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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhy Puppies Tug on Clothing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. Anything is fair game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pulling on our clothing is very enticing to them and fun. And it may be cute in the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I\u2019m sure that you don\u2019t want to buy a new wardrobe or wear \u201cdog-eared\u201d (pun intended) clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, as a puppy grows stronger and has adult teeth, this behavior can become dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can turn into biting as he gets his adult teeth. And he may even knock or pull someone down when he tugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it\u2019s important to understand why your puppy is tugging on your clothes in order to know how to stop it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following are some reasons why your puppy may be pulling on your clothes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Your puppy may be teething<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teething puppies<\/a> try to soothe their sore gums by chewing on whatever\u2019s available. They are little land sharks with needle-like teeth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So the cloth on your new jeans are fair game as far as your puppy is concerned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re sitting down next to him, your sweater, shirt, and even nearby pillows are soft and he will probably try chewing on them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure that you\u2019ve seen your puppy not behave well when you don\u2019t have time to exercise him. Or when the weather\u2019s bad and he doesn\u2019t get his daily walks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your puppy has too much energy to spare, he will inevitably engage in behaviors you don\u2019t want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He may chew on the furniture, have potty accidents, and even see you as a living chew toy and tug on your clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like a fatigued toddler, a puppy may \u201cact out\u201d when he\u2019s too tired. And he will probably pull on your clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your puppy may just be looking for something to do. Unfortunately, you and your clothes can be what he literally latches onto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A herding breed or mix may be trying to herd you when he nips at your shoes and clothes. Shelties, Aussies, and corgis will engage in these behaviors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They want to control your motion just as they would a flock of sheep. This is especially true when someone walks by quickly or noisily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you\u2019re running or if the children are screaming and running as they play, a herding dog may attempt to drive everyone where he thinks that they should be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When my many shelties were puppies, they would try to grab the bottom of my pants leg and tug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have to admit that it was cute the first time, but I knew the consequences of not stopping the tugging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So I worked with the issue using some of the techniques I describe below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, happily, I\u2019ve been able to walk around without a dog latching onto me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A retriever sometimes has a need to have something in his mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And that something could be the clothes you wear if nothing else is handy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My rescued golden retriever Spencer always had to have something in his mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, instead of it being the shirt on my arm or my pant leg, I made sure that he had an assortment of toys he liked to carry around with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs with a high prey drive such as terriers may also tug your clothes\u2013especially if you\u2019re moving quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be as simple as your puppy needs to play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies are usually very playful and will grab whatever\u2013or whoever\u2013is nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Play-biting is a common puppy behavior. So the pup turns tugging on our clothing into a fun (for him) game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may be busy working on your computer. All of a sudden, you feel a tug on your clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s your pup reminding you that he\u2019s there\u2013and wants your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, a puppy can’t really grab items with his feet. He doesn\u2019t have opposable thumbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So he explores the world with his mouth<\/a>. And your clothing is easy to reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some puppies will grab whatever they can when they\u2019re excited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if there\u2019s a lot of noise and excitement such as children running and playing or people dancing, a puppy will naturally latch onto the nearby clothing he sees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can also occur while on walks, where a puppy may see many things that excite him such as squirrels, dogs passing by, or someone mowing the lawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re next to him and he may grab your clothes in his excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have inadvertently rewarded the behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You could have been excited when he tugs or tugged back making him think it\u2019s a game that you\u2019re enjoying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes puppies tug our clothing because they need to release energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, they\u2019ll start to run around in a crazy pattern<\/a> and grab whatever\u2019s convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are measures you can take<\/a> to help prevent a puppy from grabbing your clothes. And you can also use certain methods to break the pattern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll probably have to use more than one of the following techniques in order to get your puppy to stop tugging on your clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Play-biting is a normal puppy behavior. Luckily, most puppies outgrow it. But, in the meantime, you need to work through the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine that you\u2019re playing with your puppy and he starts grabbing the edge of your sweater\u2019s sleeve or the leg of your pants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He starts ferociously tugging with all his might instead of grabbing the rope toy in your hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n End the playtime whenever your puppy\u2019s teeth touch your skin or clothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Freeze in place and don\u2019t make eye contact with your pup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stand up tall when his teeth aren\u2019t on you and hold still. