Puppy Biting - Short and Long Term Prevention

Teaching young puppies not to bite humans or other pets is a crucial part of their early training. 

While it’s normal for puppies to explore their environment with their teeth, training to eliminate this behavior  begins as soon as you bring your new puppy home. "He'll grow out of it" - the all too common misconception people seem to have about illegal use of teeth during puppy rearing. 

By the time you get your puppy home, it's well past time to begin training them that human skin is off limits to teeth. They're not teething and they won't "grow out of it". Puppies tend to "grow into" behaviors they get to practice regularly, so biting should be on the top of your list to prevent and or eliminate. Practice makes perfect, so let's not practice behavior we don't want long term. 

Like pretty much everything else in dog training, the internet is full of garbage advice on the topic. Yipping like a puppy being one such nonsense piece of advice, along with "redirecting" with a toy or other more "appropriate" item. 

No, NO, NO...

I'm not going to let a puppy bite me and squeal like a little baby, thinking that'll somehow teach them not to. That makes no sense at all and most likely teaches them to bite me more if they like my reaction. Pups learn based on outcomes. Good outcomes = more of the same. Making yourself into a squeaky toy might not be the best idea, and I don't care if the person telling you to do it has a PHD. It makes no sense at all. Most dogs LOVE squeaking a ball. Why would I become the ball? 

Same goes for engaging a puppy that just prompted you by biting. "Redirecting" in this case is really just "reinforcing". Think logically about this. Pup puts his teeth on you, or the kids or the furniture or some other inappropriate thing and your immediate reaction is to play with them? Remember, good outcomes = more of the same. Not only does this process teach them they can grab whatever they want with their mouth, it reinforces the idea that putting things in their mouth creates a positive interaction with a human. That's NOT what we're looking for here. 

OK, rant over.

Let's talk about what we should be doing to help our pups learn good habits for the long term, namely, not to bite humans for any reason. 

The first step, and often the entire solution, is prevention. Remember -- practice makes perfect, so the first step in eliminating any behavior is simply preventing rehearsal. Using a collar and leash during interactions with your puppy ensures you can manage their movements effectively, keeping those little needle teeth where they belong (off you and the kids). 

It's equally important to educate children on proper handling of the puppy—no hugging, squeezing, petting on top of the head or carrying. Such actions can cause discomfort and may escalate playful biting into defensive aggression. Kids who can't engage with your puppy appropriately need to be fully supervised with pup on leash and Mom or Dad managing the interaction. Nothing will cause you to re-home a dog faster than having them become fearful and bite a child. Let's just prevent this one. With really small children, simple separation is often the best answer. 

Providing appropriate pacifiers is another big help in managing your puppy’s chewing habit. Ideal pacifiers include durable items such as raw beef bones, antlers, stuffed Kong toys, and nylon bones like Nylabone or Benebone. Prevent choking hazards by making sure your pacifiers are very large, relative to what you might think is appropriate. One of my mentors says they should be "as big as the puppy's head". That seems like a good rule of thumb.

When, where and how you use pacifiers is important. If you feel your puppy needs a break to chew (or you need one), this is a great opportunity to place them in their crate or containment area. This practice helps create a positive association with containment and brief separation from the owner while also establishing a habit of chewing only in their designated space.

Put your guilt to the side here as you turn your pup's crate or pen into Disney Land, by giving them their favorite toy/bone when you need a break from supervising.

Consistency and 100% supervision (remember that leash?), are key to teaching your puppy proper behavior. 

During playtime, choose appropriate toys, such as rubber balls with attached strings, which allow you to engage your puppy without putting your hands at risk of accidental bites. Keep toys stored away outside of playtime to prevent the puppy from treating household items as chewable objects. Clearly separate pacifiers (in crate or pen only) from "active play", which involves interaction with you. Avoid plush toys. They're a real choke/blockage hazard, not to mention being easily confused with socks, the kid's stuffed animals and other off limits items. Stick to a ball on a string and don't leave things lying around for pup to play with. Again - if you need to pacify them, an appropriate chewable item in their containment space teaches the right lessons.

Using a leash during play time and not leaving toys around the house also prevents your puppy from grabbing items and running off, a behavior that can lead to resource guarding. By keeping the puppy tethered, you avoid reinforcing this undesirable habit.

Another critical component of training is getting your puppy accustomed to handling and grooming. Regularly practice gentle restraint, simulating grooming sessions and veterinary exams. Doing this a few times daily helps your puppy become comfortable with these activities, reducing stress and resistance in future situations.

Early training not only prevents biting but also sets the foundation for a well-behaved and confident adult dog. Your children, your veterinarian and your groomer will all thank you later, not to mention your trainer.

As always, we appreciate you taking the time to read and try out these new procedures. 

If you feel you need in person coaching, we're available for in-home instruction. You can get started by scheduling a free 20 minute call with us by clicking here

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