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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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Silver - $1,995
$1,995
Training Equipment Included: E-Collar
- In-Home Training SessionsOne-on-one & personalized 3 Sessions
- Group Park Training Sessions 8 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 - $2,395
$2,395
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 - $2,995
$2,995
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 8 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 Job 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!
I can't recommend Dog Training Elite highly enough! From start to finish, my experience with them has been exceptional. Andi in the office is an absolute gem - always friendly, polite, and incredibly efficient. She made scheduling around my hectic timetable an absolute breeze, whether it was answering the phone or swiftly returning missed calls. And when it come to Parker, our trainer, I couldn't be more impressed. Parker was punctual and well-prepared for every lesson. His expertise and patience with me and my dog was evident, and I saw significant progress with each lesson. Thank you, Dog Training Elite, for providing the service that you do!— Alisa Kellington-Welsh
Posted April 19th 2024
Best trained dog I’ve ever had. Friendly service. Our trainer Nikki is great!— Daniel Stout
Posted April 19th 2024
I had a great experience with Nikki! She worked great with Zurii and I during our training sessions. We learned a lot.— Janet Koontz
Posted April 18th 2024
What a great experience! We are so happy we chose Training Elite and Nikki was our trainer. Money well spent.— Sherry Sapp
Posted April 11th 2024
I’ve had nothing but a great experience with Dog Training Elite! Parker was our trainer and helped my crazy Labrador. My dog is now a better listener and is eager and engaged when it come to training. Thank you so much Parker and DTE! :)— Lindsay Robison
Posted April 9th 2024
Parker was very kind and detail-oriented when training my dog. Saw great results, would recommend to anyone!— Taylor Underwood
Posted April 6th 2024
Nikki was great to work with. Very skilled in dog training and really helped us with our stubborn dog— Spencer Hall
Posted April 6th 2024
AMAZING! Highly recommend Parker. He did wonders with my Golden Doodle during training sessions. His expertise and patience were truly awesome.— Maddie Lambert
Posted April 5th 2024
I cannot overstate how amazing our experience was with Parker and DTE! Their training schedule was so smooth and easy. Leaving with me and my dog, Birdie, commands to work on and practice in between each session. Birdie’s growth by the end was crazy! Highly recommend to anyone looking for dog training!— Tate Weichers
Posted April 5th 2024
Nikki is amazing! She is so knowledgeable, patient, and a true dog lover! She helped my boy go from extremely reactive to being able to ignore dogs passing by. She gets to know your dog very individually and is able to read their body language perfectly. Couldn’t recommended her or DTE more! Amazing experience.— Ashley Alba
Posted March 6th 2024
These dogs are the most well-trained and behaved dogs I've ever seen!— Katie Gurney
Posted February 20th 2024
Nikki is just an immaculate trainer, she made such drastic changes with my dog and I. I will never ever look back, thank you for all the extra effort.— Bentley Banks
Posted February 1st 2024
If you are wanting a trainer, I highly recommend Nikki Hynes. I have seen her transform dogs from skittish and fearful to bold and beautiful. A few of her own dogs have gone from shrinking violet rescue animals to NATIONAL level citizens. No dogs want to live in fear. She is a great pack leader that brings them out of their shell and shows them a better way. As long as you are willing to invest the time into your dog and follow her recommendations, you too can have a solid HAPPY, obedient partner. Best wishes to you and your pooch— Trail or Sport Horse
Posted December 16th 2023
Nikki Hyne is an experienced, professional dog trainer who loves dogs. Her ability to pinpoint behavior problems, personalities, dog signals and interactions is spot on. She is quick to see health problems that may be causing your pet issues. She keeps your dog active and challenges them to use their mind. Her training is consistent and her dogs really seem to improve in her care.— Janet Fletcher
Posted December 14th 2023
Highly recommend this, love the staff! Super friendly and extremely helpful!— Alexander Simpkins
Posted December 14th 2023
Super staff, the Knoxville surrounding areas are in great hands with Nikki, a true dog whisper you will love how your dogs respond and become more than just your best friend.— Tappie
Posted December 11th 2023
Talk about great staff and amazing training, my Boston terrier pit mix has been quite the handful. But since her time with dog training elite she has been so easy to work. Couldn’t be happier.— Timothy Ochoa
Posted December 9th 2023
Dog Training Elite is a lifesaver! Not only are Parker and Eric extremely kind and patient, they are dedicated and truly know what they’re doing. I couldn’t recommend them enough!!! 10/10 experience for me and my pup, Moose.— Hannah Seegmiller
Posted December 9th 2023
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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville 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.
