How To Stop Puppy Biting: It Doesn’t Fix Itself!
Did you get a puppy or a land shark? Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you’re dealing with puppy biting and chewing all day every day!
But don’t worry, there’s good news! It won’t last forever as long as you teach your pup a few crutial things when it comes to biting.
In this article you’ll learn the fundamentals of puppy biting, bite inhibition, and how to get through the puppy biting and chewing stage!
Puppies are adorable, but their habit of biting can sometimes be annoying. It’s important to figure out why they do it and how to handle it properly. In the beginning you actually want your pup to bite you! Even though it might seem strange to let them bite, it’s actually a crucial step in teaching them good behavior and preventing future problems with aggression. Let’s dive into why puppies bite and how to teach them to have a soft mouth.
Understanding Why Puppies Bite
Puppies bite for several different reasons.
Exploring and learning about the world
Puppies explore their environment primarily through their mouths, much like human infants who use their hands to touch and grasp objects. This instinctual behavior is rooted in their biology. Since puppies don’t have hands, they rely on their mouths to investigate and interact with the world around them. It’s essential for puppy owners to understand that biting is a natural part of their pet’s development process, rather than a sign of aggression or disobedience.
Teething
When puppies are teething, their exploratory behavior intensifies as they seek relief from the discomfort of emerging teeth. Just as human babies experience discomfort and irritability during the teething process, puppies also go through a similar phase. Teething can be a painful experience for puppies, as their adult teeth begin to push through their gums, causing soreness and inflammation. To alleviate this discomfort, puppies instinctively chew on objects to massage their gums and help loosen the baby teeth. This behavior is not only natural but also necessary for their dental health. Providing appropriate chew toys during this stage can offer relief to your puppy and prevent them from resorting to inappropriate biting behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or shoes.
Social interaction
In a litter, puppies engage in rough-and-tumble play with their siblings as a means of socializing and learning important social skills. Through play, puppies learn to communicate with each other, establish boundaries, and develop bite inhibition—the ability to control the force of their bite. When puppies play together, they often engage in gentle mouthing and play biting, which helps them understand the limits of acceptable behavior. This interaction with littermates is crucial for teaching puppies how to moderate their bite strength and develop appropriate social behaviors. As puppies transition to their new homes, it’s essential for owners to continue this socialization process and reinforce positive play behaviors.
Teaching Bite Inhibition
The early weeks of a puppy’s life are critical for laying the foundation of proper behavior, including bite inhibition. Between 8 and 12 weeks of age, your puppy’s teeth are sharp and his jaws are weak. This is the appropriate time to teach your puppy to have a soft mouth through bite inhibition. By starting bite inhibition training during this developmental stage, owners can effectively teach their puppies appropriate biting behavior and prevent future issues.
How to allow controlled biting
- Encouraging gentle mouthing
First you’ll need to encourage your pup to bite your hands! When your puppy mouths on your hand or skin, allow them to do so gently without pulling away immediately. This mimics the interaction they would have with their littermates, where they learn to gauge their bite strength. By allowing gentle mouthing, you’re providing your puppy with valuable feedback on how much pressure is acceptable.
- Allowing bite pressure on hands
In addition to encouraging gentle mouthing, let your puppy to apply some pressure with their bite. This step is essential for teaching them the difference between a soft, gentle nip and a harder, more painful bite. However, it’s crucial to set limits and communicate when the pressure becomes too much, which leads to the next point.
- Reacting appropriately when bitten too hard (yelping or saying “ouch”)
When your puppy bites too hard, give them immediate feedback to help them understand that their behavior is unacceptable. Give a high-pitched yelp or say “ouch” in a firm but non-threatening tone to mimic the response of a littermate. This vocalization signals to your puppy that they’ve crossed a boundary and helps them learn to soften their bite. If your puppy responds by releasing their bite or showing signs of concern, such as backing off or licking, you’ve effectively communicated the message.
By allowing controlled biting and providing appropriate feedback, you can effectively teach your puppy bite inhibition and set the stage for future training success.
Note: We only allow puppies to bite our hands. Biting anywhere else is unaccaptable. If they bite anywhere other than hands, correct them by saying a firm “no” then turn away and completely stop the playtime for 10-20 seconds.
When Your Pup is “Extra Bitey”
Just like toddlers, puppies get cranky and whiney when they are sleepy.
If your puppy suddenly seems like they are biting excessively, out of control, and just won’t listen, then most likely it’s time for a nap! Now is a good time to place your puppy in their play pen or crate and let them settle down.
Refer to the Potty Training post to learn about puppy’s nap schedules!
Phasing Out Hand Biting
When to start transitioning
As your puppy begins to grasp the concept of bite inhibition and demonstrates improved control over their biting, it’s time to transition away from biting hands. These signs may include softer mouthing, decreased frequency of hard bites, and increased responsiveness to yelps or verbal cues. Additionally, your puppy may show a growing interest in chew toys and other appropriate objects for biting and chewing. Each puppy progresses at their own pace, but they should be ready to transition by 16 weeks of age.
Redirect to appropriate chew toys
Once you puppy understands bite inhibition, it’s time to transition to biting chew toys only.
To do this, you’ll begin to redirect your puppys biting to chew toys. Keep a few toys within arm’s reach during interactions with your puppy, so you can quickly substitute your hand or clothing for a chew toy. When your puppy attempts to bite your hand, calmly redirect them to a toy while providing positive reinforcement and encouragement. Use a cue such as “get your toy” any time they try to bite your hands.
Consistency is key during this phase of training. Whenever your puppy redirects their biting behavior towards toys, praise them enthusiastically and offer verbal or physical rewards. Reinforce the idea that chewing on toys is not only acceptable but also rewarding and enjoyable. Over time, your puppy will learn to associate toys with positive experiences and gradually decrease their reliance on biting hands for entertainment or relief.
Remember, consistency and positive reinforcement are essential in teaching your dog to refrain from biting hands altogether. Patience and ongoing training efforts will contribute to a well-mannered and bite-inhibited adult dog.