How to Stop Your Puppy from Biting

Puppy biting is one of the most common frustrations for new dog owners. Those needle-sharp teeth can be painful and relentless. But here's the truth: biting is completely normal puppy behaviour, not aggression. Understanding why puppies bite and how to redirect it properly is essential for raising a well-mannered adult dog.

Why Puppies Bite

1. Natural Exploration and Play

Puppies explore the world with their mouths. In litters, puppies play-bite constantly with their siblings. This is how they learn crucial social skills and develop bite inhibition.

2. Teething Discomfort

Between 3-7 months, puppies lose their baby teeth and adult teeth come in. This process is uncomfortable and creates a strong urge to chew on everything, including you.

3. Overstimulation and Tiredness

Overtired puppies become mouthy and lose impulse control. This is similar to how toddlers get cranky and difficult when they need a nap.

4. Attention-Seeking

If biting gets your attention (even negative attention like saying "ouch!" or pushing them away), puppies learn it's an effective strategy.

The Goal: Bite Inhibition, Not Elimination

Before we discuss stopping biting completely, there's a crucial developmental milestone: bite inhibition. This is your puppy's ability to control the pressure of their bite.

A dog with good bite inhibition is exponentially safer. Even if they bite as an adult (in fear, pain, or surprise), they're far less likely to cause serious injury. This is why we don't want to completely suppress all mouthing too early—we need them to learn gentle mouth pressure first.

Phase 1: Teaching Bite Inhibition (Weeks 8-12)

The Yelp Method

When your puppy bites too hard during play:

1. Give a high-pitched "OW!" or yelp (mimicking what a littermate would do)
2. Immediately stop play and go completely still
3. Turn away or stand up, removing your attention
4. Wait 10-15 seconds
5. Resume play if puppy has settled
6. Repeat every time they bite too hard

This teaches the puppy that hard bites make the fun stop. Over time, gradually yelp for softer and softer bites, progressively teaching gentler mouth pressure.

Timeout for Persistent Biting

If the yelp doesn't work or your puppy gets more excited:

1. Calmly stand up and walk away
2. Leave the room or put the puppy in a puppy-proofed area
3. Wait 30-60 seconds
4. Return and try again
5. If biting resumes immediately, repeat the timeout

This is not punishment—it's simply removing what the puppy wants (your attention and play) when they make poor choices.

Phase 2: Eliminating Biting on Skin (Weeks 12-16)

Once your puppy has learned to control bite pressure, it's time to teach them that teeth on human skin is never acceptable.

Redirection Strategy

Every time your puppy goes to mouth you:

1. Immediately redirect to an appropriate toy
2. Praise enthusiastically when they take the toy
3. Engage in play with the toy
4. Keep multiple toys easily accessible at all times

This teaches your puppy: "You can't chew on me, but you CAN chew on this." Always provide an acceptable alternative rather than just saying "no."

Appropriate Toys

Not all toys are equal for bite redirection:

**Best choices:**
- Rubber Kong toys (can be frozen with treats inside for teething)
- Rope tugs (for interactive play)
- Nylabone chew toys (appropriate size for your puppy)
- Frozen carrots or apple slices (natural teething relief)

**Avoid:**
- Old shoes, socks, or clothes (teaches that fabric items are toys)
- Anything that resembles objects you don't want chewed
- Toys that are easy to tear apart and swallow

Phase 3: Preventing Arousal Biting (Weeks 16-20)

Some puppies bite when they get overstimulated, excited, or frustrated. This requires a different approach.

Recognise Arousal Escalation

Watch for warning signs your puppy is getting too wound up:

- Faster, more frantic movement
- Ignoring redirection
- Jumping and grabbing at clothing
- Growling during play (not aggressive, but aroused)
- The infamous "zoomies" followed by biting

Manage Energy Levels

Prevention is easier than management:

**Mental stimulation:** Training sessions, puzzle feeders, sniffing games
**Physical exercise:** Age-appropriate walks and play (rule of thumb: 5 minutes per month of age, twice daily)
**Enforced naps:** Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep per day. Use a crate or playpen for scheduled rest times
**Calm activities:** Practice rewarding your puppy when they're lying down quietly

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Physical Punishment

Never hit, smack, or tap your puppy's nose. This can:

- Create fear and defensive aggression
- Damage the bond between you and your puppy
- Make them hand-shy
- Suppress the behaviour temporarily without teaching what TO do instead

2. Playing Too Rough

Encouraging rough-housing, wrestling with your hands, or letting your puppy "win" tug-of-war by pulling the toy away teaches that biting hands is part of play.

3. Inconsistency

If you sometimes allow puppy biting during play and other times punish it, your puppy will be confused. Everyone in the household needs to use the same approach consistently.

4. Forcing the "Alpha Roll"

Holding a puppy down on their back or grabbing them by the scruff is outdated, dangerous, and ineffective. It teaches fear, not respect.

Training Exercises to Reduce Biting

1. Hand-Targeting

Teach your puppy to touch your hand gently with their nose instead of biting:

1. Hold your palm flat near your puppy's nose
2. When they sniff or touch it with their nose, say "YES!" and treat
3. Add the cue "touch" once they're doing it reliably
4. Practice 5-10 times, several times per day

This creates a positive association with your hands and gives you an alternative behaviour to request when your puppy gets mouthy.

2. Impulse Control Games

Games that teach self-control reduce overall mouthing:

**"Wait" for meals:**
1. Hold your puppy's food bowl
2. If they jump or mouth, pull the bowl away
3. Wait for four paws on the ground and calm behaviour
4. Lower the bowl again
5. Repeat until you can place it down without chaos

**"Leave it" training:**
Teach your puppy to turn away from things they want. This builds the mental muscles to control their impulses.

3. Settle on a Mat

Teach your puppy that calm behaviour is rewarding:

1. Place a mat or bed in a quiet area
2. Lead your puppy to it
3. Reward any time they lie down on it
4. Gradually increase the duration before treating
5. Practice multiple times daily

This gives you a "default" behaviour to request when your puppy is getting too mouthy.

Auckland Context: Puppy Classes

Socialisation with other puppies is invaluable for learning bite inhibition. During puppy play, they learn from each other that biting too hard ends the fun.

Look for puppy classes in Auckland that:

- Group puppies by size and temperament
- Supervise play carefully
- Include training components, not just play
- Use positive reinforcement methods
- Have a low puppy-to-trainer ratio

Timeline: What to Expect

**Weeks 1-2 of training:** You may see little improvement. Stay consistent.

**Weeks 3-4:** You should notice softer bites and more responsiveness to redirection.

**Weeks 5-6:** Significant reduction in frequency and intensity of biting.

**4-6 months old:** Most puppies have substantially outgrown the biting phase with consistent training.

**7+ months:** Occasional mouthing may occur during excitement but should be easily redirected.

Remember: this is a normal developmental phase. With patience, consistency, and the right techniques, your puppy will learn that gentle mouth manners are the only acceptable option.

When to Seek Professional Help

Most puppy biting is normal and responds to training. However, seek professional help if:

- Your puppy is over 6 months and biting is getting worse, not better
- The biting is accompanied by stiff body language, hard stares, or growling that doesn't stop when play stops
- Your puppy guards resources (food, toys) with biting
- You feel genuinely afraid or unsafe
- The biting is causing injuries beyond surface scratches

Early intervention with a qualified trainer can prevent small problems from becoming big ones.