Puppy BitingModule 7 / 8

Module 7: Common Mistakes

The five things that make biting worse, often dramatically.

4 min read Intermediate
Course progress0%

What not to do

(1) Hitting or scruffing — escalates aggression and erodes trust. (2) Holding the mouth shut — teaches dogs to bite faster. (3) Alpha-rolling — based on debunked dominance theory; raises fear. (4) Wrestling with hands — teaches hands are toys. (5) Bitter spray on the puppy — useless and unfair.

Key takeaways

  • No physical corrections, ever
  • No wrestling with hands
  • No 'alpha rolls'

Lesson checklist

Action items to put this module into practice.

  • Audit your reactions
  • Pick one mistake to eliminate first
  • Replace it with redirection