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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 Fitchburg / Leominster, 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 Central Massachusetts location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Silver
$1,545
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 3 Sessions
- Come
- Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
Gold
$1,945
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 5 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 12 Sessions
- Come
- Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
- Down(lay next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Load Up (go into kennel, car, or dog house)
- Manners, Safety & Boundaries
- Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Mouthing & Nipping
- STOP Chewing & Digging
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Bolting Through Doors & Running Away
- STOP Chasing Animals, Cars & Bikes
- STOP Reactivity (dog & human)
Platinum
$2,745
Platinum offers advanced obedience/behavioral modification with a goal of off-leash control. Includes additional training options and offers more one-on-one and group sessions than Gold.
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 9 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 16 Sessions
- Come
- Heel (walk with you, loose leash no pulling)
- Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Place(go to bed)
- Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
- Off(furniture when desired)
- Down(lay next to you & off leash at a distance)
- Load Up (go into kennel, car, or dog house)
- Manners, Safety & Boundaries
- Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
- Housebreaking / Potty Training
- STOP Jumping on People
- STOP Mouthing & Nipping
- STOP Chewing & Digging
- STOP Begging & Stealing Food
- STOP Bolting Through Doors & Running Away
- STOP Chasing Animals, Cars & Bikes
- STOP Reactivity (dog & human)
- *Stay With You on a Jog or Bike Ride (off-leash)
- *Emotional Support Dog 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!
Best decision I have made! Marcus is fantastic. He is calm, knowledgeable and just an all around great trainer and person. I have two dogs with different personalities and he has taught me in a short time how to work with both of them. Ten plus in my book. Highly recommend.— Kelly Medeiros
Posted December 1st 2023
We've been training Roni (our 9 month old mix breed) at Dog Training Elite since the beginning of March and I can't say enough good about them. When we first started our journey of training my dog for service work, I was both excited and apprehensive, unsure of whether or not myself and my dog would be capable of learning everything. From the very beginning, Dog Training Elite stood out as a beacon of expertise, professionalism, and dedication, and I am thrilled to say that my expectations have been exceeded in every way. The one-on-one training sessions are nothing short of transformative. Each trainer's patience, attentiveness, and unwavering focus on my dog's progress has created an environment where she's eager to learn. What truly sets their one-on-one training apart is their ability to empower not only my dog but also myself. They recognize the importance of equipping the dog owners with the knowledge and skills to reinforce and maintain the training outside of the sessions. The clear and concise guidance, coupled with practical demonstrations, has allowed me to become an effective partner in my dog's ongoing development and success as a service dog. The group training sessions offer guidance on dealing with distractions, as well as providing some socialization. During group training sessions, Marcus and the entire team have demonstrated an unparalleled level of knowledge, skill, and genuine care for the well-being of each dog. The trainers exhibited not only a deep understanding of various dog breeds and temperaments but also an unwavering commitment to the success and happiness of their four-legged students. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them, and Roni loves them too! In summary, their approach to service dog training is nothing short of outstanding. They have tailored the training program to meet my dog's specific needs, taking into account both her individual strengths and challenges. I would have never thought that I could bring Roni out in public, to restaurants, to stores etc. and she would be as well behaved as she is. Some of the tasks we've completed during our training sessions leave me extremely proud of her and super grateful for this training program. She still has a little ways to go before she's completely ready, but at 9 months old I couldn't be more proud. The biggest compliment is no matter where we are with her, or who we are with - friends & strangers all comment on how well behaved she is. I love hearing that. Dog Training Elite is hands down the best decision I made for Roni.— Krista Herzberg
Posted August 15th 2023
Our experience with Marcus and his team has been fantastic. I took Kodak, my German Sheppard in for a 2 week boot camp. We have been struggling with dog aggression issues. The evaluation and training techniques had him figured out and then they translated to me what I need to do to improve as well. Yup - I needed boot camp also. It’s an on going project and they have a number of training options to help keeping it on the right track. It has been a relief to have a path to take to make Kodak the best he can be!— Suzanne Sinnery
Posted July 24th 2023
Marquis is fantastic. He's done wonders teaching my dog, Harley. He also takes the time to help us understand his training methods and what we need to do in order to maintain our dog's learning. I highly, highly recommend!— The Local Spotlight
Posted June 21st 2023
Marcus is an amazing trainer !!! Extremely professional and kind— Tony Chianese
Posted June 21st 2023
Nyla loves her weekly meet-ups with pups her own age. She otherwise wouldn’t have that socialization opportunity. She’s almost done with puppy classes, graduating to adult training. Very exciting! Thank you, Marcus and Michaela, for your patience, commitment, and love for our rambunctious Va’Nyla Bean.— Marina Doktor
Posted March 25th 2023
Marcus & Kara have been amazing to work with...Gustav loves every moment of his classes! My pup is on his way to being a service dog thanks to the teachings of DTE and I am beyond pleased with the results. Very exciting to keep up the hard work.— Kelly Malone
Posted February 16th 2023
Marcus and Michaela are the best trainers! They had my sassy samoyed obeying commands and picking up a few tricks after just a few sessions. Highly recommend training with DTE!— BCRS Nest
Posted February 11th 2023
We have been working with Dog Training Elite for a couple of months now. One of the reasons we chose them was because they offer both in home and “real world” classes; it wasn’t just one or the other. We could not be happier with how flexible they were when scheduling the in home visits and how knowledgeable they are. They are kind and patient both with our German Shepherd puppy and my family. They took care to include my two children with the training and help educate them as well. I highly recommend them for any puppy training needs.— Erin Giusti
Posted January 28th 2023
Had my first session with michaela and marcus and i am impressed with how quick my dog has learned already— B Day
Posted October 4th 2022
By far the most knowledgeable trainers we have met! Highly recommend working with these guys!!— Dan Lutchko
Posted October 1st 2022
I brought my dog with severe behavioral issues to Elite Training central mass recently. She came back a brand new pup! So sweet and loving. The owners were extremely helpful and made me feel comfortable leaving my dog with them each day. Definitely recommend them to anyone having difficulties with their furry friend!— Salvatore
Posted September 30th 2022
Best experience I’ve ever had with dog trainer. I would recommend DTE to anyone in search of a trainer!— Emily Albert
Posted September 30th 2022
They are very professional and committed to helping you train your dog!— Rosbin Mayen
Posted September 29th 2022
Excellent dog trainers! They are very knowledgeable— parker fillmore
Posted September 28th 2022
Great caring business owners that will treat your dogs like their own !— Kayla Costa
Posted September 27th 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 Central Massachusetts, 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 Central Massachusetts 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.
