Information on Puppy Bites

Bringing a puppy into your home can be a lot of work. Puppies are very active and tend to play through biting. It's important to know basic information when dealing with a puppy that bites.

  1. Puppy Biting is Normal

    • It is important to understand that puppy biting is normal. Puppies spend a lot of their time playing and investigating objects. They tend to bite people and objects.

    Why Puppies Bite

    • The Humane Society of the United States notes, "When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths, so they may also be inclined to bite or 'mouth' your hand during play or when being petted."

    Bite Inhibition

    • Not all puppies have learned to control the force of their biting. Puppies bite hard because they don't recognize sensitivity of human skin.

    Prevent Puppy Biting

    • Puppy biting may be cute at first; however, it can be a hard habit to break as they get older. Give them toys to chew on during play time or when you pet them so they don't go for your hand. This works well when children want to pet them.

    Puppy Aggression

    • According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, "Some puppies bite out of fear or frustration, and this type of biting can signal problems with future aggression." If you are unsure if your puppy is demonstrating aggressive behavior contact a professional dog trainer in your area.