The Bitey Puppy
Probably the most common question I get asked by new puppy guardians is how to stop the biting. With puppy biting two things are true 1) it is a normal puppy behaviour and 2) it can be incredibly exasperating. In this article I’ll summarise the common reasons biting occurs and provide strategies for dealing with it. Before you get too excited however there is no magic answer that will stop your puppy biting but there are ways to survive and thrive as your puppy moves through this stage in their development.
What is normal puppy biting
Many owners are sure their puppy is biting inappropriately, more intensely or more frequently than they should. Definitely way more than they expected. Use of their mouth is a normal stage in puppy development which intensifies around 10-12 weeks and often starts to fade around four months. So a puppy that explores objects with their mouth, bites at your hands or clothing, uses their mouth in play is developmentally appropriate. There are however behaviours you want to look out for that may suggest your puppy’s biting is not normal:
Body stiffening, tensing of muscles, freezing before the biting
Growling, baring teeth, snarling associated with the biting
These behaviours may happen around objects or food items, in response to handling or restraint or in the presence of children or new people.
If you are seeing these behaviours accompanying biting or are concerned that biting seems more intense around the situations listed or indeed if you are just not sure whether your puppy’s biting is normal, please do reach out to a force free dog trainer for help.
Why does my puppy bite me?
Biting is a social behaviour, a form of communication and when you think about it from this angle the common scenarios below make more sense.
Chewing on you can be a self soothing behaviour and also enjoyable for the puppy, although understandably not for you.
Puppies will often mouth and bite more frantically to make things stop that they are not tolerating well. This may be brushing, lead attachment, pats and cuddles and general body handling.
Puppies bite more when overtired or over stimulated. The biting may seem to come out of nowhere and appear to be random attacks.
Management is key
When it comes to puppy biting management will help set your puppy and your family up for success. Your goal should be preventing the behaviour happening inappropriately, rather than trying to stop it once it has started. This is applicable to any dog behaviour we want to see less of, preventing your dog from practicing it in the first place is key to changing the behaviour.
Management of Space
A puppy that is safely confined in a crate, play pen or behind baby gates cannot run after you and grab and bite. Barriers allow you to practice appropriate greetings and interactions without being mobbed by your puppy. They are particularly useful when there are children in the house, keeping both puppy and child separated by a barrier helps to keep them on friendly terms.
Management of arousal levels
Puppies get very excited, very quickly. Playing lots of high energy games or playing for too long can lead to an over excited over stimulated puppy who will bite more intensely.
Management of tiredness
Puppies need a lot of sleep and we’re talking 18/20 hours a day. The frustrating thing is they wont necessarily take the opportunities themselves to get this sleep particularly in a busy household. It is up to you as their guardian to provide the space and environment that encourages sleep.
Strategies to try
set up a puppy safe space in your home, fully puppy proofed with a bed area, toys that your puppy can safely play with when direct supervision is not possible.
Keep play sessions short and relatively low energy. Playing in short bursts of 10/5 seconds separated with calm will mean your puppy doesn’t get over excited. Start a game, then encourage calm perhaps with a food scatter or asking for calm behaviours you have taught them like sit. You can start playing again when your puppy is calm.
Help your puppy wind down after periods of high activity with a chewing, licking or sniffing project
Minimise the amount of direct handling of your puppy. If you want to pat and cuddle, keep hand contact to three seconds, remove your hand and give your puppy the opportunity to ask for more if they want it.
If you are handling your puppy and they are trying to bite, stop the interaction don’t persevere the biting will likely get worse.
If handling is unavoidable for lead attachment, brushing etc then keep the bitey end busy with a chew, lick mat or treat scatter.
Children need to be taught to stop and stand still while calmly calling for help from a parent, the more animated and loud they get the more excited a puppy will get.
Provide lots of appropriate chew opportunities throughout the day in the form of toys and edible chews.
Establishing a sleep, eat play, rest routine can help ensure your puppy is getting enough sleep. Set them up with a quiet area to sleep and settle them there regularly to teach them to take downtime.
Useful resources
For more of a deep dive into the why’s of puppy biting and implementing the strategies above the article ‘Puppies Bite. Deal with it. by AniEd Ireland is worth a read.
If your a visual learner this video on puppy biting by Train Me Please will help normalise your puppy’s biting and help you deal with it.
Conclusion
Puppy biting, although frustrating at times, is a natural phase in a young dog's life. Understanding the reasons behind this behaviour can help puppy parents manage and redirect it effectively. With patience and consistency you can guide your puppy towards gentle play and appropriate interactions, setting the foundation for a well-behaved and well-adjusted adult dog.
