Why do puppies bite?
Puppies can bite for several reasons:
- Teething
- Exploration (because they don’t have hands, they tend to pick up and feel things with their mouth)
- Play
- Frustration
- Defensive or offensive (more often defensive)
During play, puppies should learn bite inhibition, which is how hard they can bite before causing pain. When playing with other dogs, their fur and slightly thicker skin mean they may find it more difficult to understand why humans react strongly when they use their teeth.
Biting during play
When puppies start to bite manically, it is usually due to over-arousal (too excited) or fatigue (over-tired). In these heightened emotional states, they often lose control and are not in a good cognitive state for learning or responding to their environment.
Keeping your puppy calm
To prevent biting, keep your puppy calm by not playing for too long or too intensely. Catch the behaviour in the early stages before they turn into a crocodile. Look for body language clues that indicate your puppy is becoming over-aroused or tired:
- Whites of their eyes showing
- Lined face (not easy to tell with hairy dogs)
- Panting
- Moving faster or slamming into things more
- Becoming less responsive
When you see these clues, stop what you’re doing and find something for your puppy to do. Have Kongs ready in the fridge/freezer or activities nearby so you can quickly give your puppy something else to focus on, like treat searches, snuffle boxes/mats, or chew toys. Redirecting them can help calm them down.
Handling biting
If you’ve missed these clues and your puppy is biting you, stand up and walk away without saying a word. Then find something for your puppy to do. Don’t worry about rewarding biting; if you aren’t immediately giving them a Kong or chew toy after the bite, they are unlikely to make the connection.
Avoiding negative reactions
Avoid saying ‘owww’ or yelping, as this can excite an already excited puppy. Don’t tell puppies off because they’re not biting to spite you, and scolding them may encourage defensive biting if your shouting scares them. Over-aroused or tired puppies likely won’t learn anything from being told off, and it may even desensitise them to your voice.
Teaching the ‘off’ cue
Teach your puppy an ‘off’ cue through positive reinforcement training. If your puppy loves their toy, you can try replacing your hand/arm/limb with a toy. However, many puppies may prefer human flesh over toys. Ensure this method does not reinforce mouthing behaviour by giving the toy when the puppy mouths you.
When playing gently with your puppy, if they catch you a little bit, remove your hands, fold your arms, and pause for a second without saying anything. Wait for five seconds before resuming calm play. The consequence for biting is that play momentarily stops.
Clear rules and boundaries
Provide clear communication to your puppy about what you expect. Establish a 100% teeth-off rule, as sensitivity and pain thresholds vary among people. Consistency helps your puppy understand that any tooth contact means play stops momentarily.
Managing trouser attacks
If your puppy bites your trouser legs or socks, wear boots or shoes around the home for a while to break the pattern of behaviour. Alternatively, reinforce your puppy for not biting by giving them a treat before they engage in the behaviour. Focus on reinforcing the behaviour you want (not biting) rather than just what you don’t want.
Using mental stimulation
Incorporate activities like treat searches or box searches to engage your puppy’s nose, which is tiring and produces less adrenaline than high-arousal games like fetch or tug. This helps manage energy levels and reduces biting behaviour.
Soothing sore gums
If your puppy is teething, provide frozen Kongs or frozen carrots to soothe sore gums. This can help reduce biting due to irritation or pain.
Preventing destructive chewing
If your puppy is chewing things around the home, provide a variety of textures for them to chew, such as Anco roots (for wood chewers), leather toys (for shoe chewers), and safe plastic toys. Different textures can satisfy different chewing preferences.
Consistency is key
Be cautious of trying various approaches, as inconsistency can lead to limited results and cause frustration or insecurity in your puppy. If you get stuck, employ the help of a force-free qualified trainer who can show you in person how to help your puppy understand what you want them to do.
By following these guidelines and maintaining consistency, you can effectively manage and reduce your puppy’s mouthing and biting behaviour, helping them develop into a well-behaved and happy adult dog.
