A big part of raising a dog is teaching them what behaviour is appropriate and what’s inappropriate. And one of your first challenges will be to help them learn what they can and can’t chew on. To make your job easier, in this post we’re showing you how to get your puppy to stop biting things they shouldn’t. With these tactics, playtime will become tooth-free in no time!
Understanding why puppies bite
To know how to get your puppy to stop biting, it’s helpful to first look at why they do it. It’s easy to think of puppy biting as aggressive behaviour, but in almost all cases, it’s not. It’s play and exploration. Puppies discover the world through their mouths, and biting is also part of how they socialise. So, nibbling on you, your clothes, the furniture, their toys, and other pups is all normal behaviour for young dogs!(1)
In addition, like human infants, puppies go through a teething period. This is usually when they’re between three and seven months old. Their gums may feel sore as their baby teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow in, causing them to chew more.
If it’s natural behaviour, why do I need to know how to get my puppy to stop biting? Well, nibbling at your fingers might seem cute at first, but your pooch’s teeth are sharp as needles. Eventually it’s going to hurt! Likewise, if you allow them to gnaw on some household items, they’re going to destroy something important before long.
You need to establish boundaries early so that your pet learns what biting behaviour is appropriate and what isn’t. This helps you avoid it escalating into potentially dangerous and destructive behaviour when they grow up. Luckily, there are plenty of simple and effective techniques you can employ to stop puppy biting behaviour while they’re young.
How to stop a puppy from biting
If you’ve been frantically googling ‘how to get my puppy to stop biting’, don’t panic! The following advice should help. The best method will depend on factors like your pooch’s personality and the reason why they’re nipping and chewing. Because of this, you might find it useful to keep track of things that trigger their biting behaviour.
Using a combination of some or all of the tactics below should give you the highest chance of success:
Interrupt playtime when they bite
When thinking about how to stop puppy biting behaviour, you have to start with playtime. Play is one of the most common reasons puppies nip us, and how you react can teach them bite inhibition. This is where they learn to moderate the strength of their bite, so they don’t hurt people or other animals. And the way you do it is very similar to how their mum and littermates would.
If your dog bites you during playtime, yelp or say ‘ouch!’ loudly and pause the game. This mimics how their brothers or sisters would react if your pooch bit them too hard. Ideally, the noise and interruption of their playtime will make your pet stop biting you. If it does, praise them and offer them cuddles and/or a treat. You can then resume the game. Repeat this every time they nip you, and they should learn that biting leads to the end of the fun.
Remember not to yelp or shout too loudly when you do this. You’re not trying to scare your dog, just show them that biting hurts you. Another point to bear in mind is that some animals see any response as positive attention. If this applies to your pooch, when they bite, pause the game by turning around or walking away instead.
Try a time-out
As all pup parents know, these little bundles of fur can be very excitable! You may be wondering how to get your puppy to stop biting when they’re hyperactive and not listening to you. If halting playtime doesn’t end their attempts to bite you, you might need to give them a time-out. Either put them in a different room for thirty seconds or calmly leave the room yourself for thirty seconds. If this isn’t enough to calm them down, try extending the time-out to a minute. Don’t make it too long, because lengthy time-outs can lead to stress and frustration. It will probably also prevent them from associating it with their biting behaviour.
Another possibility is that your pet is nipping at you because they’re overtired. Depending on their age and activity levels, puppies need to sleep anywhere between twelve and twenty hours a day. Ensuring they have enough naptime should help stop puppy biting behaviour and enable them to learn more from your training.
Redirect puppy biting behaviour
Your dog biting things isn’t inherently bad behaviour – it all depends on what they’re chewing. The real question is how to get your puppy to stop biting you (or your clothes, or your furniture). And one effective option is to redirect unwanted puppy biting behaviour to acceptable puppy biting behaviour. For example, if your pet nips your hand while playing, calmly transfer them onto a toy instead. When they start biting the toy, offer them cuddles and praise. This helps them learn which things are ok to chomp, and which things aren’t.
It’s important not to play games that involve your pooch pouncing on or biting your hands or feet. Doing so may confuse them, as you’re sending mixed messages about what is and isn’t appropriate to chew. Instead, try games like fetch and tug-of-war, where they can bite things to their heart’s content! These activities are also a wonderful chance for you and your pet to bond.
Offering your dog a chew toy is another great way to provide them with an outlet for their natural biting behaviour. Be careful to pick one that’s suitable for their age and size, and doesn’t have any choking hazards.
