You’re starting a life-changing adventure full of ups and downs if you just got a puppy or are expecting one over the holiday season; especially during those vulnerable first few months.
If you’ve ever owned a puppy or spent a lot of time around one, you understand exactly what I mean. Snuggles on the couch, the first day home. Soft puppy kisses, a tiny wagging tail. In her first game of fetch, she hopped awkwardly after a ball. Barking and play-bowing to a puppy “twin” in the mirror. These are the qualities that unite us all to our new dog and inspire awe and love for the tiny, perfect being that is developing right before our very eyes.
Then, of course, there are the less enjoyable components of the package. These are also things that we’re all familiar with: cleaning up bathroom mishaps A pair of shoes destroyed. Midnight trips outside to use the restroom were chilly and rainy.
Puppy biting and mouthing, aside from housebreaking, is the behavior problem that causes new puppy owners to seek my advice the most. So this week, I wanted to take some time to explore this subject and hopefully offer some useful advice if you already live with a cute, furry set of teeth that are always biting.
So, why on earth do puppies behave in this manner, and is there anything we can do to prevent it?
Let’s tackle the most basic question first. The most crucial concept to grasp regarding puppy mouthing is that it is a wholly, entirely normal behavior.
I find that many puppy owners are surprised by this because they are used to viewing biting and mouthing as “behavior problems” that need to be resolved as soon as possible. The fact is, it’s not a behavior problem at all. All puppies do this. They should do this. They’re supposed to do this. Although it may annoy us, it’s a necessary stage of their development.
The only way your puppy knows how to interact with the world is to put her mouth on everything. Babies of all species are inquisitive and want to explore their surroundings; toddlers of all species, with the exception of humans, are no different. Your puppy picks things up with her mouth. She does this to feel them, determine whether they are suitable for chewing, examine the texture, and determine whether she can tear them into pieces for play.
She grabs things with her mouth, like your hands, sleeves, and pant legs. If you’ve ever seen a pack of puppies wrestling with each other, you know that using teeth is part of the game. This is how puppies instinctively want to play. In the whelping box, young pups frequently bite and chew on their littermates as part of their routine social interaction.
I keep mentioning this because I firmly believe it is crucial A puppy who bites your hands isn’t “bad” or flawed in any way; instead, she’s just acting in a way that is typical for a young dog of her species. This makes it your responsibility to control how you interact with her in order to prevent conflicts and to show her compassion and understanding as she develops.
And this naturally leads to the following clear question. Even if we realize that biting and mouthing are common puppy behaviors, they can still be very troublesome in a human home!
What can we do then, with a puppy in the house, to help keep our hands, clothes, and possessions intact?
Keep in mind that our objective is not to “stop” or “train away” this behavior as it will resolve on its own with age; fortunately, the answer is: plenty. Instead, we’re trying to figure out how to make everyone’s experience during this common developmental stage as painless and stress-free as possible.
Similar to having a toddler at home, having a new puppy is a lot of work. Before letting your dog out to explore, you should make some basic preparations, just like new parents are required to buy plastic plugs for their electrical outlets and install child safety locks on the bathroom cabinets.
Shoes, bags, purses, papers, and clothing items must always be kept off the ground and securely locked in a closet or placed on a shelf out of your puppy’s reach. Yes, it’s a pain. But you have to do it. No exceptions. Anything left within reach, even remotely interesting, will probably be destroyed. Therefore, keep in mind that it is your fault and not your dog’s if they destroy your favorite pair of sneakers. Consider yourself warned!.
You have two choices if your puppy has a penchant for baseboards, table legs, or other items that are difficult to put out of reach. First, you can prevent her from entering areas with these items by using a baby gate or other barrier. Alternately, spray surfaces she likes to chew on with bitter apple spray; it’s nontoxic but tastes awful, so she can learn on her own that chewing on table legs isn’t fun. Compared to reprimanding her for chewing on the furniture all the time, this is much less stressful for both of you.
