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There is so much to love about puppies. They’re adorable, snuggly, loving and playful. But puppies also come with some destructive behaviors — accidents inside the house, chewing on things they aren’t supposed to, and perhaps worst of all, biting.
Biting, or “mouthing,” is part of how a puppy learns about the world. It’s often meant to be a playful behavior, but those sharp little teeth can hurt! Here are a few tips on how to stop puppy biting in Connecticut, even in a playful way.
Looking for more comprehensive puppy training? Check out our Puppy Essentials Webinar or schedule a free in-home assessment with one of our professional trainers.
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite New Haven location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Silver
$1,545
All Training Tools Included
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 3 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 4 Sessions
- Come
- Heel(walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & at a distance)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
Gold
$1,945
All Training Tools Included
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 5 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 12 Sessions
- Lifetime support via text/email and in-person support sessions
- Come
- Heel(walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
- Down(lay next to you & at a distance)
- Manners, Safety and Boundaries
- Build Confidence and Calm Anxiety
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Mouthing & Nipping
- STOP Chewing & Digging
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Running Away & Bolting Through Doors
- STOP Chasing Animals, Cars, Bikes, etc.
- STOP Reactivity(dog & human)
Platinum
$2,745
Our platinum program offers you training sessions throughout your dog's lifetime! Follow-up sessions to be scheduled once every 3 months as needed, after initial program is completed.
All Training Tools Included
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 8 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions Unlimited
- Lifetime support via text/email and in-person support sessions
- AKC Testing
- Come
- Heel(walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
- Down(lay next to you & at a distance)
- Load Up(go into kennel, car, or dog house)
- Manners, Safety and Boundaries
- Build Confidence and Calm Anxiety
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Mouthing & Nipping
- STOP Chasing Animals
- STOP Chewing & Digging
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Running Away & Bolting Through Doors
- STOP Chasing Animals, Cars, Bikes, etc.
- STOP Reactivity(dog & human)
- *Stay With You on a Jog, or Bike Ride(off-leash)
- *Emotional Support Training(ESA)
- *Control Aggression(dog & human)
- *Calm Extreme Anxiety (behavioral modification)
Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.
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Empowering Owners
We empower Owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times. -
Personalized
We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis. -
Environment Specific
We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
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Supportive
We support Owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session"). -
Involved
We work with all members of the household. -
Simplified & Customized
We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
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Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training. -
Lifetime Investment
We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term. -
Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing PSYCHOLOGY noun
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!
Jason is amazing with our German shepherd. His approach is very gentle and our puppy took to him immediately. She even wants to go home with him when he leaves. Highly recommend!—
Posted October 29th 2023
Highly recommend. Loren was a pleasure to work with and Jason is a magician. It's a big investment in time and money and it's absolutely worth it. It's like we have a new dog! We enlisted Jason's help at a critical juncture--our young beagle was acting like a boss--and thanks to Jason's patience, skill, and good cheer, we now have a better-behaved dog. Have worked with many trainers over the course of 20+ yrs of dog ownership; Jason is far and away the best. Thank you!!— LilyBartShops2023
Posted October 12th 2023
Dog training Elite has been wonderful! They’re always available to answer your questions and help when needed. Jason and Loren are excellent! Definitely recommend!— Taryn
Posted October 8th 2023
We have had a great experience with DTE. We have worked with both Jason and their new trainer Jeremy, and both are fantastic. They have helped our dog Chevy channel all of his energy and us to work with him. Both them and Loren are so easy to contact and always make themselves available in a timely manner. You can also tell they all truly care about the dogs that they work with. I love that with our package we will have them as a resource for as long as we need. They have been such a blessing to our family! Definitely recommend.— Amanda Mimande
Posted October 8th 2023
Jason is great! We have made major improvement with my pups social anxiety, the group classes have been a huge help and Luke continues to improve with each class— Kayla
Posted August 18th 2023
I 100% recommend working with DTE. It was worth every penny! Jason absolutely transformed my dog in 5 sessions. He went from a crazy dog who wouldn’t listen and was misbehaving, to an easy going good boy who I can walk in public, not worry about him jumping or biting on guests, and always coming when I call him. Loren was super easy to reach at all times and communicate with! Even better, I am continuing my training when I go to school in a different state, Jason and Loren have set me up with the trainers there! They also offered zoom calls or to reach back out if I needed any help and to keep them updated. They really care for the dogs they are working with and want to make sure they are making progress!— Lily Wallace
Posted August 17th 2023
We have loved working with Jason! Our pup absolutely loves him, and he has made such strides in his training because of this company. The flexibility of scheduling is really beneficial to us with our busy lives. Highly recommend!— Emily Lomnitzer
Posted August 16th 2023
We truly never thought our dog Millie would be able to be around other dogs but with Jason’s help she has turned into a completely new dog. Taking her for walks is no longer an issue after leash training and we no longer dread having to take her outside! Definitely recommend Dog Training Elite for any type of behavioral issue you may have with your dog.— Justin Pronovost
Posted August 16th 2023
Dog Training Elite of New Haven has been an excellent experience. Trainer, Jason, did a wonderful job of helping us to understand & communicate better with our dog CHESTER. Jason was able to transform Chester into an obedient and first class SERVICE DOG. The staff's service and communication have been outstanding. This experience surpassed our highest expectations & allowed us the opportunity to collaborate with fellow animal lovers. We would recommend this service to anyone without reservation. Sincerely, Awilda Santos and Robert Smith.— Awilda Santos
