How to Stop Puppy Biting and Mouthing

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service

By: Hilarie Erb

One of the top concerns people have with their new puppies is mouthing and biting. They are not always prepared for their sweet little puppy’s needle-sharp baby teeth! What to do? Management, rather than complete prevention, is the way to get through this stage.

Biting and mouthing are normal puppy behaviors. Their teeth are what they have to play with and it’s how puppies play with each other. But of course, this does not mean that you should allow yourself to be chewed up. Help your puppy learn bite inhibition and try these suggestions to help you get through this challenging stage.

• When playing, always have a large toy – soft toys are best for this – that the puppy can grab. Don’t play with your bare hands.
• Initiate play with your puppy rather than wait for the puppy to come after you with those teeth. Use a favorite toy that is reserved just for playing with you.
• Never punish the puppy for mouthing or pinch the pup’s lip between the teeth. These will only encourage more aggressive behavior or create fear, damaging the puppy’s trust in you.
• Use a pen or crate when your puppy is overstimulated. Stick to a routine for feeding, exercise, play, napping, and training throughout the day.
• Just because you are home does not mean the puppy should be with you. A puppy may be resting, but when you walk by decide to get up and come after your pants legs! Puppies need to learn to be alone sometimes.
• Provide appropriate toys for the puppy to chew on when alone. Rotate them to prevent boredom and just have a few available at a time.
• Read Expert Tips to Curb Puppy Mouthing for more ways to help with this common training challenge.

Hang in there! Don’t expect to eliminate a puppy’s need to chew; manage it and provide outlets for it until your puppy outgrows this phase. If you do this, you don’t need to worry that your pup will grow up to be a dangerous biter. At around 6 months of age when adult teeth come in things will improve. Click here to watch a webinar with more tips to curb your puppy’s mouthy behavior.

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.