Do you have a dog that bites your feet every time you walk? It is common to observe this behavior in puppies, even so, some adult dogs continue to repeat this behavior because they have not learned correctly as children not to do it.
Surely you are overwhelmed because it can be really unpleasant that your dog bites your feet when you walk, even reaching literally hanging from your pants or sneakers. Therefore, in this article on our site we tell you the causes and guidelines that you should follow to redirect this unwanted behavior.
Why does my puppy bite my feet when I walk?
Apart from the existing need they have during this stage to explore everything with their mouths and calm the pain caused by the growth of their teeth, there is mainly a cause that explains why this behavior occurs. Have you noticed how moving objects are usually the ones that motivate your pup the most? This is due to the fact that the moving elements generate a instinctive chase response in your furry. For this reason, the movement of your feet when you walk awakens your instinct and uncontrollable desire to play, in the same way that it does when you see a ball bounce. Even more so, if you wear wide pants or shoes with laces, which are mobile and allow him to pull them, making the "game" more entertaining.
So if your puppy bites your feet when you walk, it's most likely due to this exploratory behavior and chasing instinct. Now, not all dogs have to perform this behavior for these reasons. A very active puppy that does not have the right toys or does not get the exercise that he needs, will surely carry out this behavior as a consequence of boredom
Why does my dog bite my feet when I walk?
The persistence of this behavior throughout adulthood is often associated with bad learning That is, your dog has wrongly learned that each Every time he bites your feet you pay attention to him, for better or for worse, so all he has to do is throw himself at your feet to make you stop and watch him. Without a doubt, that your dog demands attention in this way is not positive, since it may indicate that the attention you devote to it is insufficient or that the training received has not been the most appropriate.
On the other hand, an adult dog that does not get enough physical or mental exercise will also be bored and, as in the case of puppies may want to bite your feet when walking to entertain themselves.
What do I do if my dog bites my feet when walking?
Once you have understood the cause that explains why your dog bites your feet, it is time to try to remedy it. First of all, you should make sure that your dog gets enough daily exercise and understands basic obedience, as this kind of unwanted behavior is usually indicative of that the dog is not tired, that is, it needs more activities, both physical and mental, in its daily life to stay he althy and balanced. Otherwise, the animal develops boredom and stress, which together with a lack of handling by the guardians, trigger unwanted behaviors such as the one mentioned in this article.
As we have mentioned, the fact that your dog bites your feet when walking is due to the fact that your dog is activated by movement. For this reason, to teach your dog not to perform this behavior, the action guidelines that you will have to follow will be:
Inhibit movement
Keep your feet to yourself when your dog, puppy or adult, lunges for them. In this way, your dog will see that your feet are not so much fun, since he cannot play with them.
We recommend, in turn, trying not to wear clothes that he can easily pull or shoes with laces. Otherwise, and it starts pulling at your clothes, try to grab it so that it stays static, preventing the game. In these situations, you should never try to take anything he has out of his mouth, as this could make him understand that you want to play with him or that you want to take away what he has. has, causing him to respond with growls and develop a possessive behavior. This is known as "protection of resources" and it is not positive either, which is why following the action guidelines that we are recommending is so important, not only to treat the existing problem, but also to prevent the appearance of new ones.
Pay no attention
This point is of vital importance, especially to avoid and redirect the bad learning that your dog could have done, that is, biting you to get attention. Therefore, avoid talking to him, as he might take it as a compliment, and don't scold him. By not giving him the attention he is looking for with this behavior, you will make him see you static and uninterested, so he will let you go.
It is possible that if you ignore your furry friend, he will try to bite you harder so that you will pay attention to him. Even so, you will have to continue acting in the same way, since, on the contrary, he could learn that he has to bite you more insistently to get your attention, which would be counterproductive. If your dog has a bad habit of biting you hard, it will be necessary to teach him to inhibit the bite.
Offer you an alternative game
Finally, just after your dog loses interest in your immobile feet, that is, is tired of insisting without results and therefore ignores them, you should reward him by providing an alternative game with the which can redirect this behavior. This is necessary because this behavior is part of their nature. For this reason, we cannot try to eliminate it, but rather give it the opportunity to chase, bite and pull on more suitable objects, such as a toy, a rope, etc.
