A few recent posts regarding puppy biting brought up some differences in
how people deal with a bity (bitty) puppy.

We do this, though later one I add movement because I want the do to learn self control even if excited.

We do this too. Ostracizing the pup even for just several seconds seconds seems to be a lesson they really understand at this age.

Normally I agree with LFL, in this however I have to go in a different
direction. I spend a lot of time playing hand-mouthing games along with a
lot of tug and biting toy games.

Perhaps it's because I engage in protection sports with dogs who have a long genetic history of mouthiness and bitey-ness (is that a word?) and reinforcing hard bites on suits and sleeves. But I also want an automatic reaction for the dog to ease off should they ever bite organic tissue.

I'd rather take the time to train than to assume the dog will know what to do without instruction.

Experience with the occasional mistake where they get helper instead of his suit, tells me I'm on the right track. They've come off the decoy long before I could even mouth out the first sound in "HALTE" Playing keep away with tugs they've mouthed hands and arms, but other than the impact of teeth on flesh the damage has been minimal. I've felt the change of intention - immediate easing off - on my hands and from the speed of the reaction, I have to think that this is not a conscious decision but an automatic response. I propose it's from all the practice we do during puppy period.

Not to say that other methods are wrong or inferior, but for what I do with my dogs it's the way to go for us.

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I’ve had dogs my whole live and we have ALWAYS allowed mouthing throughout the life of the dog. I never knew what a big deal that was until I joined the opinionated world of dog forums LOL.

This. Not only do I want them to learn it, I want the dogs to continue to practice this for life. Once I started feeling really secure with our most recent rescue was towards the end of his rehab, when he a) started feeling comfortable enough to play with us and b) included mouthing in that play.
Yes, I encouraged a former human aggressive great dane to mouth me. Why? So that he knows how to bite appropriately and so that *I* know he knows how to bite appropriately.

My feeling is that the dog who doesn’t bite doesn’t exist. All dogs have a breaking point, all dogs make a mistake grabbing for a toy or even if you jump in the middle of a dog fight. I want the dogs to have experience with teeth on skin so that they know exactly what to do when they do make contact. It is AMAZING the kind of control dogs have over their mouths, if only we allow them to develop and practice it. Our female dane can kill a rabbit in one bite/shake and with the same mouth will take my children by the hand or arm and bring them to me - bare skin, no jackets or long sleeves, with nothing but a little dog spit left for evidence.

Just read this article and felt it ties in nicely:
Drive and brakes and steering | Suzanne Clothier

I've always wondered about this because I have to admit to enjoying mouthing games as a guilty pleasure . I avoid doing it with Mia though as I wasn't sure if it would damage her training or what not , I guess I wouldn't want her to start mouthing a stranger if they decided to play a bit rough with her and have them think she was agressive. She is harmless though and does have very good bite inhibition and you just feel her teeth brushing you, you don't even get teeth indentations left on your skin. It makes me a bit sad though as it is very good fun for the owner and dog and as it is I now have to tell her off if her mouth ever makes (harmless) contact with my hands when she is over excited as I didn't think she should be doing that.

I allow gentle mouthing during play, however my dog will stop the game if I say so, so i don't see it as a problem.

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I have only ever had one puppy, but on meeting others I do "yelp" and ignore them for a few minutes later. However with Louie I used frozen butter on my skin a few times a week and taught him that skin was for licking. Not many people agree with it but it stopped any mouthing we got, and when it was play we did the "yelp" and to this day if Louie and I are play fighting, I allow some mouthing however Louie has learnt that "ouch" means less of the teeth..

I also use redirection; giving them a toy instead and playing with that toy. Frozen chicken soup soaked rope toys were my favourite with Louie.

Sadie isn't interested in mouthing games and Benjie only plays if you have gloves on..

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I dont yelp as I find it makes some puppies even more hyper and determined to bite. I try to redirect with a toy. I always have a toy on hand to stuff into the pups mouth before they get my skin. If that dosen't work I walk away quietly and ignore the pup (which can be difficult when they latch onto your pants lol)
As for mouthing in an older dog, I dont encourage it or allow it during play. I dont enjoy mouthing at all really so I dont play those kinds of games. I prefer to have a toy between me and a mouth full of dog teeth

do note:
- we're talking to & about APOs, who are already-bitching about a snappy pup, or sharp bites.
we're not talking about pups who HAVE soft-mouths, nor highly-experienced, dog-savvy folks.

also note what sort of hand-'games' i condemn:
specifically, USING ONE'S HANDS to elicit bites, "wrestling, cuffing..., grabs, slaps to jowls
or shoulders or butt, etc" - or USING HANDS AS TOY-Substitutes.
it's ridiculously common for men & boys to smack, wrestle, grab a scruff, pinch an ear, etc,
& think of this as 'play', while the pup may view it more as teasing & harassment.

if U smack a 12-WO to 5-MO pup in the jowls as a game, i'd suggest that U should expect a bite,
& whether that bite is gentle or painful depends on any number of factors: How well the dog knows U,
how good their bite-inhibition is, how aroused the dog is at the moment, & more.
teaching a soft-mouth is a multi-step process; the way i'd teach a pup with good bite-inhibition
AND a knowledgeable owner, isn't identical to the way i'd teach a hard-mouthed, snappy pup,
in a novice home.

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Very good point. And why I generally don’t advertise that we allow mouthing or how much. Different households, different dogs, different rules. I don’t think “no mouthing” is a bad idea at all for most dog homes TBH.

Very interesting to see how other people handle it. I used the yelping and replacing with a toy technique too. But I also used to push my hand forward if they were being really persistant so they got more hand then they knew what to do with!!LOL (not sure Id recommend that technique although it worked for me, esp not with a big breed puppy!).
I still play fighting/wrestling games with one of mine. The other two arent interested at all but the youngest loves to lay on my chest and 'attack' my hand, she has very good bite inhibition though and if I want her to stop I either tell her or use the command "kiss, kiss' and I get kisses instead!

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