Mouthing and Nipping
Those little milk teeth are sharp! There's no question that it hurts when your puppy nips you on the calf or grabs one of your toes. Why does your puppy do this? Puppies, much like human babies, are very oral. Tasting, chewing, and mouthing things are normal exploratory behaviors. Additionally, when puppies are playing or very excited, they mouth and nip each other, too. If you've ever watched puppies interacting, they're constantly using their mouths, grabbing each other on the hocks, wrestling with their bodies, and so on.
Lessons from Mom and Littermates
A dog's skin, of course, is a bit thicker than a human's, and it is covered with a coat. It takes a bit more effort to elicit pain in another puppy. But what happens when a puppy does cause pain? With the pup's mother, correction is swift, firm, and controlled. You are likely to see the mother grab the puppy by his head or across the muzzle and hold him. The puppy will become motionless (a submissive gesture) or he may squeal and cry out, but he is not in pain. Then Mom lets go, and the pup has learned a valuable lesson.
If a puppy chomps down on another puppy too hard, what do you hear? The hurt puppy cries out loudly and may stop playing with the puppy. In this way, the offending puppy learns that that bite was too hard — if he wants to play, he must play nicely.
Children can work up a dachshund into rough play very easily, in which the playful but painful nips can escalate into much harder play bites. Never allow a situation to escalate to this point. Your children must understand that they cannot play hard with the puppy. And, if your dachshund shows any signs of aggression, always seek professional help immediately.
Continuing Education
Most puppies, fortunately, have had the basics of bite control training from Mom and littermates. Your job is to continue the pup's education. The pup's first lesson, therefore, is that his nipping, mouthing, and biting hurts you. When you get fanged by your little dachshund, release a high-pitched “Aay!” as a young puppy would do if bitten. This high-pitched sound almost always makes the puppy immediately back away. As soon as you have the desired response, give the puppy a command that you can reward, such as “Sit.” Reward your puppy for the good sit.
Another method that you can use to help cut back on puppy nips is to anticipate your dachshund puppy's desire to needle you. If you know, for example, that when you are playing in the back yard she will get excited and start grabbing your ankle, have a favorite toy at the ready in your pocket. Before she starts gnawing on you, offer the toy and give a “Take it” command. If your dachsie has something in her mouth, she can't nip you.