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fold your arms in front of you so that he can\u2019t grab them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Be consistent and make sure that you don\u2019t play his game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This often works because the puppy isn\u2019t getting the attention that he craves. Afterward, redirect him to another activity or obedience cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But some puppies won\u2019t give up the tugging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, use some of the other techniques below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount of physical exercise your puppy needs for his physical and mental well-being will vary depending on his age and breed(s). <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re in doubt regarding his needs, check with your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, working, herding, and sporting breeds and terriers require more exercise than toy breeds do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Young puppies often require more naps than older puppies and adult dogs do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s more to it than just physical exercise. You also need to exercise your puppy\u2019s mind<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So have puzzle toys<\/a> ready. A flirt pole<\/a> can exercise and redirect your pup to another activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And teach your puppy obedience commands and tricks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Socialization<\/a> to new experiences, people, and friendly dogs also helps broaden your puppy\u2019s horizons\u2013and will help tire him out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This seems like it\u2019s obvious. But, in our busy lives, sometimes a puppy\u2019s needs get lost in the shuffle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if for some reason you aren\u2019t able to walk your dog or play with him on a certain day, have a trusted friend, family member, or dog walker meet your pup\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain training cues<\/a> are especially important to help stop a puppy from tugging at your clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, teach your puppy to pay attention and look up at your face when you say his name. You can also teach him an attention cue like \u201clook.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n If he\u2019s paying attention to you, he won\u2019t be tugging on your clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, teach your puppy the \u201cleave it\u201d command. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, you can tell him to leave anything and not pick it up or put it in his mouth\u2013including you and your clothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can also save a dog\u2019s life because he may attempt to grab something that can be harmful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pups should also learn \u201cdrop it\u201d and \u201cgive\u201d cues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I use \u201cdrop it\u201d to teach a puppy to drop something to the ground and \u201cgive\u201d to release what\u2019s in his mouth to my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, teach a \u201ctouch\u201d cue where your puppy learns to gently touch his nose to the palm of your hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach your puppy to heel<\/a> alongside you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that he\u2019s paying attention to you and his position next to you rather than your clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, your puppy should also learn to come to you and sit and lay down on cue<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more that your puppy can control his own behaviors, all of his actions will be better regulated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach your puppy a \u201csettle\u201d command that you can use before he starts to grab your clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach him to “go to place<\/a>” and settle there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be a dog bed that\u2019s kept in the same place in a room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, a very young puppy will find this exercise to be difficult if he doesn\u2019t yet perform a solid sit\/down\/stay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But by the time a pup reaches five or six months old, he should be able to sit and down on your verbal cue and hand signal<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach a \u201czen\u201d exercise. This training lesson teaches a puppy to control his natural impulses and drives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Place a small treat in your hand, palm up, and close your fist. Have another reward treat ready in your other hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Place your closed fist with the treat right in front of your puppy\u2019s nose. If your pup mouths or paws at your hand, ignore it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The second that he\u2019s calm without interacting with your closed fist, mark the behavior with \u201cyes\u201d and give him the treat from the other hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do this exercise a few times. End on a successful note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most puppies start to understand that when they engage in behaviors we don\u2019t want such as mouthing or pawing at the closed fist with the treat, they don\u2019t get any reward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What if your puppy doesn\u2019t stop mouthing or pawing at your closed fist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Put your fist behind your back and walk away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next time you train him, set him up to succeed. Make sure that he\u2019s had enough exercise prior to the training session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your puppy is calm, praise (\u201cgood settle\u201d) and reward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can give a small tidbit of a treat. Or you can give him a safe chew or frozen stuffed Kong<\/a> so that he will remain lying down and calm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Licking the stuffing out of a Kong<\/a> is actually calming to a dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can help teach your puppy to remove his teeth from your clothes. But it shouldn\u2019t be the only way you teach him that tugging on your clothes is unacceptable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can say something like \u201cHey\u201d and, the second that your pup removes his teeth, reward him with a toy and a game of fetch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, if he knows how to sit on cue, have him sit, then release him and reward him with a favorite toy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just note that some puppies may be overstimulated even by saying \u201chey.