If you’ve ever had a new puppy, you know that there’s a phase where they start biting everything and everyone. The puppy teething process is natural, and munching on something can help your adult dog develop adult teeth and learn good behavior during rough play.
The problem is when they try to use your finger as a teething toy during a play session or try to play a tug of war with something other than their appropriate chew toy. In this article, you’ll learn how to give your dog the positive reinforcement he needs to curb his negative puppy behavior and grow his baby teeth healthily without developing a taste for human skin.
How to stop biting your puppy
Start as young as possible
You should start training your puppy as early as possible so that he can get used to the process. A puppy’s biting behavior will be more easily conditioned if its owners begin as soon as they have a biter in their midst.
Ignore them and walk away
Puppies bite to get your attention, so it’s important to ignore them and walk away when they bite you. This will teach them about bite inhibition and that this is not an effective strategy to get the dog owner to engage in puppy play. Remember that puppies view most interactions as play; if you don’t participate, they will soon stop.
Complaining when it hurts
It might seem silly, but dramatically showing the pain you feel when your dog bites will help him understand that he’s hurting you. This is how older dogs keep their young playmates from biting them too hard. Yelling helps teach bite inhibition to your new pet and will help develop good socialization skills.
Avoid punishment
Closing your puppy’s mouth or condemning him to the crate for a break won’t help him stop biting. Crate training should never be used as punishment and can cause separation anxiety in your dog. Likewise, your puppy will interpret your mouth grabbing as just part of playtime.
Use chew toys
Use a chew toy to prevent your puppy from biting you. Tug toys are a great tool for training your puppy; your dog will appreciate them and they will help his teeth develop better.
Consider a dog trainer
If all else fails or you want a safe bet, consider enrolling your dog in some puppy classes with a professional dog trainer.
How to Stop a Puppy from Biting Frequently Asked Questions
At what age does a puppy stop biting?
Why does my puppy bite me?
Puppies use biting, biting and nipping as a form of play to create bonds between littermates. Biting also helps puppies develop their teeth. It is a natural part of your dog’s development and should be treated as such.
Will bite training interfere with potty or crate training?
No. Bite, potty, and crate training are all part of the process of developing and socializing a puppy into a new environment and can be taught at the same time.
Money’s summary on how to stop a puppy from biting
Puppy owners who face the common problem of biting during the teething stage should know the importance of early intervention and positive reinforcement. Begin the teeth training process as early as possible to establish appropriate behavior. Strategies include ignoring the behavior, vocalizing the pain, and using chew toys to redirect the tendency to bite. We discourage punitive measures and suggest seeking professional guidance if necessary.