Puppy Biting What’s Normal & What’s Not

Posted on March 15, 2025

How to Stop Puppy Biting – Everything You Need to Know

Puppy Biting What’s Normal & What’s Not & How to Stop It?

Understanding Puppy Biting: What’s Normal and How to Stop It

If your puppy bites something they shouldn’t, like your hand, say “no biting” in a calm voice. If they keep biting, leave the room and stop playing. Do you need help with your puppy’s biting? We offer dog training classes near you to learn how to train your dog. Check our website for more info! Call Auburn Leach K9 Academy at (540) 448-6788. Puppies go through critical growing stages in their first year, during which they can easily become scared. This underscores the importance of seeking expert advice when training them, to ensure their well-being and development.

Teach your puppy that biting means “game over”. If your puppy bites you while playing, that means playtime is over, with no exceptions. Many puppies get really nippy when they’re overtired and/or overstimulated. If you notice this pattern with your puppy, enforcing naps should go a long way.Just as you wouldn’t give medical advice if you’re not a doctor, it’s crucial to seek professional dog training advice. Wrong advice can be harmful, so it’s important to always consult with professionals. Many people struggle with puppy biting and often get bad advice. We’re here to give you the best tips from experts.

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Understanding Puppy Biting: Why It Happens and How to Stop It

Good news! Most puppy biting is totally normal. Here’s why:

Exploring: Puppies use their mouths to learn about the world.
Teething: Puppies have sore gums while their new teeth grow in, which lasts about 2-3 months.
Play: Puppies engage in rough play with their siblings, often using their mouths. This is a natural and playful behavior that helps them learn social skills and boundaries.
Breed Traits: Herding dogs like to nip and chase, which means they might try to herd small, moving things like kids! Retrievers love to hold things, including your hands.

What Not to Do:

Dog Trainer Staunton Never use physical punishment to stop Dog biting. Some lousy advice includes squeezing a puppy’s mouth shut or pinning them down, but these are not helpful. Studies show that dogs aren’t trying to be the boss when they bite. Physical punishment can be ineffective and harmful, making your puppy scared or aggressive.

What You Should Do:

Dog Trainer Lynchburg Setting Clear Rules: A Crucial Step When Getting a Puppy when you bring a puppy into your home, it’s essential to establish clear and fair rules, especially when it comes to biting.

Meet Needs: Ensure your puppy isn’t hungry, tired, or bored. If it seems extra nippy, it might need an extra nap or meal.

Important Notes on Puppy Biting

Ignore Biting: A Powerful Strategy for Managing Puppy Biting if your puppy bites you, the best response is no response. Simply leave the room quietly. Crossing your arms can prevent you from inadvertently encouraging behavior. Stopping play shows the fun is over. If ignoring is hard, go behind a door or use a baby gate.

If your puppy nips again when you return, leave. Dog Trainer Waynesboro After a few days of consistent Dog training, you should start to notice a decrease in biting and a less intense biting when it does occur. This is a sign that your efforts are paying off. Sometimes, puppies think walking away is a fun game! If this happens, use the side of your leg as a gentle block instead of your hands. It might take a few tries, so be patient and avoid yelling.

Helpful Reminders:

Praise your puppies when they’re behaving well.
Everyone at home must follow the same rules.
Remember, biting might last until your puppy is about 5-6 months old. It’s normal!

Why This Works:

If biting isn’t rewarded, it stops.
Your puppy learns that biting doesn’t get them what they want.
They’ll try other ways to get your attention, like sitting nicely.

Extra Tips:

Have a special area like a playpen for your puppy to calm down.
Make sure your puppy has chew toys, gets exercise, and isn’t in a crate too long.
Puppies need three meals a day.

What Clients Are Saying About Our Dog Trainers

Auburn Leach K9 Academy

4.2

Based on 75 reviews

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Kelli Speasmaker

15:28 09 Dec 24

We absolutely love Auburn and his team. He helped us so much with our rowdy and stubborn lab a few years ago, who has grown to be a nearly perfect gentleman. Auburn has now taken on the task of training our new rescue puppy, who is extremely timid and reactive. He’s helped her build confidence and be more at ease in social situations. Auburn always drives to Charlottesville to pick up and drop off the pups to us, which is so appreciated. He is always available for last minute boarding needs too. Highly recommend his services!

Upland Global

15:19 09 Dec 24

We have used Auburn for both of our dogs and could not recommend him more. They both returned with the ability to listen and no anxiety. It was a total game changer. Highly recommend!

