How to get your Blue Heeler puppy to stop biting
Blue Heelers come from a long line of Australian Cattle Dogs. In fact, many would find it interesting to know that the name “heeler” comes from its habit of nibbling on the legs of cattle while grazing them. Although they are more commonly known as humble pet companions today, there will still be times when their natural instincts can get the best of them.
This is why puppy training is essential for Blue Heelers. Chewing may not seem like a harmful thing, especially among puppies. But as it starts to grow, that habit can become a problem. When a Heeler bites other people or animals, he is not doing it to intentionally hurt them. But be that as it may, it is always better to try to eliminate this habit as soon as possible.
As herding dogs, Blue Heelers are naturally full of energy. Contrary to popular belief, this playful energy can also be cause for nipping. To help channel this energy into a less intrusive habit, there are a few things you can do. Putting your dog through a variety of exercise activities will definitely help.
Training is much the same as training any other pup, except that they may appreciate more time outdoors due to their extremely high stamina. Apart from taking them out for a walk every day, it would also be helpful to start playtimes on a regular basis.
Work on teaching the puppy all the basic tricks like: sit, stay, and roll over. By teaching these things, your dog will soon develop the discipline to obey his other commands. Any time you notice your Heeler pup starting to bite something, a stern “no” will suffice. Never use physical punishment because you may just end up scaring him instead of disciplining him. Having chew toys around will also work well to decrease your pup’s desire to chew on things.
In such cases, positive reinforcement will also help you. Once your Blue Heeler puppy does something to your liking, reward him with a small dog treat or some play time. If he does something contrary to your wishes, let him know what he did wrong too. Along with this, make sure to properly socialize your dog as well.
Years later, once it grows to full size, you’ll be thankful you broke the chewing habit. Do your best and start training puppies as soon as you can.