3. Don’t Walk Around Your Dog Does your dog lie on floor and expect you to walk around him? In wild, dominant dogs lie wherever they want, and dogs lower in social order go around so they don’t disturb Big Dog. If you walk around your dog, he will assume this to be an act of submission on your part; therefore he must be leader, not you. If your dog is lying in middle of hallway, or right in front of your easy chair, make him move. If he’s on couch and you want to lie down, make him move. Don’t step over him. Just gently nudge him and make him get out of your way. You’re Big Dog, remember?

4. You Determine When Your Dog Gets Attention Even asking for attention or affection can be seen as an act of dominance from your dog’s point of view. Dogs that demand attention are asserting dominance, so if your dog gets pushy, ignore him. When you’re ready to give him attention or affection or pet or play with him, ask him to sit first. Don’t run after him just so you can pet him. Make him come to you when you’re ready to give him attention, or play with him. And when you play with a toy, make sure that you end up with possession of toy, and then put toy away when you’re done. (Note: I’m not talking about his favorite toys that you leave in his crate. I’m talking about play toys that two of you use for games.)

5. Don’t Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed This is a tough one for a lot of people, but when you let your dog share your bed, at best you’re making him an equal to you. He should have his own bed, either a dog pad or his crate that he feels comfortable in – you can even put dog pad next to your bed if that makes both of you happier – but don’t let him take over sleeping arrangements. Before you know it, he’ll be trying to make you sleep on floor! Again, reinforcing or retraining your dog to recognize you as Head Honcho has absolutely nothing to do with harsh discipline. These are changes you can make that will change way your dog thinks about you. And making even small changes like these can have an enormous impact on way your dog views social hierarchy in your home – all without a harsh word being spoken! http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj

2. Replace your flesh with a toy When you’ve resumed play, and if your puppy tries to nip again, try replacing your hand or arm (or whatever’s being nipped) with a toy. Teach your puppy that you’re not toy. Put a toy in between you and those needle-sharp teeth!

3. The Nose Tap If your puppy nips turn to him immediately and give him “sit” command. Take your forefinger and hold it up in front of his nose, then tap him on nose and say “no bite” in a stern tone of voice. It’s important to note two things here: 1) nose tap isn’t designed as a dire punishment – you’re not trying to hurt him, but rather startle him into stopping behaviour; and 2) your tone of voice is just as important as nose tap. Don’t scream at him – your voice should be stern and give a clear warning – think of it as a verbal growl – something that he can understand as a dog. An interesting result of this manner of breaking this habit is that down road, when your puppy has learned to recognize raised finger – he’ll usually stop whatever behaviour he’s engaging in just because he knows what’s coming. You won’t even have to raise your voice – just lift that finger.

4. Don’t encourage biting or nipping in first place Don’t let kids start “chase” games – that encourages dogs to think that kids are prey. Don’t play games that involve waving your hands in front of your dog and encouraging him to jump or nip. Don’t play tug-of-war with your dog – it will not only encourage him to think he’s your equal, it can promote nipping if you use a rope toy, for example, because he’ll try to bite at your hands to make you lose your grip on toy. Play games of fetch and retrieval, but be sure that your dog knows “drop” or “release” command so you’re not fighting over toy.

5. Be consistent Stop nipping behaviour as soon as it starts, and be consistent about disciplining your puppy for it. Don’t let him get away with nipping on one day, and then discipline for same behaviour next. Dogs don’t understand “sometimes it’s ok,” or “maybe it’s ok it you don’t nip too hard and I’m in a good mood.“ They understand “Don’t ever do that,” and “No more treats if you do that.”

For more: http://tinyurl.com/4efaq