How to Stop a Puppy From Biting and Barking

Biting and barking are two common problems that puppy owners encounter. Puppies are not yet familiar with everyday rules and do not know which types of behavior are considered good and which are considered bad. Bite inhibition is something puppies learn from their mothers and litter mates, but if the breeder weaned your puppy too early it could have missed this important lesson.



Obedience training helps puppies learn what is expected of them and how to behave, and training your puppy young often eliminates these habits before they become serious problems.

Things You'll Need

  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Yelp loudly and withdraw your hand when your puppy bites you. This is how its litter mates would react and how it would learn bite inhibition. Repeat this each time your puppy tries to bite until it gets the message.

    • 2

      Stop playing with your puppy when it bites if the yelping is ineffective. Ignore your puppy for a few seconds so it learns that biting means the end of the fun.

    • 3

      Give your puppy a time-out if it becomes too rowdy. Place your puppy in a separate room with a pet gate for 10 minutes until it has calmed down, then release the puppy and try again.

    • 4

      Ignore your puppy's attention-seeking barking. Reacting to the barking in any way, positively or negatively, reinforces the behavior and makes the problem worse.

    • 5

      Teach your puppy the "quiet" command. Say "speak" when your puppy barks and give it a treat. Repeat this until the puppy learns to bark on command. Ask your puppy to "speak," then, say "quiet." Reward your puppy when it is quiet, even for a second. Repeat this until your puppy learns to be quiet on command.