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Puppies’ mouths are filled with about 28 teeny-tiny razors that seem to be attracted to your fingers or toes. Dog trainers call it “play biting,” but it can be irksome and often painful when your cuddly puppy seems to be all teeth. However, this is completely normal for puppy teething and necessary for development, and something you can train away with a few simple steps.
Teach Your Puppy Bite Inhibition
Learning how to moderate the force of a bite is very important for all dogs. There may come a time when they’re in pain or fearful, and they put their mouth on you or someone else. But if they’ve learned bite inhibition, they understand that they shouldn’t bite down hard. Puppies naturally nip at each other while playing. If they bite too hard on their mother or littermate, the other dog will likely make a loud yelp sound, warning the puppy, “Hey, that hurt!”
Depending on the dog, you can teach this, as well, by making a high-pitched “ow!” sound if they bite you. Beware though, because, for some puppies, this actually gets them even more worked up and likely to bite. In this case, it is better to turn quietly around, walk away, or gently put the puppy into their crate for a few minutes to calm down. If they do back off, be sure to reward your dog with a treat and some verbal praise.
Teach Your Puppy That Biting Means ‘Game Over’
If your puppy bites you while playing, that means playtime is over, with no exceptions. As strange as it sounds, yelling at your puppy can also be a type of reward. It teaches them that biting gets some kind of response from you, which is known as positive punishment. This can also make them fearful of being handled. Instead, teach them that biting will get them nothing. Kathy Santo, dog trainer and columnist for AKC Family Dog, suggests turning around and tucking your hands into your armpits.
“It’s actually a calming signal and a minor form of attention withdrawal,” she says. “Be careful not to roughhouse with your young pup in ways that only encourage them to lose control and bite you.”
Give Your Puppy an Alternative Item To Chew
It’s a good idea to keep a puppy chew toy at hand at all times, so you can anticipate biting behavior and substitute the toy for your hand or furniture. Doing so will let puppies know what is OK to bite or chew. If they start nibbling at your fingers or toes while you’re playing, offer a toy instead.
Again, if they continue to nip, stop the play session immediately. If you’ve been training your puppy to sit, you might also redirect them by asking them to sit and rewarding with a toy.
Prevent the Pounce
If your puppy is pouncing on your legs or feet as you walk, a common playful puppy behavior, Santo recommends holding a high-value treat next to your leg as you walk, to help the puppy learn to walk nicely alongside you. This same tactic is used when teaching a puppy to walk on a leash.
Put Them in a Time-Out
Gently put your puppy in their crate to give them a chance to calm down and prevent them from biting. It’s very important to make sure that they don’t learn to associate the crate with punishment, so be calm. Once the puppy calms down, you can let them out.
Offer Quiet Time or a Potty Break
Sometimes a biting puppy is really an overtired puppy, and they need to be put in a quiet space or crate to take a nap. Other times, they may need a potty break or just be hungry or thirsty.
Help Use Up Some Energy
When the puppy keeps biting, even after you substitute a toy several times, they may just need to burn up some physical or mental energy. Take them in the yard and watch them run around.
Reinforce Behaviors You Desire
We sometimes forget that when our puppy is calm and quiet, we should reinforce that with a “good dog” or a piece of kibble or a pat. You’ll help them learn what behaviors you’re looking for through positive reinforcement.
Enroll in a Puppy Class
Enrolling in an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class or another well-run local class is a great way to provide your puppy with the chance to socialize with other dogs.
Teaching your puppy to be polite with their mouth may seem like a huge challenge at first, so patience and consistency are key. Some puppies may back off during one play session, and come at you teeth first in the next.
“Play biting does not mean your puppy is vicious,” says Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian for the AKC. “However, if you haven’t been able to moderate the behavior by the time they’re 6 months old, it’s a good idea to consult an experienced dog trainer or animal behavior specialist.”
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