Training Puppies to Not Bite

Why Puppies Bite

It's natural for puppies under the age of 6 or 7 months to bite, especially when playing. A group of puppies will chase and nip each other in play, and will playfully nip at people the same way. Biting and chewing is also how puppies explore their world. Just like a human baby who puts everything into his mouth, your pup is finding out what's good to eat and chew by mouthing it. And, like human babies, puppies tend to bite and chew more when they are teething. Puppy teeth are in by 12 weeks of age, and adult teeth begin to grow in between 4 and 7 months.

Play Gently

Discourage rough and wild behavior in your pup. Wrestling, tug o' war, and chasing games encourage your puppy to bite. Instead, pet your puppy gently, throw a ball for it to chase, and teach it some basic commands like "sit," "down" and "come."

Be Consistent

Puppy teeth are sharp and can puncture skin and tear clothing. There are several methods you can use to teach your puppy not to bite. Whatever method you choose, be consistent. Use that method every time your pup bites and have others who have contact with your pup do the same.

Say "No" or "Ouch"

If your puppy bites or mouths you, firmly say "no" "ouch" or "no bite" and slowly remove your hand or whatever it's biting. Quickly jerking your hand away will stimulate your pup to grab and clamp down on your hand. Usually, saying "no" or "ouch" is enough. If it isn't, try gently pushing your hand toward your pup's mouth rather than pulling away. This is unpleasant and will make it open its mouth wider to reject your hand.

Redirect

After your puppy has let go and stopped biting, redirect its behavior by giving it a toy to chew on. When it takes the toy, praise and pet it.

Use a Deterrent

If redirecting your pup's behavior doesn't work, you can try applying a bad-tasting nontoxic substance to your hands and clothes. When your puppy bites, it gets an unpleasant flavor, which might dissuade it from biting again. Pet stores and some veterinarians carry harmless, but unpleasant tasting, sprays and liquids intended to stop unwanted chewing.

Praise

Give your pup lots of positive attention, and praise it when it isn't biting. Your puppy wants to please, and it'll soon learn that you want it to play nicely.

Aggression

If these measures don't curb your pup's biting, or you find that its biting is getting out of control, you may have a problem with a dominant or aggressive dog. Get advice from your veterinarian or a professional dog trainer while your pup is still young. An aggressive puppy can grow into a dangerous dog, and you should apply appropriate training methods early to avoid this.