Posted March 27th 2023
Dog Training Elite is amazing. My at-home training here in Branford was invaluable. It helped my dog Poppy understand and know what was allowed and what wasn’t and why. It has taught social skills and how to be a good dog in various, and sometimes, uncomfortable situations. The e-collar I use, is a wonderful tool and Poppy is happier now than before training. It has been worth every dollar. Highly recommend.— Evgenia Perkins
Posted November 17th 2022
Dog Training Elite is the absolute best. It has been a wonderful experience from the very start. Our trainer, Jason, was incredibly knowledgeable and willing to help with anything we needed here in Branford. In just a few months, we've seen a major transformation with our rambunctious 2-year old Aussie, Vita. By using the e-collar provided, training went way faster than expected, just by using it to get Vitas attention. Amazing!! It A big thanks to everyone at Dog Training Elite. We are so appreciative and happy we sought out help from this organization— lindsay marottoli
Posted November 17th 2022
Dog Training Elite is the absolute best. It has been a wonderful experience from the very start. Our trainer, Jason, was incredibly knowledgeable and willing to help with anything we needed here in Branford. In just a few months, we've seen a major transformation with our rambunctious 2-year old Aussie, Vita. By using the e-collar provided, training went way faster than expected, just by using it to get Vitas attention. Amazing!! It A big thanks to everyone at Dog Training Elite. We are so appreciative and happy we sought out help from this organization Lindsay Greenberg Branford, CT—
Posted November 17th 2022
Jason is awesome with Boscoe there is such a big change in him within just 2 weeks of working with Jason. I highly recommend him you & your furry friend will be so happy!!!— Colleen Bursey
Posted August 20th 2022
Jason is a fantastic trainer. He's dedicated and truly passionate about improving the bond between dogs and their owners. I highly recommend him for all training needs!— craig fizer
Posted June 14th 2022
Jason's dog training skills are evident in his wonderful German Shepherd Nyx. New Haven is lucky to have someone so passionate and patient in the area training dogs.— George Rehbein
Posted June 1st 2022
Jason is awesome with his beautiful Shepherd, Nyx. She is a beautiful, well-behaved dog.— Valerie de Armas
Posted May 24th 2022
Jason is so passionate about what he does and is a fantastic dog trainer!— Kelley Rosequist
Posted May 24th 2022
How to Get a Puppy to Stop Biting? Teach them that Biting Hurts
Getting a puppy to quit mouthing is actually very simple. You just have to teach your puppy that biting hurts.
How do you teach this? By helping your puppy learn “bite inhibition.” Bite inhibition is a puppy or a dog’s ability to control how hard they bite. Typically puppies learn bite inhibition from playing with other puppies. Biting or mouthing is a common play tactic between puppies and dogs, but occasionally a puppy will bite too hard. This causes their playmate to yelp with pain and stop playing.
The reaction of the bitten puppy helps the puppy who did the biting realize their mistake and learn not to bite so hard. Just like puppies learn how to be gentle with each other, they can learn the same lesson from humans. Even if your puppy has learned bite inhibition while playing with other puppies or dogs, they still need to be taught how sensitive human skin is.
Follow the example of your puppy’s playmates. Let your puppy mouth your hands during play. When they bite you too hard, yelp like a puppy and let your hand go limp to indicate that you have been hurt. This should stop your puppy from continuing to bite you or continuing to play. When they stop, or if they attempt to make you feel better by licking your hand, praise your puppy and resume play. You can also try “time-outs” for your puppy, where you stop playing for 20 seconds after being bitten.
The goal is to teach your puppy that if they bite, playing stops. If they are gentle, play continues. Make sure to reward your puppy with praise and possibly treats when they do a good job. At Dog Training Elite, we know positive reinforcement is the best and most effective way to train puppies and dogs.
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Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite New Haven, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs. Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite New Haven works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.
Take it to the Next Level
Once your puppy understands that they shouldn’t bite human skin hard, start working on teaching them not to bite human skin at all. Use the same techniques of yelping and stopping play. Over time, gradually reduce the amount of biting you allow until your puppy eventually learns not to bite at all.
Some other techniques for to stop mouthing include the distraction method. If your puppy tends to want to bite you when you pet him, distract him with treats so he’ll get used to being touched without mouthing your hands or arms. Keep your puppy’s favorite toy with you, and if she starts mouthing your hands, give her the toy to bite instead.
What to Avoid
There are some behaviors we humans tend to engage in when we want to play with puppies that actually encourage them to bite. If you’re at a loss for how to stop a puppy from biting, make sure to avoid these habits:
- Avoid wiggling your fingers or toes in your puppy’s face to entice them to play. This encourages your puppy to bite your hands and feet.
- Don’t jerk your hands away from your puppy if they bite you. They might lunge forward to grab you with their mouth.
- Never slap or hit a puppy for biting. This ineffective and cruel and can backfire as a training method. Your puppy might start to play more aggressively, with more biting, or they can become afraid of you.
At Dog Training Elite, we never use physical punishment to train puppies and dogs. We focus on rewarding desired behaviors. This method of training helps build a strong, loving bond between puppies and their owners.
Start Puppy Training Now
Teaching your pup not to bite is a huge accomplishment. But puppies have so much more to learn, and even the thought of having to train a puppy can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling with your puppy’s destructive behavior or looking for help with general training, call Dog Training Elite. We have a tried and true training method that really works for dogs of any age, including puppies. Dog Training Elite offers both individual in–home training and obedience classes for puppies.
In–home training is the perfect way to help you and your puppy bond while working with one of our professional trainers. Our trainers will adapt training to your environment and needs and empower you to continue training on your own. Obedience classes are also a great way to help your puppy learn by exposing them to other dogs and people and new sights and sounds. Combining in–home training with obedience classes ensures a well–behaved puppy who learns quickly.
What are you waiting for? Contact Dog Training Elite today for a free in–home assessment or schedule a free training demo to see what your puppy can become.
