Puppies Bite

Puppies are babies, and like children everything goes in the mouth. They also not having hands use their mouths to play. Playing with other puppies in mock fights is how they learn and develop. They learn a lot from being with their family for 8 to 10 weeks. They learn how to be dogs and how to read social behaviors and that Biting Hurts!


Asking a puppy not to bite is a little like asking a 2 year old not to throw temper tantrums. They will out grow this and until then it is our job to teach them that biting is not allowed.

Now again if your puppy has been with mother and siblings until at least 8 weeks and preferably at least 10 weeks they learn that biting hurts. The other puppies bite them back or knock then on their rear ends and walk away. Mother will put her mouth over their muzzles and press down till they Yip. or Grab them by the back of their neck and restrain them for a bit. She does not throw them to the ground and stand on them. 

When you have puppies and children you must teach your kids to stand their ground with the puppy. Running away screaming will only make it worse. A good rule of thumb is never leave pups and kids unsupervised. Someone and it could be the pup will possibly get hurt. 


Teaching Kids to YELP loud and say OUCH and then turn and walk away calmly teaches the pup that if they bite they will be ignored. Now some pups will just follow and continue the rough play. In that case have a time out area and without saying anything pick up the pup and put them in the quite area. They will learn that rough play will not be tolerated. 


Sometime you get a tough little pup. Trooper can be a pill. In which case sometime I just grab his cheeks firmly and stare him in they eye and say KNOCK IT OFF in  a firm voice and then walk away. I sometime need to be firm with him.  He get rewarded for good behavior and is learning listen to the STOP It command I use for biting. 


Normally by 16 weeks a lot of the biting is over and they still have their moments but they do grow out of this phase. I know it is distressing to people with small children but it your job to protect both your children and teach your puppy good manners.