Key Takeaways

  • Why Do Puppies Bite?
  • Is My Puppy Biting to Play?
  • Is My Puppy Biting a Sign of Fear?

Anyone who's had a young dog is familiar with the frequent nips puppies like to give. Here's what you need to know about how to stop a puppy from biting and nipping.

Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in South East Florida. She has lectured from Minneapolis to Moscow on all things behavior to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, industry professionals, and pet parents. She has published scientific articles, written textbook chapters, and been interviewed for television and print.

When my beloved Rottweiler, Sweetie, was a puppy, the puppy biting was relentless. I tried everything: loud yelping (from me), hot sauce on my arm (that burns!), handing her a toy, walking away, free play with other puppies and dogs, and time outs. One day seemingly by magic, all of my efforts came together and the biting stopped. Sweetie turned out to be the most amazing dog with whom I could have ever shared my life.

Puppies bite. That is a fact. For most puppies this is a normal part of exploring their world, teething, and learning to play nicely. When do puppies stop biting and teething? Their natural urge should diminish by around four months. For a small subset of puppies, biting can predict a larger more foreboding problem of fear which can lead to fear-induced aggression. The best way to assess if your puppy is exhibiting normal behavior or exhibiting aggressive biting is to consider the context of the biting and observe his body language.

Your dog is most likely play biting if any of these other behaviors are true:

Your dog is most likely fearful if he exhibits any of these behaviors while biting:

If you think your puppy is fearful do three things, start with a visit to your veterinarian and seek help. You may also want to reach out to a positive reinforcement dog trainer who can help you determine what's causing the fear and help you correct the behaviors it's producing.

If your puppy's behavior is consistent with play or if he is fearful, try the steps below to stop the biting. Remember, there's no place for violence when training a puppy. Don't yell, hit, hold down, or push his lips against his teeth. Instead, try the tried and true tips below to get your puppy on track. The goal is to teach your puppy he should never put his mouth on you.

Puppy biting is normal and expected. Be patient as you would with any child. Use structure and positive reinforcement. Keep your puppy enriched and well exercised. Just like Sweetie, he can become a wonderful dog!