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.
From about 12 weeks of age, puppies go through an uncomfortable and sometimes painful teething experience — which can lead to even more biting.
Most likely your puppy is teething. The baby teeth are getting ready to fall out and the adult teeth are starting to come in. It's a difficult time for everyone! This is a time when many people living with puppies get frustrated and sometimes even take our their anger on their puppies.
The behavior is being reinforced.
As puppies, biting was a way for them to try to instigate play and attention, explore the world, and burn off some teething frustration. Which of those three still serves a functional purpose in an older dog? Instigating play and attention.
Puppy Teething
Adult teeth start to come in around 12-16 weeks of age, and during this time, you may see an increase in chewing on objects or on you. Your puppy's gums may be a bit sore as they lose puppy teeth and adult teeth come in.
When do puppies start to calm down? Most puppies start to calm down as they approach their maturity age, which is usually around 12 months, but for larger breeds it can be more likely to occur between 18 months and 2 years.
Puppies less than 12 weeks of age that react to pain or fear by growling or snapping are responding abnormally. Puppies in a dog pack would be attacked if they responded aggressively to correction by an adult dog. It isn't normal brain development for a puppy to do that to people or other dogs.
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.
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.
A puppy's teenage years begin when it is around 8-9 months old and ends when the pup is about 19-20 months old. Near the end of this period, there is a hormonal surge that causes dogs to become protective and territorial.
Most puppy mouthing is normal behavior. However, some puppies bite out of fear or frustration, and this type of biting can signal problems with future aggression. Puppies sometimes have temper tantrums. Usually tantrums happen when you're making a puppy do something he doesn't like.
They are OVEREXCITED. Young puppies have not yet learned to regulate their emotional arousal. When then become overly excited or aroused, they start to lose inhibition and self-control, which leads to them getting extra bitey.
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.
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.
Teaching your dog right from wrong
Always reward your dog for chewing the right things. Every day, provide one or two chews your dog has not seen for a while. Leave them out on the floor whenever your dog is in the room. When you see your dog chew one, praise gently.
“The bites are not meant to hurt you, but rather to indicate the dog wants a play session, not a cuddle fest,” she adds. This is especially true for puppies and young dogs, who want to do nothing but play most of the day, she says. You may find this happens when you want to calmly pet your dog.
If your puppy becomes aggressive about biting or if the bite breaks the skin or causes bleeding, it's a sign the dog is trying to be dominant. You must immediately take action when a puppy won't stop biting and can't be distracted by treats or commands.
Despite themselves, many dog owners do secretly fear that their cute puppy will show into a dominant or dangerous adult one day. Fortunately, the likelihood of that happening is slim, and most signs of puppy aggression are nothing more than over excitement or teething.
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.
From 1 to 2 Years
As your puppy nears age one (up to two years for a large breed), they're beginning to look and act more mature. They will probably still be playful, but now they've learned the ropes and are much better at following the rules.
All puppies start to have a noticeable personality when they reach 7 to 8 weeks of age. You'll notice it especially when they're playing with other puppies or interacting with strangers. Knowing your puppy's personality can help you train and bond with them!
One of the best ways to manage over-excitement is to direct your puppy's energy toward something healthy like an activity or toy. Structured play like Fetch, plus access to mentally stimulating puzzle games and toys, are all super useful tools to help your puppy maintain activeness. Do reward calm behavior.