They are TIRED. Being overtired is one of the most common reasons we see puppies exhibit overly bitey and nippy behavior. Young puppies need 16-18 hours of sleep each day.
Give your puppy an alternative item to chew
If they start nibbling at your fingers or toes while you're playing, offer a toy instead. Again, if they continue to nip, stop the play session immediately. If you've been training your puppy to sit, you might also redirect them by asking them to sit and rewarding with a toy.
An overtired puppy often has less impulse control than a not-tired puppy. As our puppies get too tired they become nippy, bitey, and often end up having full-on zoomies. So if you notice that your puppy seems to be showing an uptick in biting, it may be time for a nap (or bedtime).
A pup that is over‐tired can behave just like an over‐wrought toddler: inconsolable, whinging and even aggressive. Bear in mind that puppies need a lot of sleep.
Young puppies need 16-18 hours of sleep each day. Much like a human baby or toddler, puppies get fussy and cranky when they are tired, but they don't yet have enough self-awareness to recognize they need a nap to feel better.
Similar to tantrums thrown by human children, being tired is a common cause of frustration in puppies. This reason might seem overly simple, but it is true. If your dog is feeling especially tired, they are going to be much more prone to bouts of frustration and being overwhelmed.
Puppies can often get overstimulated which causes them to get into a biting frenzy, or just like a toddler that throws a tantrum when it's time for a nap, your puppy may be showing you that they need crate/playpen time to unwind and relax. Puppies also may bite in order to get OUR ATTENTION!
The good news: in the vast majority of cases, puppy biting and mouthing is EXTREMELY normal, for several reasons: Puppies explore the world with their mouths. They go through an uncomfortable teething process that lasts for 2-3 months.
this is perfectly normal puppy behavior, driven by primitive instincts to get feedback on their mouths. They may jump at you, they try to entice you to play and they seek attention by biting at your hands, your clothes, your shoes.
It is normal for puppies to behave this way; your very young girl is just trying to get you to play. She's obnoxious at the moment, but she will grow up. For now, make sure that you initiate play with her several times a day. Don't always wait for her to start things.
The most important thing to remember is that for the vast majority of puppies, mouthing or play biting is a phase that they will typically grow out of once they reach between three and five months of age.
While it's OK to allow some light puppy biting, only puppy nipping from very young dogs is OK. Once your dog is older than 15 weeks, all forms of biting should be completely discouraged.
Puppies often bite their littermates on the scruff or back of the neck; biting is also a sign of puppy teething. However, play biting turns into aggressive dog behavior when a puppy refuses to stop biting after the other dog signals for an end to rough play by yelping or running away.
They want your attention. There's nothing quite like a good puppy nip that gets attention from humans. Once a puppy learns that nipping works to get your attention (whether it's "good" or "bad" attention), they're likely to try it all the time.
Some puppies (and breeds) are naturally mouthier than others, but all puppies should be taught not to bite or mouth people, and in general to be gentle with their mouth, also known as bite inhibition.
Puppies typically develop the emotional maturity and temperament of an adult dog between twelve and eighteen months of age, although they may continue to occasionally exhibit puppy behavior like chewing and nipping until they're about two years old.
When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths. Therefore, puppies usually want to bite or “mouth” hands during play or when being petted. With puppies, this is rarely aggressive behavior in which the intent is to do harm.
Do Puppies Get Aggressive During Teething? Some people may confuse some growling, biting, or tugging as aggressive behavior in a puppy. The truth is that the puppy is probably showing excitement at playing or trying to relieve dental pain.
The “Witching Hour”
Many owners find that 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. bring out the worst in their puppies! If you know that a particular time of day prompts crazy biting, do your best to manage/prevent the behaviour and engage your puppy otherwise.
There is an old saying that couldn't be truer: "A tired dog is a good dog." Just like with people, when dogs receive a healthy balance of physical and mental stimulation, they will be happy and well-adjusted.
Just like with young children, when dogs are overly tired, they too can often become hyperactive. This may seem a little contradictory and confusing, but when they are exhausted, they may in fact become more active and excited. Another sign to look out for is a lack of self-control.
The average 4-month-old puppy sleeps a little over 11 hours in a 24-hour period, and the average adult sleeps 10-11 hours in a 24-hour period. While the total amount of sleep for older puppies and adults seems roughly the same, keep in mind that naps are a bigger portion of a puppy's sleep schedule.
Nipping is different from mouthing in that it involves a small, sudden bite—not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to puncture your clothing. While it can be annoying and sometimes painful, nipping is not an aggressive behavior and can usually be corrected.
Mouthing and play biting is a common phase for most pups and I often reassure owners that their pet will almost always grow out of it when they're around three to five months old. Biting is also part of the natural teething process – this normally lasts until your pup is around seven months of age.