You can also check out any helpful programs that will help you train your Poodle in other aspects of training your dog.
We have a good one for potty training, for instance.
Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered. This is healthier for your dog and will lower their aggression.
Never let your dog off his lead in public.
And if you start to notice your dog is stressed, get them out of the situation and to a safe space where you can reassure them.
Lastly, always reward your dog for good behavior.
As you socialize, offer a treat and tell her how good she is being.
Training your poodle not to bite is not hard, but you will need to be patient and start early.
With enough training, your dog will be gentle around everybody.