Keep in mind that puppies have an instinctive, hard-wired need to bite and chew on things; if you don’t give your dog an appropriate outlet for this behavior, she’ll find one on her own!
There is always room for improvement in this one area, in my opinion. Even devoted dog owners who make an effort to do everything right might not be giving their dogs enough variety to keep them occupied. Or perhaps they have a ton of toys at home that they consider excellent chew toys, but their puppy doesn’t like them. Just like people, dogs have personal preferences when it comes to what they like, so it might take some trial and error to figure out what works for your dog.
If you have a favorite that I didn’t mention, feel free to add it to the comments! If you’re unsure where to get items like this for your puppy, I’ll also provide some links at the end of the post with information on where you can find them.
In all seriousness, with a puppy in the house, it can occasionally feel like this is a full-time job. When playing with your dog, you should always have a variety of toys on hand. No playing impromptu tug-of-war with your shirt sleeve or tease her with your hands or fingers; although this may seem cute for a split second, it’s not a habit we want to instill in her.
If your puppy bites your hands while you’re playing with her, grab one of her toys and use that to engage in play instead. What kind of toy you choose will entirely depend on how much fun your puppy has with it. I’d advise keeping a wide variety on hand, including long, floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush, squeaky toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing or fetching. Learn what makes her smile by trying out different ways tossing or twirling her toys as they move enticingly across the floor.
What about petting? If your puppy bites you while you’re petting or cuddling her, you should calmly stop petting her and ignore her until she stops biting. It’s perfectly acceptable if your puppy is particularly mouthy and bouncy that you can only pet her when she’s tired and in the mood for cuddles. Just be mindful of the fact that petting can be too stimulating for her at times, and wait until she’s ready.
I know, I know… it’s tempting. particularly when strangers at Petco, your coworkers, distant relatives, and your neighbors are constantly offering you “helpful tips” on how to stop your puppy from biting. You’ve probably heard the suggestions: pinch her tongue until it hurts, keep her mouth shut, smack her in the face with water, and so on. The list goes on.
I know that these suggestions are well-intentioned. However, none of them are necessary, and they can all have negative long-term effects.
The problem with punishment in this situation is twofold. First off, it has no effect on your puppy’s ability to understand what to do with her mouth. She was born with an instinctive need to put her mouth on something, all the time. Keep in mind that this drive to bite and chew on things is deeply hard-wired in young puppies. No more than she could stop eating, breathing, or using the restroom, she is unable to simply “stop it.” Redirect her attention to something more appropriate rather than correcting her for this perfectly normal impulse.
Second, and equally crucial, punishing your puppy in this manner can have long-lasting behavioral effects once she is an adult. There will be numerous occasions throughout your dog’s life when you must place your hands close to her face or your fingers inside her mouth. If she picks up a chicken bone from the trash, you’ll need to check her teeth, give her medication, and occasionally even take things out of her mouth.
If your puppy learns that having hands around her mouth hurts or terrifies her, she will find it much harder as she gets older. Don’t do anything to undermine this trust because she needs to feel secure whenever you touch her or reach for her face.
Even though it may seem like it takes a lifetime, most puppies stop biting and mouthing by the time they are 8 to 10 months old, and mature adult dogs (those who are older than 2-3 years) hardly ever do so. Your particular puppy may grow out of this phase a little earlier or a little later than average because, like everything else, there is some individual variation.
However, the most crucial thing to keep in mind is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As such, be persistent and patient while also reminding yourself that things will get better.
Links to some of the chewy snacks and puzzle toys I previously mentioned are provided below. If you don’t need this information, feel free to skip it!
The best online retailer I’ve found for cow, pig, and rawhide chews is Raw Feeding Miami. Their products are high-quality, all-natural, and processed without the use of chemicals or artificial ingredients. Because they produce things in small batches, they frequently run out of certain items, but if you check back in a week or so, they always get them back in.
