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Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 22 days old
My gsd puppy is so active. He wants to play all the day. But i play with him for 1 hour actively and go for few shorter walks with him. Is this enough? If i donot play with him enough is it can be harmful for him? Also he bites us alot . Will he stop?
2 Answers
Answered By Debi Matlack
Veterinary Technician
Published on February 9th, 2017
Answered By Anna M., DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 6th, 2017
Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Play biting is completely normal behavior for a puppy Max's age, and does not indicate he will become a biter when he's an adult. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and think everything is a toy. However, you should be working with him to teach him that people are not chew toys, and biting when he is "angry" is more concerning.
When he playfully bites at you or another person, try to redirect him to a toy that he is allowed to chew on. You might occasionally need to give him a stern "no!" when he bites, then offer him a fun toy to play with. If he's really getting riled up and keeps trying to bite at you (sometimes when we try to get them to quit play-biting they take it as a game), a few minutes of quiet time in his crate will help him calm down a little bit, then he can come out and try again.
If you do feel that his biting behavior sometimes seems more aggressive or worrisome, then I would absolutely recommend talking to a vet or professional trainer, as early intervention is key. When in doubt, it's always best to get input from a professional, and since you described that this does happen when he seems angry, I recommend you have him evaluated by a reputable trainer or vet. Hopefully the biting behavior you're seeing is normal puppy play and development, but it's best to err on the side of caution if you're concerned that it may seem aggressive. I hope this helps!
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