Basset Hound Behavior: Nipping and Biting

All puppies will nip and bite during play. When this is done with other dogs and pups, the puppy will learn what is too rough for play and when to keep their snapping jaws in check. This is usually accomplished by a firm nip from its mother or a ferocious whine from a littermate. Whatever the form the discouragement takes, the puppy quickly learns to inhibit his biting instinct when playing with those he loves.

Since this behavior is instinctive and natural, you can bet that your Basset Hound will try to nip and bite at you for a period of time after you bring him home from the pet store or kennel. In essence, he is only trading his mother and littermates for a human family of playmates, and he will treat you just the same that he treated them. Normally, this problem can be overcome very quickly if you react to it in the right way. But if you react in the wrong way, you could end up with a full-size dog that likes to nip and bite when he is excited. And that is not fun and games by any standard.

To understand how you should react to this part of your Basset Hound’s behavior, let’s first look at human behaviors that will only work to reinforce the nipping and biting. Contrary to the training methods used by some well-meaning Basset Hound owners, your puppy cannot understand your words. You can shout and holler all day without getting anywhere. One thing that your dog can read, though, is body language. That means that if you are staying stop, but conveying something else entirely with your body language, your dog will never get the message that nipping and biting is off limits.

For example: Imagine a child on the floor playing with a new Basset Hound puppy. The puppy bites and nips at the squealing child’s ears and pulls on its hair, then dives underneath for a lick at its face. Even if the child is not squealing in delight, but has tears streaming down its face, the dog will continue its assault. Why? Because it’s fun, and the child is actually giving the puppy a green light with its body language.

For starters, the child is lying on the floor and squealing and squirming about. All of this adds up to a giant chew toy that is loads of fun for a playful pup. Children also do not usually reprimand the puppy, but will run to mom for assistance. Running away just adds up to more play time for the pup because now he can nip at running heels.

As you can imagine, this can become a big problem, and it’s not only children who are guilty of displaying the wrong body language. Adults do it too when they shout and flail their arms about.

To counteract nipping and biting, then, it is best to use a sharp reprimand whenever the behavior is displayed. Sometimes a large clapping noise, a sharp verbal command or a firm tap on the nose is all it takes to teach your pup that this is not acceptable behavior. Be consistent, be firm, and you will never have to worry about having a grown Basset Hound that uses you as its chew toy.