I also order the majority of these items online because it seems to be difficult for me to find food puzzle toys in my area’s pet stores. Almost all of them are available on Amazon, but you can also order them from Petco, Petsmart, or online stores like dog.com. com.
Twist-n-Treats – these are a great alternative to a Kong. Similar concept, but a lot simpler to clean because the toy can be completely disassembled and put in the dishwasher. My favorite refillable crate toy for puppies.
Everlasting Treat Ball – a really good long-lasting chew toy. It basically consists of a hard, flavorful treat in the form of a disc that is adhered to a tough rubber casing. Although the treat is difficult to eat, it is still tasty enough to keep most puppies interested. To add variety and keep things interesting, you can also purchase refills in a variety of flavors.
The Kibble Nibble and Tug-a-Jug are two ways of feeding an entire meal out of a puzzle toy; they’re made to put your puppy’s breakfast or dinner inside, so she has to expend some time and mental energy working to get each piece of kibble out, rather than just gulping everything from a bowl in 30 seconds flat. I’m a big fan of these as well. You have to feed your puppy anyway, so why not take advantage of the chance to occupy her for a little while?
The Kibble Nibble, which resembles an egg-shaped hollow ball with a tiny hole at each end, is the simple, “beginner” variation. The kibble will gradually fall out as you roll the toy around.
The Tug-a-Jug is my favorite “advanced” option for dogs who get bored with simpler toys but may be a little challenging if your puppy doesn’t have much experience with puzzle toys. If you have a smart puppy who enjoys solving problems, it’s a lot more fun to watch when they figure out how to get the kibble out.
Those sharp little teeth hurt! What to know about your biting puppy
When puppies play together, biting and nipping are all in good fun, as anyone who has ever witnessed this can attest. Growing puppies learn about their environment through chewing and biting, which also soothes teething gums. However, while mouthing on your hand might have amused you when your infant was a ball of fluff, as he gets older, it’s no laughing matter. Those razor-sharp puppy teeth can really hurt. When do puppies stop biting, you may wonder if you’re sick of dealing with painful bruises and broken skin.
Do puppies grow out of biting and nipping?
While your puppy may stop chewing everything in sight once teething is over (which can take anywhere between four and six months), they don’t necessarily grow out of biting. A puppy will cling to your skin more frequently the more you tolerate it. It’s your responsibility as a responsible pet owner to train your dog appropriate behavior.
An Important Caveat:
Some puppies find a person walking away to be reassuring. You can also use the side of your leg (not your knee, please!) as a “wall,” blocking your puppy’s advances and gently removing them from biting you without using your hands if your puppy seems to enjoy you removing yourself as part of a game of chase.
Most importantly, continue to refrain from yelling or using your hands because bitey puppies often find both of these things to be very exciting. You may have to block them several times before they stop trying; don’t give up!
FAQ
Will my puppy ever stop biting me?
Even though it may seem like it takes a lifetime, most puppies stop biting and mouthing by the time they are 8 to 10 months old, and mature adult dogs (those who are older than 2-3 years) hardly ever do so.
Do puppies grow out of aggressive biting?
Be aware that even if you follow all the right procedures, this behavior might not end completely for another 5 to 6 months. Remember, this is a normal developmental period in puppies. This blog will help provide you with some additional advice and suggestions for puppies who are particularly biting or those who begin biting after 5 to 6 months of age.
How do u train a puppy not to bite?
Give a loud yelp as soon as your puppy’s teeth make contact with you. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. Leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds if your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you.
How do I get my puppy to stop biting my hands and feet?
Give a sharp “no” and replace yourself with the tug toy or chew toy if your puppy starts biting you. Say “yes” after your dog plays with the toy, and then give them more praise. Stopping puppy biting can be achieved by teaching your dog to tug. Just keep in mind that changing these behaviors can take a lot of effort and time.