Be A Tree is a solid standby for offensive puppy play like chasing, grabbing ankles, and tugging pants. It’s always best to try to predict and prevent, remembering Puppy is very likely to grab and bite when exiting the crate, when you move from one room to another (especially if puppy has been behind a baby gate), and other times when there is lots of movement to trigger this age related excitement behavior.

As always, wear appropriate clothing, tall boots, drag a baby blanket or flirt toy as you walk around, and use kibble bombs, kibble trails, and do lots of voluntary attention and walking beside practice. Avoid teaching puppy to “try harder” by moving or making noises once you have started your Be a Tree protocol, be consistent in ignoring the puppy until the puppy starts to disengage and calm. Don’t “give up” thinking it’s not working and start moving again or you will teach the puppy to “try harder” and hang in there until you move.

Knowing that most puppies will engage in these behaviors be prepared to prevent by using daily feeding time to teach puppy behaviors they can do instead of chasing and biting.

It’s really important to practice with the entire family before the puppy comes home. It’s very difficult to teach children while also trying to manage a biting puppy and teach the puppy too! Teach children the Be A Tree protocol and puppy safe walking and petting skills in your lead up preparation before puppy comes home. Make this a fun game, use a stuffed animal, and reward children for their efforts. Children need to learn to walk, not run, around puppies (and dogs really, for safety sake). To talk “low and slow” and avoid screaming, yelling, super happy talk, and other sounds that will excite and stimulate the puppy (and again, this is good dog safety for all dogs).

And finally, how to redirect the puppy into different behavior, or for young children an adult should help with this.

Be a Tree, the right way.