How To Stop Your Puppy From Biting You

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting and joyful experience for both you and your puppy. However, as we know, puppyhood comes with its challenges and a lot of training. One of the more common issues that most puppy owners encounter is that puppies will bite them.

Puppies, like dogs, will bite for many reasons. However, when a puppy bites you, their tiny, sharp puppy teeth can hurt you and while biting is a natural part of a puppy’s development, it’s important to teach them to stop biting early on. 

Left unchecked, puppy biting can become problematic as your puppy grows into adulthood.  Let’s take a look at why puppies bite in the first place and how you can gently guide them to stop.

Why Do Puppies Bite?

Before we get into how to stop the biting, it’s important to understand why puppies do it in the first place.

Biting is a natural behavior for puppies and is typically driven by several factors:

Teething:

Puppies, like human babies, go through a teething phase. Their gums may feel uncomfortable as their new teeth come in which causes them to chew on anything, including your hands.

Exploration:

Puppies use their mouths to explore the world. Since they don’t have hands like humans, they tend to "feel" things with their mouths, leading to playful nipping.

Normal Play:

In a litter, puppies bite and nip each other during play. This behavior helps them learn boundaries from their siblings when one yelps, signaling that the bite was too hard.

Attention-seeking:

Puppies may nip you as a way to get your attention, especially if they notice that biting leads to interaction, even if it’s a negative response. They just want to be noticed! In most instances, your puppy isn’t acting aggressively, but simply going through a natural developmental phase.

How to Stop a Puppy from Biting You

Teach Your Puppies Bite Inhibition

Puppies learn bite inhibition from their littermates and mother, but if you’ve adopted your puppy early in their life, you need to help teach them. When your puppy bites too hard, let out a sharp, high-pitched "ouch" or "yelp."  This sound mimics the sounds their siblings/littermates would make when bitten too hard.

After you yelp, stop interacting with your puppy, standing still or even turning away for a few moments. This teaches them that biting results in an end to playtime.

Redirect Their Attention

One of the most effective strategies to stop the puppy biting is to redirect your puppy’s biting to appropriate objects like chew toys. Puppies bite because they’re teething or exploring, so always keep a variety of toys handy.

When your puppy bites you, gently remove your hand and offer them a toy instead. Praise and reward them for chewing on the toy. This positive reinforcement helps them learn that toys are for biting—not your hands, feet, or furniture.

Encourage Gentle Play

Roughhousing with a puppy, even if playful, can encourage more biting. It is important to be mindful of the way you interact with your puppy during play. Use soft, gentle movements rather than quick, jerky actions that can stimulate their natural prey instincts. The best games for puppies are ones like fetch or tug-of-war (with rules in place), which keep their mouths busy in a productive way.

Provide Enough Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Sometimes puppies will bite you out of boredom or excess energy. Make sure that puppy is getting enough physical exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. A tired puppy is less likely to engage in unwanted behaviors like biting. Activities like short walks, puzzle toys, and interactive play sessions can help burn off energy.

Avoid Punishment or Yelling

It is very important to avoid punishing or yelling when your puppy bites. Puppies don’t understand punishment in the same way adult dogs do, and it can lead to confusion, fear, and even aggression if not handled carefully.

Positive Reinforcement

When your puppy stops biting you and bites a toy or something that he should, make sure to praise your puppy. Positive reinforcement and redirection are key to getting your puppy t stop biting you.

Make Sure to Be Patient and Consistent

Training a puppy takes time, and biting won’t stop overnight. Be consistent in your approach. If you yelp and stop playing one time but allow the biting to continue the next, it sends mixed signals. Every family member or housemate should follow the same rules and responses to biting, so your puppy receives a clear message.

Consider Puppy Classes

If you’re finding it difficult to curb your puppy’s biting, consider enrolling in a puppy obedience class. Professional trainers can provide additional tools and techniques, and it gives your puppy the opportunity to socialize with other dogs, which is key in their development. 

And these training classes will also help to train you the best way to interact with your puppy.

Final Thoughts

Puppy biting is a natural part of growing up, but with the right approach, you can teach your furry friend to play gently. Remember to be patient and consistent, using redirection and positive reinforcement.  Have plenty of chew toys around for your puppy to bite and never yell at your puppy.

Before you know it, your puppy will have outgrown the biting phase, and you’ll have a well-mannered dog who knows how to interact with humans appropriately. Wouldn’t that be a relief!