Juan Cervantes, dog trainer: “A dog that bites is not a problem: it’s the one that does this”
In a video shared on his social media, canine educator Juan Cervantes explains how to teach a dog to let go of an object it is holding in its mouth.
“A dog that bites is not the problem. A dog that doesn’t know how to let go is. If you have to wrestle with your dog to get it to drop a toy, you are not in control. You have a problem.” With these words, dog trainer Juan Cervantes introduces in one of his TikTok videos what he says is one of the most common issues dog owners face.
When a dog believes it is the one in control, daily life can become a constant challenge, affecting both the dog’s well-being and that of the family. A lack of clear boundaries can lead not only to behaviors such as pulling on the leash, ignoring commands, or guarding resources, but also to increased stress and insecurity. That happens because the dog begins taking on responsibilities that should not fall on it.
When we are not the ones guiding the situation, the dog interprets that it must take over, which can open the door to behavior problems that could often be prevented through consistent training and clear leadership. That is why correcting this issue is so important, and in his video, Cervantes explains how to do it.
How to fix it
According to Cervantes, the owner’s role in this situation is straightforward: teach the dog to release one bite toy by trading it for another.
“Let go of one thing to get something even better. They need to be the same, because if the dog likes one more than the other, it won’t want to let one of them go. If the target is not moving, it is not fun for the dog. So you should stay still with the bite toy the dog already has in its mouth, and move the one in your other hand. The moment the dog lets go, mark it with your cue word so it can take the other one,” he explains.
“At first, we use two bite toys. Once the dog understands how to let go with both, we move to using just one, and the reward becomes getting to bite and play again.,” he explains.
@juancer_k9 "La suelta no es una opción, es una orden de seguridad." ⚠️ Veo a mucha gente en el parque "peleando" con sus perros, haciendo el efecto muelle para quitarles una pelota. ¿Resultado? El perro cree que el juego es NO soltar. En el terreno con Prada, la regla es clara: Si no sueltas, no hay fiesta. > ✅ MIS 3 REGLAS DE ORO: No luches: Si tiras de la boca, activas su instinto de oposición. Se volverá más fuerte. El marcador es clave: Usa el Clicker para premiar el segundo exacto en el que deja de hacer presión. La suelta se premia: El perro debe entender que soltar significa que el juego vuelve a empezar. Si siempre que suelta le quitas el juguete y te vas, ¡normal que no quiera dartelo! Un perro de trabajo que no tiene una suelta limpia es un perro fuera de control. 👇 PREGUNTA: ¿Tu perro suelta a la primera o te toca hacerle 'la técnica del chorizo' para que abra la boca? Cuéntame tu caso. 💬 #AdiestramientoCanino #Malinois #K9Training #ObedienciaCanina #TipsCaninos
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“Letting go is not the end of the fun. It is the ticket to keep playing,” the trainer concludes in his TikTok video, where he demonstrates the technique with one of his dogs.
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