Puppy Biting: Why It Happens and How to Manage It
As an IMDT Easy Peasy Puppy Instructor, I know how frustrating puppy biting can be. It's completely normal behaviour in young dogs, but understanding why puppies bite is essential to managing it effectively. Im sharing a few nuggets from the easy peasy puppy instructor course.........we'll explore the reasons behind puppy biting, how to tell when it’s more than just typical behaviour, and what you can do to help your puppy grow out of it.
Why Do Puppies Bite?
• Puppies use their mouth a lot, they areteething, exploring the world and interacting with you
• Teething - At around 12 weeks your puppy has 28 teeth, once they get to adulthood they will have 42 teeth, during this process their baby teeth are being pushed out by their adultteeth. It sounds painful doesn’t it, no wonder they chew stuff to seek pain relief
• like human babies, puppies go through a teething phase that can be painful. This discomfort often leads to increased biting as a way to relieve the pain. Puppies may chew on anything they can find, including your hands or feet, to ease the irritation in their gums.
• The teething process is most intense between 12 weeks and 6 months but can continue to a lesser extent up to 1 year
• Exploring – one of the ways puppies learn about their environment is by exploring with their mouth. Anything and Everything is worth investigating
• Puppies find chewing stuff therapeutic - It just feels good! It's calming.
• When your puppy is hungry or tired they may start to chew or mouth more. Just like children, puppies can become irritable when they haven’t had enough rest. An overtired puppy may resort to biting as a way of releasing pent-up energy or frustration.
•: A puppy that's been exposed to too much excitement – whether that’s too many people, loud noises, or excessive playtime – may become overstimulated and bite as a way of coping.
• Interacting – Your puppy is learning how to interact with humans and learn how to play with us, their last play mates were other puppies and a lot of play biting goes on here.
Easy peasy puppy planning
• Puppy proof your home – clear away any valuable furniture, roll up rugs, pick up all household items, tidy away wires and make your house safe ….. do the same in the garden
• Create a den area, see ‘Easy Peasy Den’ exercise sheet, this will give your puppy somewhere safe to hang out if they want to but also be somewhere you can pop them if you cant supervise them
•Furnish their den with a variety of age appropriate safe toys and chews,this gives your puppy the opportunity to choose the right toy/chew for the right kind of pain.
• Purchase some interactive feeding toys and feed your puppy their meals like this, this is the perfect opportunity for them to use their mouth and get some chewing out in the right place.
• When playing with your puppy, play with a toy together so they can learn to put their mouth on toys not on your skin, it’s a good idea to have extra toys around so you can let them win the toy and have another toy ready
• Write down your puppy’s daily routine, identify when your puppy is most active, most chilled, eats and sleeps. This will help you to identify when the best time is to have cuddles or play
•Puppies need a lot of sleep – up to 18-20 hours a day! Make sure your puppy has a quiet space where they can rest and recharge.
•Keep play sessions short and controlled, especially with younger puppies. If your puppy starts to get too excited, end the play session before it escalates to biting.
Trouble Shooting
• If you have put everything in place and you still catch them chewing, don’t worry just divert them onto a toy by animating the toy or creating interest elsewhere. That is why it is important that there are toys in reach EVERYWHERE.
• If you catch them chewing something, they are telling you they ‘need’ to chew, try and replicate the material that they have chosen with a safer option ie coffee wood
• The same for mouthing, if you feel their teeth on your skin simply stop the interaction and move away from your puppy. Your puppy will have some days that are worse that others ….. simply increase what they have available to do with their mouth
•Reward your puppy with treats and praise when they choose not to bite or when they redirect their biting to a toy. Positive reinforcement helps solidify good habits.
When Puppy Biting Isn't Just a Phase
While biting is often a harmless part of development, there are times when it might signal something more concerning. If your puppy is constantly biting hard, seems anxious, or isn't responding to redirection, it’s time to assess the situation. Frequent, aggressive biting that persists into adolescence could be a sign of behavioural issues that need professional guidance.
Final Thoughts
Puppy biting is a normal part of development, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be managed effectively. By understanding the reasons behind it – whether it's teething, overstimulation, or tiredness – and implementing proper training techniques, you can help your puppy grow out of this stage with ease. Remember, if you ever feel like your puppy's biting is becoming a problem beyond normal behaviour, seeking help from a qualified dog trainer is always a good idea.
If you need support managing your puppy's biting habits or advice on teething relief, feel free to reach out for a consultation. Together, we can help your puppy develop into a well-mannered and happy dog!
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