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.
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.
Will my hands ever NOT look like they've been mauled by a tiny shark? Luckily, the answer is yes. Puppies should naturally slow down and stop biting around 7 months of age, when all of their adult teeth are in, and they've learned to play with toys and appropriate chews.
Usually puppies nip because they want to play. A sudden stop to playtime lets your pup know that biting isn't part of a good time. Consistently walk away every time your puppy bites, without exception, and train your family to do the same. This kind of reinforcement is more effective in the long run.
As puppies, biting was a way for them to try to instigate play and attention, explore the world, and burn off some teething frustration.
Be aware that even doing everything right, this behavior may not go away entirely until 5-6 months of age. Remember, this is a normal developmental period in puppies. For extra-bitey puppies, or those that are biting after 5-6 months of age, this blog will help give you some additional tips and recommendations.
Dogs bite because that is how they discover and interact with the world around them. They can't pick things up with their paws, so they try to do it with their mouths! It's important to know that puppy biting is extremely normal and expected.
When she is loose and attacking your clothes and legs, stop moving and ask her for another behavior that you will reward. If this doesn't work, calmly put her in her crate with a small treat for a puppy timeout. The crate time is not punishment, it's nap time.
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!
Don't yell at your puppy, tap your puppy on the nose or hold their mouth shut when they bite. This will only confuse your puppy and teach them not to trust you when you want to play. Don't antagonize your puppy to get him to bite for training or any other purpose.
For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.
For dogs under 6 months of age, much hyper and aggressive behavior is simply puppy play. But that doesn't mean that you should just green light it and allow it to continue. You must teach your puppy boundaries and the earlier you teach them the better.
Puppies bite everything. They bite things that move, things that don't move, each other, your hands… everything! This is normal and it is an important part of their development.
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.
Don't encourage their excitement.
Opt to give your pup some crate or playpen time to help them calm down, or you can choose to redirect that energy into good, by giving them something productive to do and actively working them through it, like practicing some on-leash training routines.
In most cases, nipping, growling, lunging, and barking are all part of your puppy's play behavior. It is rare for young puppies to be exhibiting truly aggressive behavior.
Avoid jerking your hands or feet away from your puppy when he mouths. This will encourage him to jump forward and grab at you. It's much more effective to let your hands or feet go limp so that they aren't much fun to play with. Slapping or hitting puppies for playful mouthing can cause them to bite harder.
Puppy discipline uses a combination of redirection, basic commands that reprimand in a firm but calm tone of voice, supervision, and positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement: When puppies exhibit good behavior or correct bad behavior, reward them with verbal praise, petting, treats, or playtime.
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.
Babies and toddlers bite for a variety of reasons, such as teething or exploring a new toy or object with their mouth. As they begin to understand cause-and-effect, they also might bite a person to see if they can get a reaction. Biting also can be a way for toddlers to get attention or express how they feel.
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.