You’ve brought your new pup home, and you’re giving them those belly rubs they love so much. Then out of nowhere, “Ouch!” — those sharp puppy teeth are digging into your hand. Your puppy doesn’t seem mad at you, so why did they bite and what are some ways that you can stop Puppy from biting you again?
Is Your Puppy Biting Because They’re Teething?
One of the reasons that puppies bite is because they’re teething. Much like human babies, puppies can experience painful teething, so chewing on something can help them feel better. Most pups have their permanent adult teeth by seven months of age. So if your puppy is less than seven months old and you notice that they’re drooling more than usual, have red and swollen gums or are missing teeth, they’re probably teething.
You can help your puppy with teething by giving them puppy-safe chew toys and treats. You should also remove anything you don’t want chewed (e.g., your new shoes) or that could be dangerous for them to chew (e.g., electrical cords).
Why Does My Puppy Keep Biting Me?
Another reason your puppy bites your moving hand is due to their ancestral origins. Puppies are natural born predators so when they see something moving, their instinct is to pounce on it and bite. In this case, your hands are the “prey” and your puppy’s biting behavior is releasing some of their playful energy by tapping into those instincts.
Puppy Bites Can Be a Form of Communication
If you watch a group of pups playing, they’re usually wrestling, biting and growling at each other. Roughhousing is just how pups have fun; it’s a normal play behavior. So your puppy nipping you during playtime could happen because they see you as a playmate and they want to wrestle with you, too.
However, another thing you’ll notice when pups play in a group is that when things get too rowdy, they will yelp or walk away from the playtime. If you don’t notice this social cue when you’re playing with your pup, a little puppy nip may be their way of communicating to you, “I’m done.”
Puppy Bites Are Usually a Phase
The good news is that puppy bites are rarely a sign of aggression; they’re not biting your fingers to be mean to you. It’s just a developmental phase that most pups go through. But there are few things you can do to nip puppy bites in the bud.
How to Stop Puppy Biting Behavior
If your puppy starts biting you, turn their attention to something else, like a toy, and reinforce good behaviors with lots of pets and praise. You could also walk away and ignore them for a minute, like they would do with their puppy friends if things were getting too rough. This will help teach your puppy that biting is unacceptable.
If the play session has escalated and your puppy is in hyperdrive when the biting starts, you may need to put them in “time out” for a few minutes. Time out in this case is a safe, quiet place where your puppy can stay until they have calmed down. Once they are calm, let them out and give them lots of pets and praise for showing good behaviors. This will help teach your puppy that biting means playtime will end.
Puppy Bite Inhibition Is Important
When pups play with each other, they use their mouths and teeth a lot. So it’s important that they learn to inhibit bites or other mouthing behaviors so they don’t hurt other dogs. Puppies learn bite inhibition from their littermates, their parents, other dogs and us.
Typically if puppies nip too hard during play, the other puppies or adult dogs will yelp and stop play. If the instigator doesn’t comply with the break in play, a fight may break out, which is why it’s important that puppies have been socialized and have learned bite inhibition early on, and why all dogs should be supervised during playtime to make sure everyone is behaving themselves.
Avoid Physical Punishment for Puppy Nipping and Play Biting
All dog owners should avoid physical punishment if their puppies start to bite. Using a muzzle, holding their mouth shut or pinning them could lead to fear and aggression. If rough play is encouraging their biting, you should find a different way to play with your puppy.
Help! My Puppy Keeps Biting Me Aggressively
Consult your veterinarian if your puppy is showing signs of aggression, such as consistently breaking your skin, stiffening up and staring at you before biting, or becoming aggressive around new people. Your vet can provide advice on how to manage your pup’s aggressive biting and can give you a list of trusted trainers. They may recommend consulting a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
Puppy Biting FAQs
Why Do Puppies Bite?
Common reasons that puppies bite include teething, rowdy play and — rarely — aggression.
When Do Puppies Stop Biting?
Puppies usually grow out of the puppy biting phase at around eight to ten months of age.
Can My Puppy Learn Not to Bite?
Yes, depending on why your puppy is biting, there are different methods you can use to teach them more appropriate behavior. However, if your puppy is showing signs of aggression, you should consult your veterinarian.
Most puppies explore with their mouths and will go through a biting phase. Biting is a normal behavior for puppies — unless it stems from aggression. Aggressive biting needs to be addressed so it doesn’t continue into adulthood. And remember that while those cute puppy nips don’t cause you much pain now, they may when your dog gets older. So correct the behavior now!
