VIRAL! Orange Is the New Black's Little Boo Is Stealing Every Scene—And the Pup Will Win You Over!

What to do if your puppy keeps biting. Nip nipping in the bud with these expert tips

The first season of Orange is the New Black—the Netflix original about a now law-abiding, upper-middle-class woman handed 15 months behind bars for hauling a suitcase of drug money for an old flame a decade earlier—had us glued, binging episode after episode. The kicker? Even with genius acting all around, a four-legged performer still snags a few scenes. Eight-month-old Avery, aka 'Little Boo,' plays a therapy dog in training paired with inmate Big Boo. We got the scoop on this canine cutie from Lisa Vinnecour, Co-Executive Producer of Orange Is The New Black, who shares what life's like for the dog actor on set.

What's a normal day on set like for Little Boo?Like the other cast on Orange, the pup gets her own dressing room and waits to be called. When her scene comes up, she's ready to roll! And by ready, I mean she mostly dozed while the cameras ran.

Which actors has she clicked with most?Lea DeLaria (Big Boo) worked only with Little Boo, so they bonded hardest. That said, she spread her love to everyone.

Is she a set fave?She is! We're an animal-loving set, so when she works, the crew's thrilled to have her there. When she struggled to focus, my dog Lucy came down to set to help her out. She was a fan of having Little Boo around, too.

Does she love acting?If acting means snoozing whenever you like, scoring tons of treats, and getting endless love, then yes!

To learn about Prison Dog Programs, check out our piece on how these efforts not only rehab inmates and dogs (most pulled from shelters), but transform the lives of the folks who receive these dogs now trained for service or therapy work. Talk about a win-win-win. moderndogmagazine.com/prisondogs

Puppy Nipping Hurts! How to Stop Your Pup from Biting

Your job is to help your pup build bite inhibition—that is, control over how hard he clamps down. While puppies are still with their littermates, they wrestle and mouth each other, and when one bites too hard the other yelps, teaching the biter what pressure is okay. The same lesson comes from losing mom’s milk if he bites her teat too hard. That’s why singleton pups and those weaned too early often start weak on bite inhibition. Whatever his start, you can help him learn.

Try a sharp, high-pitched yelp the instant he nips—he’ll often recoil with a face that says, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know that hurt!” Then ignore him for about five seconds. If ignoring sparks more nipping, walk away entirely. Start by yelping only at the hardest bites, then tighten to softer ones over time; he’ll learn the acceptable pressure and rein in his jaws. One caveat: it works for many pups, but with some (terriers especially) it can amp them up and worsen the nipping. For those dogs, a deep, sharp “Eh-eh!” often beats the yelp.

Puppy Biting for Attention? Redirect This Way!

Give your pup a different way to get your attention—like licking. It’s easy to teach: smear a little xylitol-free peanut butter on the back of your hand, make a fist within his reach, and cheerfully say “Kisses!” He’ll lick it off. After a few licks, hide the hand behind your back, give the cue, and present it again. Repeat often. Soon he knows “Kisses!” (reinforce it whenever he licks you on his own). Then when he nips, give a sharp “Eh-eh!” right before a happy, high “Kisses!” He should swap nipping for licking—a far nicer way to win your notice.

Be proactive: hand your pup a chew during the windows he usually wants attention, like TV time or computer work. Since dogs are crepuscular like wolves—most active at dawn and dusk, when wolves would hunt—offering a chew then can spare you a flurry of energy bites. Also, notice your puppy when he’s not biting, so he learns that calm cuteness earns plenty of attention.

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When Is the Right Time to Start Teaching Bite Inhibition?

Start the day you bring her home, and keep at it as long as needed. By ten to twelve weeks most pups are little land sharks, so aim to begin by then at the latest. How long it takes varies by pup and depends on your consistency. In general, aim to have bite inhibition in place by five or six months, when adolescence hits.

How to is it normal for puppies to bite when playing?

Absolutely—puppies are mouthy during play with other dogs. If you know a well-adjusted adult female who’s good with pups, let yours play with her; she’ll tolerate the nonsense to a point, then correct him. Lesson learned. How you play matters too. No wrestling! In my experience, little boys (and some big ones) love to wrestle pups and treat teeth-on-skin as fine—but that teaches him teeth on people during play are okay. Keep something between you and him, like a stuffed toy or tug. The instant his teeth touch skin, say “Too bad!” and leave with the toy. That marker tells him the exact second he erred, and the game ends. Stay consistent and he learns teeth on skin cost him a valued resource.

A Guide to what about when a puppy bites for attention?

Some attention-seeking behaviours fade if ignored—but biting isn’t one to ignore. Who wants to be a patient pincushion? When your pup nips for attention, does he get it? Do you play or pet him? If so, you’ve reinforced it. Instead, especially in hyperdrive mode, the moment he nips give a verbal “Eh-eh!” then ask for a few sits, downs, or recalls, then hand him an acceptable chew. Don’t give the chew the instant he nips, or he learns nipping earns a reward.

► Pro Tip: Truly aggressive behaviour shows up outside play—a hard stare, a growl, or repeated bites without backing off. If you’re unsure whether it’s normal puppy mouthing or real aggression, consult a pro trainer. Ahead-of-time video helps even more.