Bringing home a playful new puppy is exciting, heartwarming, but at times painful. When those tiny, razor-sharp teeth clamp down on your hands or ankles, it can definitely take some of the fun out of puppyhood. Learn how to stop puppy biting and teach them better and safer habits.
From the moment those teensy little teeth start poppin' through their gums, your pup is going to have the urge to chew. Dogs explore with their mouths, so if it fits, it's likely going in. But as they get a little bigger, those tiny chompers can cause some real damage.
In this post, we’ll dig into why puppies love to nip and the safest, smartest ways to teach them better habits. You’ll find answers to common questions like:
Nipping and mouthing are some of the most common challenges new dog parents face—but you’re not alone. With a little training (and a lot of patience), your pup will grow out of this phase.
Just like teaching a child what’s socially acceptable, puppies need consistent and positive guidance to learn what’s okay and what’s not. Let’s take a closer look at what drives this behaviour, how to redirect it, and the best ways to raise a polite, happy companion. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to curb those toothy tendencies—without losing your cool.
First off, remember that puppies explore the world with their mouths. They don’t have hands to pick things up, so tasting, chewing, and nipping is how they figure out what’s safe, what’s fun, and what’s off-limits in the world around them.
Some common reasons puppies bite include:
Understanding these reasons is step one in learning how to curb puppy biting effectively.
At the end of the day, biting is just part of how puppies grow and learn. Your job is to gently guide them through it, setting clear boundaries and giving them better ways to channel that energy.
Is your puppy treating you like a chew toy? You might be thinking, “I just want them to stop. Right now.” That’s understandable—nobody likes being a chew toy.
Remember, puppies don’t learn overnight. They need consistent training, patience, and a plan. If your puppy still has their baby teeth, they’re definitely going to bite as they navigate teething and playful behaviour.
That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with bite marks forever. With structured, loving guidance on how to stop a puppy from nipping and biting, you can absolutely reduce and eventually eliminate those pesky nips. It’s all about consistency, positive reinforcement, and understanding that puppies need time and practice to develop better habits.
In the next section, we’ll look at simple ways to redirect those tiny teeth to something more appropriate—no yelling required.
One of the best ways to discourage puppy biting is to give them a safe, acceptable way to use those chompers.
Think of it as redirecting your puppy’s natural chewing urge:
These tools don’t just soothe teething pain—they also teach your pup what’s fair game to chew (toys) and what’s not (your hands, shoes, or sleeves).
Stop the nipping with the right chew toys! Shop high-quality puppy toys at Homes Alive Pets to keep your pup happy, busy, and bite-free.
“Bite inhibition” is a fancy way of saying your pup learns to control the force of their bite. When puppies play with each other, if one bites too hard, the other yelps or stops playing. Over time, they figure out how to be gentle—or the fun stops.
At home, if your puppy bites too hard:
This method of controlling your young dog’s bite force can be controversial because some puppies get more excited by the yelping sound. If you notice your puppy is getting more revved up, switch to calmly removing yourself from the interaction—no yelp, just a brief timeout. In either approach, consistency is key for how to train a puppy not to bite.
Puppies learn best through positive reinforcement. If you want to break a puppy from biting in a gentle, effective way, lavish them with praise when they get it right.
For example:
The idea here is to show your pup that using a gentle mouth or choosing to chew their own toys brings on the love and rewards. Puppies repeat behaviours that get them positive outcomes.
Of course, praise only goes so far if the rules keep changing. Puppies thrive on consistency—and that’s where your next step comes in.
Puppies don’t understand hypocrisy. If sometimes you play a game of “chase my hands” and other times you scold them for nibbling your hand, they’ll be confused. Consistency teaches your puppy not to bite you in a way that’s clear and fair.
Here’s a quick approach:
Over time, if you consistently show them that biting people equals no fun and that toys equal praise and play, they’ll figure out which one is better for them.
Roughhousing with your furry friend might seem entertaining, but it can send the wrong message if you’re trying to stop a puppy from nipping and biting. Tugging on toys is fine—as long as your puppy knows basic commands like “drop it”—but wrestling with your hands can teach your pup that grabbing onto skin is okay, so avoid more vigorous play and hand to paw combat until they are trained enough to play gentle and no limitations.
Sometimes the simplest solution to curbing puppy biting is giving them more exercise and mental stimulation. Puppies are little energy bombs, and if they don’t get to release it in positive ways, it might come out as mouthy behaviour.
A busy puppy has less energy to gnaw on you and treat you like a human play toy. Plus, a well-trained puppy is more likely to listen when you say “No bite” or redirect them to a chew toy.
Socializing your furry puppy with other dogs and people is a must to make a canine good citizen. It helps your pup learn polite manners and bite inhibition. Puppy classes or playdates with healthy, vaccinated dogs can be a safe way to do this and channel your young dog’s energy.
However, keep a watchful eye when your happy furball is playing with another dog. If your puppy gets overstimulated, they may bite out of excitement or fear. While learning bite inhibition from other dogs can be very effective, you also want to make sure everyone stays safe.
Know your young dog’s limits—when you see them getting too hyper, distract them with a toy or calmly end the play session before biting escalates.
Even the best plan to stop your pup from biting can run into hiccups. This can be frustrating when you thought you were making progress, but don't get discouraged.
Let’s look at a few common scenarios to curb your puppy’s chomping habit:
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, don’t panic. You’re not doing anything wrong—puppies just take time, and some are more persistent than others.
Learning how to train a puppy not to bite is a journey. You might have days where you feel like you’re making progress, only to get a chomp out of nowhere the next day. That’s normal—puppies aren’t perfect. The key is sticking to your plan. Over time, those consistent efforts will pay off.
Puppy biting can feel frustrating, especially when you’re covered in little bruises and scratches. But it’s all part of learning how to keep a puppy from biting in the long run.
With the right training and a diverse and consistent routine, your puppy can learn what they should and shouldn't put in their mouth and learn safe play habits that can make playtime more fun for everyone.
Below are answers to some of the most common puppy biting questions, including a few that might have been on your mind.
You probably want to know when puppy biting will stop. Puppy biting usually eases off once your dog has all their adult teeth—this can be around five to six months of age. However, each puppy is different. With consistent training, most puppies learn to control their bite quickly.
If your puppy starts biting, calmly but firmly say, “No bite” or “Ouch,” and either give them a brief timeout or redirect them to a chew toy. Avoid pulling away too quickly, as that can trigger their chase instinct.
Yelping is a technique that works for some puppies, mimicking the sound another puppy would make if bitten too hard. But it can also overstimulate certain pups, causing them to bite more. If yelping escalates the biting, try the calm approach—say “No bite,” stop the interaction, and redirect to a toy instead.
Teething puppies often bite because their gums hurt. Offer puppy-safe chew toys or frozen treats to soothe pain and keep them occupied. When they bite you, redirect them to these toys.
Puppies don’t speak English—so simply saying “No” might not be enough. They need to understand that biting ends the fun. Combine verbal cues with actions like timeouts or removing attention. Always, reward gentle play.
When puppies get excited, they might forget their bite control. Teach them a “sit” or “down” command. If they nip, pause the game and ask for a calm behaviour like “sit.” Reward when they stop nipping.