- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Does your puppy treat your hand like their personal chew toy? That’s not just a “you” problem. Puppies often mouth and nibble as they learn more about their environments, but there’s no set timeframe for when puppies stop biting.
Mouthing is one of the most common unwanted behaviors in dogs—and if you don’t address it early on, it could spiral into unwanted biting when your dog reaches adulthood. But you can take steps to curb unwanted biting while your pup is still young and set them up for a life of polite behavior as adults.
Below, learn more about biting behavior in puppies and how to successfully prevent and redirect it to better outlets.
When Do Puppies Start Biting?
Mouthing is very normal for puppies, especially puppies less than 6 months old, explains Dr. Mindy Waite, a certified dog behaviorist and researcher on mouthing behavior in dogs.
Dr. Waite says mouthing behavior often starts early, before a puppy reaches 10 weeks of age. If you accidentally reinforce their mouthing behavior during puppyhood, it can persist when they become fully grown.
Why Do Puppies Bite So Much?
Puppies can bite for all kinds of reasons, including:
Play
Mouthing can be a natural part of puppy play, just like growling and wrestling. If a puppy bites a littermate too hard, the puppy receiving the bite will typically squeal to let them know.
Teething
Puppies cut teeth when they reach 4 to 6 months of age. When that happens, they can become much more mouthy, so they might start gnawing at things all over the house—including you.
Hunting behavior
Sometimes, natural hunting instincts may lead puppies to bite. Puppies who don’t have siblings to practice hunting behavior with may sometimes redirect this behavior to the people in the house.
Exploration
Since your pup doesn’t have opposable thumbs, they use their mouths and teeth to gain more information about their surroundings. For instance, Smith explains that dogs might use their mouths to see if prey is dead or alive—and that that same principle could apply to your favorite socks!
Breed
Additionally, some dog breeds may be naturally mouthier than others.
According to research from Dr. Waite and her colleagues, Poodles and Doodle mixes had higher reports of mouthing than some other common breeds, although they couldn’t determine statistics that compared breeds.
Tips To Cut Down On Puppy Biting And Mouthing
Since biting is a natural behavior, you may find it more helpful to teach puppies when it’s appropriate to bite instead of not biting at all, says Ali Smith, professional dog trainer and owner of Rebarkable.
Dr. Waite adds that it’s important to know the root cause behind the biting so you can redirect it to a more appropriate outlet. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can train your puppy to bite less.
Be a tree
If your dog gets overzealous and nips you during play, try dropping the toy and holding still until your dog stops biting. Don’t jerk away, since this might seem like an invitation to play tug-of-war. Instead, let your limbs go limp and don’t engage.
When your dog lets go and relaxes, you can resume play again. This technique, called “being a tree” can help teach your pup that biting means the game is over.
Add a barrier
If your puppy is on the large side or you need a protective aid while they learn, consider playing behind a barrier.
Here’s how it works:
- When your dog bites, distract them by dropping treats on the ground.
- When your puppy goes for the fallen food, get up and move behind a barrier, such as a baby gate between the living room and kitchen.
- When your dog is done, only play with them through the protection of the barrier. If your dog lunges at you or tries to bite, you can step back and let the gate take the brunt of their enthusiasm.
- You can continue to interact with them through the gate until they calm down or you end the play session.
Offer a toy
If your pup bites or nibbles on items they shouldn’t, consider redirecting the behavior to a chew toy. Smith suggests choosing a toy that has a similar texture to the object of their mouthiness.
For example, if your puppy is fond of gnawing on your best leather shoes, try giving them a bully stick to work on instead. Teething puppies may also appreciate a toy with soothing qualities, like a dog-friendly ice pack for achy gums.
Use a command
Try distracting your dog with a command, like “sit” or “stay,” when they get mouthy. When they’re occupied with another task, they may be less likely to bite. Remember to reward them if they follow your directions!
Take breaks
Dr. Waite says some puppies may bite when they are overstimulated.
To prevent this, Smith suggests taking breaks to let their energy levels come down. When they’re calm again and feeling less bitey, you can resume play as usual. You can also prevent over-excitement by making sure they get plenty of sleep every night.
How To De-Escalate Puppy Biting And Encourage Healthy Play
When using the above tips, Smith stresses the need to stay consistent. She says many pet parents apply a number of new techniques with no consistency, which could send mixed signals and confuse the puppy.
“We have to think about how a pup learns: They learn quickly that if they do this, you do that,” she says. So, if you consistently show them biting won’t lead to what they want, they’ll be less likely to engage in mouthiness in the future.
If you’re having trouble training unwanted mouthing behavior by yourself, working with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist could go a long way toward helping your puppy stop biting.
What to Avoid When Discouraging Puppy Biting
It may seem like punishing your dog would teach them not to bite—but Smith says that’s not the best way to go. “It’s exhausting being a puppy parent, but science has shown time and time again, punishment is simply not needed to train our pups.”
Plus, using punishment could teach your dog not to give off warning signs when they’re uncomfortable, like growling, Smith adds. This could inadvertently lead to a “bite from the blue” from adult dogs.
Instead, aim to focus on consistent positive reinforcement with puppies, so you can encourage the behavior you want to see in your adult dog. Rewarding them with treats, pets, and love for their good behavior will go a long way toward setting them up for success.