\u201d Of course, this training exercise should be avoided then in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before your adorable little piranha\u2019s teeth reach your clothes, redirect him to something else to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a favorite toy<\/a> of his ready and have him fetch it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or have a safe chew or stuffed frozen Kong ready. Have him perform an obedience cue such as \u201csit,\u201d then give it to him to occupy him and his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy is overly tired, he may act out much as a small toddler would. So what he needs is a nap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just be sure that his crate doesn\u2019t become something negative to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So you can first have him perform an obedience cue and reward him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then have him enter his crate with a safe reward such as an appropriately sized stuffed frozen Kong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes when a puppy is overstimulated, he needs a place to chill out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, you don\u2019t ever want his crate to be a punishment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So when I give a puppy a short (10-minute maximum) time-out, I use a different, safe, puppy-proofed area. It can be a laundry room or bathroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or you can even teach your puppy (observed, of course, so that he can\u2019t strangle himself) to be on a tether nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as your puppy doesn\u2019t chew it, you can use a six-foot leash tied to an immovable piece of furniture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I\u2019ve used this method (which was very infrequently), I would lead the puppy to the place and say \u201cTime out,\u201d then walk calmly away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If this method is to work, you must just leave the puppy for a short time until he calms down (minutes at most). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, release him from the place and have him perform an obedience cue or redirect him to an acceptable game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t have your puppy go over his threshold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have some things in your puppy\u2019s environment that are too over-stimulating, change his environment until he\u2019s able to handle it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies and children<\/a> can be a great combination. However, all interactions should be monitored and directed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if he runs after toddlers, tugging on their clothes and pulling them down, while they’re running and playing, don\u2019t have your puppy there until the children settle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach your puppy to ignore such distractions and redirect him to other acceptable activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But also instruct children (and rambunctious adults) to be calm around the pup. No rough-housing or wrestling with the pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that clothing items\u2013including laundry\u2013are kept out of your pup\u2019s reach as much as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clothing, especially those with our scent, is very inviting to most puppies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy goes after the bottom of your pants leg, you can spray a chew deterrent such as Bitter Yuck<\/a> there before<\/em> your pup approaches. Don\u2019t spray it at or near your puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, you don\u2019t want to ruin your new Levis. So do this with an old pair of pants that you don\u2019t care about anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can then spray the bottoms with Bitter Yuck immediately prior to wearing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need additional help calming your puppy down, there are many things that you can use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get your puppy used to wearing a ThunderShirt<\/a>. Or use Adaptil<\/a>, which mimics the pheromones of the puppy\u2019s mother. It comes in a plug-in, collar, and spray. <\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Your puppy may have too much energy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Your puppy may be overly tired<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Your puppy may be bored<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. The tugging on your clothing may occur because of your puppy\u2019s genetic make-up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Your puppy may want to play<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Your puppy may want attention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Your puppy may be exploring the environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Your puppy may be overstimulated by the environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. You may have unintentionally encouraged him to tug on clothes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. Your puppy may have the zoomies<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What You Should Do To Prevent or Correct Tugging on Clothing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. End the interaction when your puppy tugs on your clothes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Make sure that your puppy has enough physical and mental exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Schedule playtime<\/a>, walks, downtime, and nap times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Teach obedience commands<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Teach impulse control exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Capture and reward desired behaviors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Use an interrupter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Redirect to an acceptable activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Give him a nap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Give your puppy a time-out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. Manage your puppy\u2019s environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. Place a chew deterrent on your clothes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
13. Use calming aids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/puppy-tugging-clothes-700x1050.jpg\")
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