Troubleshooting Puppy Biting

Is puppy nipping a painful daily occurrence? Learn why your puppy is doing it and how to prevent it.

With razor sharp teeth and poor communication skills, puppy nipping and mouthing is less than pleasant. However, it is essential to understand that puppies communicate through their behaviour, and - since they are unable to speak - they resort to mouthing and nipping to express their needs or emotions. By recognising this and responding to your puppy's communication as early as possible, you can greatly reduce or even prevent your puppy's nipping and mouthing.

Understanding Puppy Nipping & Mouthing:

Puppies, like human infants, explore the world around them using their mouth. Nipping and mouthing are natural behaviours that serve various purposes, such as playful interaction, teething relief, and communication. A very young puppy may gently mouth your hand as a way to familiarise themselves with who you are, or simply because it feels good to chew on your fingers. However, it is crucial to differentiate between harmless mouthing and more serious issues which could result in serious bites. If your puppy is biting very hard and not letting go, if it is accompanied by aggressive or defensive growling, or if it happens around resources such as food, chews, toys and beds, then this is not normal puppy biting and needs to be addressed immediately. If you have any doubts, please consult your trainer or behaviourist.

Here are some of the reasons your puppy might mouth or nip, and what you can do about it:

Hunger and thirst: Ensure your puppy is adequately fed and hydrated.
Needing to potty: Is your puppy suddenly mouthy without obvious triggers? Oftentimes, a pressing poo is the culprit!
Heightened emotions: Young puppies have yet to learn the skills to appropriately communicate or regulate their emotions, especially intense emotions like frustration or over-excitement. For example, they may bite if they are prevented from engaging in an activity they like, or when they have been playing too wildly and are seeking something to help them regulate. Chewing is a powerful relief for frustration, so offer them a chew or toy instead.
Pain and discomfort: Quite understandably, puppies will become grumpy and easily irritated if they are in pain or discomfort. Chewing may help alleviate teething, but it is likely that puppies experience growing pains too. This is especially true for large breeds.
Inappropriate play habits: If you are playing quite roughly with your puppy, they may be learning to be rough in return. Try using toys to play with your puppy and keep play relaxed and calm. If your puppy grabs unto your clothes or skin, gently redirect them to a favourite toy and definitely do not yelp or scold them, as - depending on the puppy - this might make them worried of you, or make them even more excited.
Tiredness: Just like toddlers, puppies can get cranky if they are overly tired. If they haven’t had a nap in a while, then it is probably time to help your puppy wind down. If it is feeling difficult to achieve, ensure your puppy has access to a safe low-stimulation resting spot, and offer a chew or licking mat to help them relax.
Unwanted petting, touch, grooming or restraint: If your puppy starts mouthing or nipping in response to physical touch (whether that is with your hands or a brush, or while holding them in your arms), then they are most likely trying to communicate that they do not like what you are doing to them! There is a time and a place for physical affection, and maybe your puppy is simply not in the mood at that moment. If this happens when you are trying to groom them, then you will need to train your puppy to tolerate having their nails clipped or being brushed. Definitely get in touch with your dog trainer to help you achieve this.

If you have been attending a puppy class, hopefully your dog trainer will have explained the importance of observing your puppy carefully and rewarding calm behaviour or gentle play when you can rather than only paying attention to your puppy when they "misbehave". In addition, by honing your observation and training skills you can also reward alternative behaviours such as sitting or doing a hand touch, or even training your puppy to “drop” or spit out whatever they have in mouth using reward-based training.

To summarise, puppy mouthing and nipping are normal communication. To understand the underlying message, it is essential to learn how to read your puppy's body language, address underlying needs as well as employing effective management techniques.

Remember to:

Assess Physical Needs: Ensure your puppy's basic needs, such as food, water, sleep, and bathroom breaks, are met.
Evaluate Emotional State: Determine if your puppy is feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or wound up from excited play, and avoid the triggers. If certain situations cannot be avoided (such as getting excited when coming out of the crate in the morning), consider whether you can teach your puppy an alternative behaviour that you like (such as sitting) using praise and rewards. Get in touch with your dog trainer if you are not sure how to achieve this.
Check for Teething: Provide a range of appropriate teething toys and chews of different sizes and textures to alleviate discomfort.
Appropriate Play Habits: Avoid rough play using your hands that encourages nipping and mouthing. Use toys instead, and frequently build in breaks where you can practise tricks or allow your puppy to wind down with a chew. This will help your puppy learn to down-regulate when excited.

Important Note: Your puppy’s mouthing should not cause you worry or harm. If you have any doubts about the severity of your puppy’s mouthing and nipping, please consult your trainer or behaviourist.

Categories: : Puppy