Ways to stop your puppy from biting

Puppies explore the world with their mouths. Biting often increases while they're teething, as chewing helps relieve the discomfort of new teeth coming through. Puppies also nip when they play or want attention, and even adult dogs often prefer to use their mouths rather than their paws in play.

It may seem cute at first, but nips become more painful as your puppy grows. Puppies don't know how sharp their teeth are or how hard they're biting, so it's up to you to teach them.

Puppies that never learn to be gentle with their mouths can find it harder to play safely as adults. The good news is that calm, consistent training while they're young makes a big difference.

Stop the game calmly

When puppies play together, one will usually stop playing if the other bites too hard. You can teach the same lesson in a calm way.

If your puppy's teeth touch your skin, stop the game straight away, stay calm and quiet, and offer a suitable toy instead. If they keep biting, calmly step away for a few seconds, then try again.

Your puppy will learn that rough play stops the fun, while gentle play keeps it going. Be consistent, and make sure everyone in the household responds the same way.

Give them something better to chew

As well as puppy-proofing your home, provide plenty of safe toys for your puppy to chew. Choose toys that are the right size and sturdy enough that they can't be chewed into pieces and swallowed. A tough rubber toy is a good choice for strong chewers.

Keep their mind busy

A tired, busy puppy is less likely to nip. Hide treats around a room and encourage your puppy to sniff them out. Games like this are fun, give lots of mental stimulation and help your puppy settle afterwards.

Let them learn from other puppies

Playing with other puppies helps your puppy learn how hard is too hard, because other puppies will stop playing if they're bitten roughly. Arrange this once your vet says your puppy is protected by their vaccinations, or with puppies you know are fully vaccinated. Always supervise play and step in if it gets too rough.

If the biting doesn't improve

Most puppies grow out of mouthing with patient training. If your puppy's biting seems to be getting worse, or they bite when they seem frightened or in pain, speak to your vet, who can check their health and refer you to a qualified behaviourist.