How to Get a Puppy to Stop Biting: From Teething Terror to Gentle Manners

Look! Puppy teeth are sharp. You don't have to explain to me why you screamed like a toddler when that tiny ball of fluff bit your arm.

And yes, they can draw blood.

I'm going to share a psychological trick to help you out. It's how to get a puppy to stop biting for good.

We recently encountered this issue in my neighborhood. The Danburys down the street brought home a rottweiler, Zara, when she was just 8 weeks old. Just a month later, her nipping habit was definitely out of control.

First, it was the Danburys' 6-year-old son, Oliver. Soon, the teething terror had our mail carrier, Georgia, by the ankle. Before we knew it, every delivery person and service technician in town knew to watch out for the teething terror at the Danbury house.

So, together, we had to come up with a plan to end this pint-sized tyranny. We would figure out how to stop puppy biting once and for all.

Why Do Puppies Bite So Much?

It's easy to overlook it as a life stage. "Oh, they're just teething. They'll grow out of it."

But unfortunately, there's more to it.

Puppies bite for a lot of reasons. Depending on what it is, a teething terror can become a full-grown horror movie chomper.

So, why do puppies bite?

• Teething – Just like human babies, puppies go through teething. And chewing soothes their sore gums. First puppy teeth emerge around 3 weeks. Molars (back teeth) come in a bit later, at around 6 weeks.
• Exploration – For a dog, the mouth is like a human baby's hands. Puppies use their mouths to learn about the world around them. They reach for things with their chompers— shoelaces, hands, furniture.
• Play – Roughhousing with littermates includes playful nipping, and they carry that behavior into their new home.
• Overstimulation – Puppies often bite harder when they’re overly excited or haven’t learned how to regulate their energy.
• Separation from their littermates and mom—As puppies age, they naturally learn to stop biting other dogs so hard. It's just like a child learning it's not socially acceptable to stick their tongue out at people. But in today's world, we take puppies from their littermates early before they learn this lesson.
• Ancestral Wolf Instincts — Chewing is a natural thing for a dog. This doesn't go away as they get older. If a puppy (or adult) isn't given appropriate things to chew on (like long-lasting dog bone), they will resort to destructive chewing.

Now, that we better understand what's happening, let's look at what you can do to help a puppy learn not to bite.

How to Stop a Puppy From Biting

1. Redirect to Chew-Approved Items

By doing a little observation, we found out Zara didn't have a lot of things she was allowed to chew on.

I'll just say it: The Danburys are super-organized people. They keep everything put away, which is great for cleanliness but not for a puppy who has nothing to chew on.

Instead of letting Zara chew on hands, we introduced her to teething toys for puppies like beef trachea chews.

When Zara is a little older (and has adult teeth), she can progress to long-lasting dog bones. 

All-natural grass-fed beef bones like K9 Connoisseur’s marrow bones and chews are perfect for keeping puppies entertained and satisfying their need to chew.

Crinkle toys like these adorable animal plush on Amazon can also help puppies learn to channel that boundless energy into something other than the back of your arm when you don't see them coming.

2. Think Like a Puppy

So, I promised you a psychological trick. Here it is.

If a puppy bites too hard, their littermates yelp and stop playing with them. These natural consequences aren't a punishment. They're a lesson in how to play nice.

Socialization—if you will.

When your pup bites you, say, "Ouch," in a yelpy puppy voice. Then, look away from the puppy and stop playing with it. Our self-proclaimed cat lady in the neighborhood told me this also works for cats that scratch and bite, by the way.

Within a few days of using this psychological trick, Zara learned that biting means she doesn't get to play anymore.

3. Encourage Calm Play

Zara went into biting overdrive when she got excited. So, we practiced calm play when she seemed worked up.

Mr. Danbury started training Zara on basic dog commands and tricks. He rewarded her with high value dog treats and praise — but only when she calmly followed the command.

This more structured play taught Zara how to behave more civilly. Mr Danbury, the local king of organization, really got into it. He loved the idea of raising a well-mannered pup.

To learn more about positive reinforcement training, I encourage you to sign up for the 7-Day Dog Training Challenge. Seriously, everyone in my neighborhood is doing it.

4. Socialize With Other Dogs

You know what, nothing teaches bite control like playtime with other puppies or well-mannered adult dogs. By putting your puppy back into a "natural" learning environment, they'll learn faster.

Zara's playdates with my terrier, Pixie and lab mix, Bruno helped him understand appropriate biting levels. Soon, we were able to go to the dog park to mingle with other well-behaved dogs.

This showed Zara that hard biting isn't okay in any setting — unless she's in a gloves off brawl, which is unlikely in our neighborhood.

5. Teach the "Gentle" Command

Dogs don't understand negative commands like "Don't bite." Instead, you need a positive command like "Gen-tle".

We also tried this technique with Zara. It's certainly more in line with the positive reinforcement training I've used to train my dogs.

When she bites, instead of yelping and turning away from her, we say, "Zara, Gen-tle." When she stops biting, I immediately give her an irresistible single-ingredient dog treat and praise her.

6. Avoid Encouraging Biting Habits

Never use hands as toys. If you wave your fingers around like a game, you’re teaching your pup that biting hands is fun. Stick to tug ropes like this one on Amazon instead. It's shaped like a monkey. Fun!

Of course, this wasn't easy for the Danburys with a 6-year-old. But with some positive reinforcement in the form of the yummy, peanut butter chocolate balls Mrs. Danbury makes, even little Oliver learned how to play with Zara safely.

How Fast Can Puppies Learn Not to Bite?

Puppies can learn from both the gentle command and the cold shoulder pretty quickly. You'll usually notice a significant reduction in a couple of days. Occasional biting may continue as long as teething does.

It just feels good to chomp on something when your teeth are coming in.

You remember—don't you?

Just combine these lessons with appropriate things to chew on, like trachea chews, dog bones, and crinkle toys. This redirection of chewing instinct can save more than one pair of hiking boots and your new coffee table.

From Teething Terror to Gentle Lady

Biting is a normal puppy behavior. So, don't get mad. Get patient and positive.

You can survive the terrible tooths. Just remember: redirect, reinforce, and reward!

It worked for Zara. And it will work for your teething terror.

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