If your furry friend is teething, you could offer them a frozen chew to help soothe their sore gums. For example, pop a carrot in the freezer or try the washcloth remedy. This is where you soak a clean washcloth in water, wring it out, tie a knot in it, and freeze it for your mutt to gnaw on.
Reward positive behaviour
Positive reinforcement is a common thread running through all these tactics for how to stop a puppy from biting. Basically, you’re rewarding your pet for doing the right thing. Not only is this more ethical than punishing them for doing the wrong thing, it’s also far more effective.(2) Depending on what motivates your pooch, you might find praise, cuddles, or food work best as a reward.
Along similar lines, you want to make sure that your puppy associates your hands with positive feelings. This helps them learn that they’re not chew toys! To do so, always be gentle and caring when touching your dog. Meanwhile, if there’s something that your pooch can’t resist chewing, try to remove it from their vicinity until they’ve learned to control themselves!
Make sure your puppy gets rest, exercise, and good food
We mentioned that regular naptimes are important for preventing puppy biting behaviour caused by your dog being overtired. In the same vein, giving your pooch consistent and healthy meals is also key. Just like us humans, our mutts can become irritable when they’re hungry. This may then make them more likely to bite.
And the same is true if your pup is bored. This is one reason why we pet parents need to ensure our fur babies have plenty of exercise every day. That includes not only physical exercise like walkies, but mental stimulation too. From puzzle toys and feeders to games like hide-and-seek and fetch, there are tons of fun options to keep them occupied. With any luck, you won’t have to search ‘how to get my puppy to stop biting’ ever again!
What not to do when trying to stop puppy biting
Knowing how to get your puppy to stop biting isn’t only about doing the right thing. It’s also about not doing the wrong thing. For example:
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Don’t shout at, hit, or punish your dog for biting. This will scare them and cause them to lose trust in you, damaging your bond and making training more difficult.
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Never encourage your pooch to bite or chew people during play, as it sends mixed messages.
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Don’t react with excited noises if your pup bites you, as they may take this as a sign to continue.
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Avoid rough play with your mutt – it will encourage them to respond in the same way!
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Don’t try to prevent your dog from chewing completely. It’s a natural and safe behaviour that they need an outlet for. Redirect it to suitable toys instead.
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Try not to leave things on the floor if you don’t want them chewed. It’s hard for puppies to resist the temptation, especially when they don’t yet know what they’re allowed to bite!
When do puppies stop biting?
If your puppy is chewing things because they’re teething, the behaviour should taper off when they’re around seven months old. The exact age will depend on factors like their breed, but this is usually when all their adult teeth have come in.
However, if your dog is biting for other reasons, you’ll need to train them out of it. The behaviour might persist indefinitely if they don’t learn that it’s not acceptable or if they think it gets them what they want. That’s why it’s important to implement the techniques for how to stop a puppy from biting that we’ve discussed above.
When to seek professional help for puppy biting behaviour
If you’ve tried all these ideas for how to get your puppy to stop biting but with no success, it might be time to consult an expert. For example, taking your pooch to socialisation classes can help them learn bite inhibition by playing with other dogs.
It’s also important to seek professional advice if your pooch’s behaviour becomes aggressive or fearful. Signs to look out for include growling, snarling, or becoming defensive over toys or food. Likewise, if the biting is getting worse or causing injuries, it’s time to enlist some help.
First, take your mutt to the vet to rule out any potential medical issues. (You might also want to do this if your pooch doesn’t exhibit any biting or chewing behaviours at all.) If they’re given a clean bill of health, speak to a dog behaviour specialist for personalised advice on how to get your puppy to stop biting.
Finally, if your puppy is in pain due to teething, take them to the vet for a checkup.
How to stop an adult dog from biting
Stopping biting behaviour in an adult dog may be trickier than in puppies, but isn’t impossible. If your grown-up pup is biting as part of play, you can use the same techniques discussed above. Sometimes our canine companions bite because of stress or anxiety. In this case, try setting up a safe and quiet space for your pooch to retreat to. You could also consider giving them a supplement like our organic ashwagandha powder.(3) However, if your dog is biting due to fear or aggression, it’s best to consult a professional for help.
Final thoughts on how to get your puppy to stop biting
Chewing and biting things (including us!) is natural for our puppies as they play and explore the world. Your role as a pet parent is to train them to understand what they can and can’t gnaw on. The best way to do this is to pause playtime when they bite and redirect them to a chew toy. You can reinforce the lesson by rewarding them for doing the right thing and giving them a time-out when necessary. It’s also important to ensure they get enough rest, nutritious food, and plenty of mental and physical exercise.
And finally, be patient with your pup and use this opportunity to bond with them. They’re still young and trying their best to learn how the world works!
