How to Train a Dog Not to Bite: The Tricks, Treats, and Tips You Need

Learning how to train a dog not to bite at an early age can save you a lot of trouble as your dog ages. I was sipping my morning coffee on the porch last Sunday when I heard it—the unmistakable yelp of surprise followed by a chorus of “Ouch! No biting!”

Curious, I wandered over to see my neighbor’s new puppy, Benny, wiggling with excitement while our latest junior dog enthusiast, 9-year-old Jake, tried (and failed) to keep his hands safe from tiny, sharp puppy teeth.

Ah, puppyhood—the stage where everything, including your hands, furniture, and even your kids' stinky socks, becomes fair game for gnawing. But here’s the thing: while dog biting may seem cute in a tiny pup, it’s a habit that needs to be curbed before those puppy nibbles turn into real adult dog problems.

Why Do Puppies Bite So Much?

• Teething Pain – Puppies start teething at around 3 weeks old and will chew on anything to soothe their gums. (Yes, that includes your fingers.)
• Exploration—Dogs use their mouths like hands, grabbing things, feeling new textures, tasting, smelling, and playing with others. Just like babies grab everything with their hands, dogs use their mouths.
• Playtime Gone Wrong – Puppies roughhouse with their littermates using their teeth. But they don’t realize human skin isn’t covered in protective fur.
• Overstimulation or Frustration – Sometimes, biting happens when a pup is overly excited, tired, or simply doesn’t know what else to do.

That said, teaching a puppy to control their bite, also known as bite inhibition, is one of the most important lessons they’ll ever learn. While it's best if they learn as a puppy, you can figure out how to train a dog not to bite at any age.

You see, dogs would normally learn bite control from their littermates. If a puppy bites too hard during play, their sibling yelps and stops playing.

But in the modern world, we remove puppies from their litter and birth mama relatively early and sell them to new loving homes—often with children. If a puppy does not grow up with dog littermates, it misses out on certain early development.

The human child they go home with may not naturally respond like another puppy. A child or adult might even encourage biting because they think it's cute.

So, as the puppy grows, they think it's okay to bite as their jaw gets stronger and teeth larger.

It's up to loving humans to teach them these skills. And I'll tell you that Jake did precisely the right thing in a way a puppy would understand.

He mimicked a puppy's high-pitched yelp with his "Ouch!"

How to Stop a Dog from Biting

1. Teach Bite Inhibition

Mimic a puppy yelp this to show them biting = play stops.

1. If your pup bites too hard, let out a sharp “Ouch!” and stop all interaction.
2. Ignore them for 30-60 seconds. No eye contact, no talking, nothing.
3. Resume play only when they’re calm.

Repeat. It takes a while for this to sink in. During this time, every family member and guest in the home must do the same thing.

Big dogs who bite may get reported to animal control, taken away, and even put down. Dog biting is not all fun and games.

2. Redirect to a Chew Toy or Bone

If your puppy’s in a chew-everything phase, make sure they have an appropriate outlet. Chew bones for dogs are essential dog-training tools.

Dogs instinctually chew on things at any age. They do it because it feels good, cleans their teeth, and is entertaining. Chewing can reduce anxiety and make dogs more attentive during dog training.

If dogs don't have a chew bone at least a few times a week, they will find other things to chew on. And believe me, you won't like it.

A regular dog bone chew routine ensures they know what it's okay to chew on. So, puppy, adult, senior dog—big dog, small dog, skinny dog, tall dog—it doesn't matter. Dogs and dog bones seem like they go together for a reason.

Now, you shouldn't give a puppy a bone until most of their adult teeth are coming in, usually around 6 months. Before then, you could give them a beef trachea chew. It's a little softer, so it's easier on puppy teeth.

Hint: Give your dog a long-lasting beef marrow-filled dog bone. You can freeze it between chew sessions. And one bone can last for months. K9 Connoisseur’s all-natural grass-fed beef marrow bones keep my dogs occupied and promote healthy chewing habits.

3. Use Positive Reinforcement (AKA Treats, Treats, Treats!)

Want to stop a dog from biting fast? Reward the right behavior! High-value treats are communication tools. Dogs learn to perform dog commands for the chance at a reward. Experts believe dogs can learn over 120 distinct commands.

For starters, let's teach the "Gentle" command.

1. Hold a treat in your fist.
2. Let them sniff and lick at your hand. But don’t open your hand until they stop nipping.
3. When they pause, say “Gentle” and open your hand.

Practice this. They learn that "good things come to those who wait". Your goal is to teach them to take a treat like a polite pup, not a ferocious land shark.

If your dog bites, this is a critical command because you don't want a grown dog trying to bite your hand off each time you give them a tasty dog treat.

You're teaching them dog manners. A well-mannered dog is a happier, healthier dog. They understand how to act around their human companions. You can go places together without worry. You can show off astounding dog tricks at parties. Your dog could even get Insta-Famous.

To learn more about using positive reinforcement to teach a dog commands, sign up for the Free 7-Day Dog Training Challenge. Everyone in my neighborhood is doing it!

How to Stop a Dog from Biting: Common Challenges

Most puppy biting is normal. But sometimes, it’s a sign of something else.

If they growl or bite, they may be afraid of someone in the house or have trauma from their previous situation. Common with rescues.

Focus on building trust with training, nutritious treats, and dog bones. Avoid treats with added sugar or artificial colors and flavors. Current research suggests these may be linked to behavioral issues in human children. And we just don't have any research on our K9 kids. I buy only single-ingredient dog treats like beef lung bites.

If snapping when touched or approached, they may be in pain. Take them to the vet.

If they're not outgrowing aggressive play-biting despite your efforts to teach them, please speak with your vet or a professional trainer. For the reasons I mentioned, you don't want to let this go on for too long.

If they chew on things they shouldn't, they need regular chewing sessions to feed this instinct. My dogs get a meaty marrow bone 2-3 times weekly for 15-20 minutes. I freeze it in between, and dog bones last a long time.

How to Train a Dog Not to Bite: Dog Biting Solved

• Puppies bite because they’re teething, exploring, or playing.
• Puppies removed from their littermates miss out on critical development.
• Teaching bite inhibition helps them learn how to use their mouth safely.
• Chewing is a normal dog behavior.
• Redirecting them to chew bones for dogs gives them a healthy outlet.
• Positive reinforcement with high-value dog treats makes training way faster.

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