April Miller

20:50 08 Dec 24

We have done several one on one sessions with Auburn for our 1 year old Cane Corso, Rocky, and each session has left us with a calmer and more obedient dog. We reached out to Auburn because Rocky had terrible leash manners and very selective listening. Having a guardian breed comes with immense responsibility so we needed to get Rocky’s behavior under control - being pulled around by a 120 lbs powerful puppy is potentially dangerous and no joke!Auburn has done an incredible job getting to know Rocky individually and tailoring our training to Rocky’s personality and needs. Rocky is a very stubborn boy and can be intimidating but Auburn accepted the challenge and exceeded our expectations. We had to try a few different methods before finding the right fit, but Auburn was patient and persistent and has done a fantastic job teaching my husband and I how to effectively communicate with our big boy. Rocky is now following our lead instead of constantly trying to take charge, he listens to commands even around distractions, and as a result is a much more relaxed and happy boy - big deal for a guardian breed!Our walks have become so much more enjoyable and we no longer have to repeat commands multiple times to get the desired behavior. As Rocky continues to grow we will keep working with Auburn as needed to fine tune any behavioral issues that might pop up as we go through adolescence and the teenage phase. I couldn’t be happier with the progress we’ve made and feel confident knowing we have Auburn as a resource if any challenges arise as Rocky matures into adulthood.Selecting a trainer wasn’t something we took lightly considering Rocky’s breed. We couldn’t work with just your average trainer, we needed someone with the knowledge and confidence to handle difficult and powerful dogs. We are more than satisfied with the results Auburn has given us and I’d absolutely recommend his services to anyone looking for help with behavioral issues!

Laura De Maria

19:29 07 Dec 24

We have only had boxers in my adult life and were delighted to get our fifth one in September. We quickly realized that we needed assistance with this dog, he barked at us (sassed us) and had several other pretty bad habits. We sent him for the 3 week (we called it sleep-away-camp) and he was returned to us a much calmer and obedient dog. Auburn worked miracles with him but we still had a couple of situations when he would deliberately disobey.So back he went to Auburn and will be returned to us on Monday.We cannot say enough good things about Auburn, we agree with his teaching methods and animals love him. When he came to pick up our puppy, Stuart, the minute Auburn spoke is name he ran immediately to Auburn. If Stuart had been mistreated in Auburn's care he would not have been so eager to see him. We say give Auburn a try and we trust that you will be very satisfied with your dog.

Peggy Shy

13:35 16 Oct 24

Auburn Leach is the best dog trainer we have ever used. My daughter needed her dog trained and certified as a service dog and was having difficulty doing that so we contacted Auburn and he took her dog and turned him into a great dog, and it is helping her tremendously. He has always been very compassionate, understanding, and works with the client to make sure they get what they need. We highly recommend Auburn to anyone who loves dogs and wants their dogs to behave and interact with others nicely. He’s a great person and very compassionate and loves what he does. We love Auburn and are so glad he became a part of our lives. Thanks Auburn for everything!

Mary Preston

18:40 16 Sep 24

Auburn has been working with my pitbull for almost a year now and I have been absolutely blown away by his work. My dog was previously in a bad living environment where he picked up some pretty serious aggression and territory issues. After talking to a few trainers, I decided to send my dog to stay with Auburn for a few weeks for training. When he brought my dog back, it was immediately apparent how much time he has spent working with him. My dog went from instigating fights with any dog in sight to socializing with dogs he has never met before. He was also noticeably happier and less stressed following his stay, which was no doubt a result of Auburn’s confident training technique. Auburn has remained in close contact with me following the initial training, and he has done numerous follow-up sessions with us. He is also the sole person I trust to keep my dog when I am out of town. His prices are objectively very reasonable, and he is the most talented dog trainer I have had the pleasure of working with.

When to Worry:

Dog Trainer Northern Virginia Remember, yelling or pushing can feel like a game to a puppy, so be calm and quiet. Contact a professional dog trainer near you if your puppy:

Dog Growls or snaps over food or toys.
Dog Stares or stiffens before biting.
Dog Bites are hard enough to break skin.
Dog Barks, growls, or nips at new people.
Dog Snaps or growls at kids.

If Dog biting isn’t getting better, consider your puppy’s breed, past, and health. Sometimes health issues can make biting worse. For more help, look for tips from professionals. Check out these additional tips.

Call today: (540) 448-6788