Hi, I got my german shepherd pup when he was just a month old. Right now he is a bit older than 2 months but bites a lot. Can someone suggest how to deal with this problem.
You must be realizing now that your shepherd was separated from his mom and siblings way too early. Puppies need to be kept together with their mom at least 8 wks old so that they learn how to play with their siblings (by play biting) and they are corrected by their mom when they did something wrong.
That being said, I think your pup's biting is a very natural behavior but he needs to know that you and all human beings don't have the thick skin and fur of the dogs. Are there any other pups or dogs that he can play with? It is very important for him to get socialized with other dogs. Keeping him away from other dogs will cause a very serious problem later on. Provide him a lot of play time with other dogs. When you play with him, use a big stuffed animals or balls and make sure he doesn't put his teeth to your hand. When he does, shout "Ouch!" and turn away and stop playing, or give him something he can chew on, such as nylo bones or toys. You need to be very firm and consistent. Eventually, he will learn that a fun game ends when he puts his teeth on your hand. He should be able to recognize things he is allowed to bite/chew and things not. If he keeps biting despite of the above, put him on a short time-out in a dark room for a few minutes. Hope this will help
Just another tip - in case your dog keeps biting and chewing. Some owners have had success by simply standing up, crossing arms across chest, and turning your back to the dog - ignore him. If he comes around to your front, turn your back again. If he jumps up, step away and keep your back turned.
It just teaches that biting will result in no more fun at all - you may find it useful!
This method also works for jumping or other misbehaviour
