How Do I Stop My Puppy From Biting Me?

By Jorina Fontelera

Instructions

Feign Hurt

Step 1:
When the puppy bites, yelp in pain or cry out so the puppy knows he hurt you and is playing too rough. If he doesn't back off, cry out again and leave him. This will make him think that playmates will leave him when he bites. This is also closer to how other pups will react when they are bitten, and dogs learn to not bite their playmates.

Good Behavior

Step 1:
Reward good behavior. Pour on the praise when the puppy licks instead of bites and always encourage good behavior.

Punishment

Step 1:
While you should never hit your puppy when he nips at you, there are some other physical ways to let him know biting is unacceptable. One way is by putting your thumb under his tongue and another finger under his chin and holding that pressure for 10 seconds. Don't hold too tightly. The puppy will associate this unpleasant sensation with biting and be less inclined to bite. You can also use a pinch or choke collar on the puppy and whenever he bites, give the lead a sharp tug. This has a similar effect to the thumb technique. This should be one of your last resorts.

Noise and Water

Step 1:
Using a can full of coins or rocks, rattle the can whenever the puppy bites. The noise will discourage him from biting. You can also spray the puppy with water, as this is another unpleasant sensation it will associate with biting.

Resources

Stop Puppy from Biting

More Puppy Pages

How Do I Stop My Yorkie Puppy From Biting Me?

Yorkie puppies tend to bite when they are teething or playing. Although they do not intend to harm their owner, it is a bad habit that should be deterred as early as possible. When not deterred, even these small puppies can cause damage and permanent...

Hi! I’m Melanie McLeroy with Taurus Training for Expert Village and today we’re going to talk about puppies. Now it’s time to talk about mouthing. Puppies explore the worlds with their mouths. It’s completely normal behavior. It...

A dog or puppy that bites people, especially children, will often be confiscated and destroyed, depending on the local laws. But why do puppies or dogs bite kids? It's usually because they are afraid of them. They make a lot of noise and sudden movements...

It is never a good idea to allow a puppy to bite your feet. You may think this is cute and even a little funny when you first bring your puppy home, but you will quickly realize that the biting will only get worse if you allow it to continue. This is...

Puppies bite for several reasons. It is a natural part of puppy play behavior; this is how a puppy interacts with its littermates. Biting can also be instinctive, such as with herding and cattle dogs, where the dog will use small nips and bites to...