Puppy Biting and Nipping: What Is Normal

Puppies play, chew, and explore the world with their mouths. That is normal.

Puppies have needle-sharp teeth. When they play, they bite, chew, and mouth people’s hands, arms, legs, and clothing.

It may seem cute when a puppy is seven weeks old. It is not so cute at three or four months old, when the puppy is getting bigger.

Mouthing in play is a normal part of being a puppy. You do not need to stop all play. You need to teach your puppy to be gentle.

You teach this in two steps:

1. First, teach your puppy that people have very sensitive skin, so he must be gentle with his mouth.
2. The end goal is that he does not mouth or bite people at all.

What is bite inhibition?

Bite inhibition is a dog’s ability to control how hard he uses his mouth.

Puppies learn this from each other. When one puppy bites too hard, the puppy who was bitten yelps and stops playing. The biter learns: if I bite softer, the play can keep going.

You can teach your puppy the same lesson, in the same way. The next part shows you how.

1. Let your puppy mouth your hands while you play.
2. When he bites especially hard, right away give a high-pitched yelp, like you are hurt. Let your hand go limp.
3. Praise him when he stops, or when he licks your hand.
4. Start playing again.
5. Repeat this no more than 3 times in 15 minutes.

If the yelp does not work

If yelping has no effect, say “Too bad!” or “You blew it!” in a stern voice instead.

Make it harder, a little at a time

Over time, yelp for bites that are only moderately hard. Then yelp for the next-hardest bites. Keep going until your puppy plays very gently.

Use a time-out if yelping alone does not work.

1. When your puppy gives a hard bite, yelp loudly.
2. When he startles, take your hand away.
3. Ignore him for 10 to 20 seconds. Or get up and move away from him for 10 to 20 seconds.
4. Come back and play again.

The lesson is simple: gentle play continues. Painful play stops.

Later on: teeth on skin means a time-out, every time

When your puppy is ready for the next stage, give a time-out every time his teeth touch skin:

1. Yelp, then walk away.
2. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds.
3. If he follows you, leave the room. The room you leave him in must be puppy-proofed first.

Never hit or use physical punishment. That means:

• Do not hit or slap your puppy.
• Do not shake him by the scruff of his neck.
• Do not whack his nose.
• Do not stick your fingers down his throat.

Physical punishment can make things worse. It can make a puppy bite harder, play more roughly, become afraid of you — and it can cause real aggression.

Two more things not to do

• Do not wave your fingers or toes in his face, and do not slap the sides of his face to start play. That teaches him to bite.
• Do not jerk your hands or feet away when he mouths them. He will lunge and grab. Let your hands or feet go limp instead.

If time-outs are not possible, or they are not working, you can try a taste deterrent:

1. Spray the taste deterrent on the parts of your body and clothing that your puppy mouths.
2. When he mouths you, stop moving and wait.
3. When he lets go, praise him a lot.
4. Keep applying it for at least two weeks.

For help with mouthing, and for puppy classes: look for a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT).

For biting that may be aggressive or fearful: look for a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB), or a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (Dip ACVB).

Source: ASPCA, “Mouthing, Nipping and Biting in Puppies,” at aspca.org. This page puts those facts in plain, simple words. It does not replace advice from a qualified professional about your own puppy.