How to Stop a Dog From Biting: 4 Tips to Minimize Nipping

Biting behavior is a natural part of a puppy’s development. Here are four reasons your puppy may be biting:

• They are following their instincts. Biting or chewing can be a natural and healthy part of an adult dog’s behavior. Biting or chewing a toy, for example, can be a way to keep their teeth and jaws strong. When training your dog, help them direct their chewing instincts toward objects they’re supposed to chew, such as bones, bully sticks, rubber toys, chew toys, and rawhide.
• They need attention. Many dogs bite or nibble because they’re bored, underexercised, or in need of some attention or playtime. Dogs need physical and mental stimulation in order to be on their best behavior—make sure you’re walking them, letting them play with other dogs, teaching them tricks, and giving them lots of love. If the biting behavior persists, your dog could be struggling with separation anxiety. In such a scenario, seek out a professional dog trainer to help.
• They’re teething. If your puppy chews or bites nonstop, they’re likely teething. Chewing is a way to alleviate the pain of their adult teeth coming in, and it’s a healthy response to this pain. If your puppy is teething, try giving them ice cubes, a cold chew toy, or a tug toy to play tug of war to help numb the pain and redirect their chewing away from inappropriate items.
• They are under stress. Your puppy may bite or nip when they experience the stress of being in a car for the first time or if they feel overstimulated. Rough play can cause a puppy to bite to defend themselves, and they may let out a yelping sound or display body language that shows that they don’t like how you are handling them.

Dog owners can try many different bite inhibition methods that help when training a new puppy or an older dog with aggressive behavior. Enroll your canine in professional training classes or seek professional help from a puppy behaviorist if your home training attempts don’t go as planned. If you have young children, consider keeping your pooch behind a baby gate until you can implement these puppy training tips to prevent them from being bitey or nippy.

• Start puppy training early. Beginning your dog’s training at a young age can nip bad habits in the bud and reinforce good behavior sooner. If possible, allow the puppy to remain with its mother and with the rest of the litter for at least one month so it can learn to play safely. Then try to train your dog frequently using positive reinforcement or clicker training.
• Socialize your puppy frequently. Allow your young dog to play with other puppies so it learns how to play-bite without hurting others. Socializing will help lower your puppy’s stress and allow it to display calm behavior around strangers.
• Train your puppy to recognize painful bites. Sometimes puppies play-bite each other for fun. When a puppy yelps during dog play, the other will release their bite. When a puppy bites you, you can imitate the yelping or squealing sound to prompt the puppy to release their bite. If they don’t release when you let out a yelp, you may need to try a time-out. When they do release their bite, provide positive reinforcement such as a treat or heavy praise.
• Consider getting your puppy spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering a dog can help to lower aggressive behaviors or biting instincts. This could be helpful for aggressive dogs who have poor impulse control.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.