How to stop my puppy from play biting and mouthing too much?

Mouthing and nipping can be an issue in puppies, and at ten months of age she likely has some or all of her adult teeth in, which can hurt! There are a few things you can do: One is to loudly yelp "OUCH!" and immediately stop play and walk away/ignore your dog. This mimics when your dog was playing with littermates and played too roughly. Your dog will also learn that when she is too energetic and nips play stops and attention is gone, which is boring! If she is calm and not nipping, offer lots of praise and treats to encourage that behavior instead. Next is the "airplane" game. Place your dog in a sitting position and put a treat in your hand. Raise it above your dog's head and begin to slowly bring it down toward your dog. If she gets up out of the sitting position, stop, place her back in a sit, and then start again. Once she can calmly sit still for the treat coming to her, offer it and praise! This can help teach her to sit calmly rather than jumping or nipping. You can also work on taking treats gently/mouthing inhibition by placing a treat in your hand and closing your fist. At first, your dog may attempt to gnaw on or chew on your hand to get the treat. A small "ouch!" can help, but you will have to wait a few minutes until she settles down. Once she is calm and not chewing on the hand, offer her the treat with a "gentle" command. It will take a few tries (and a sore hand at first), but it will help teach her to wait for treats and toys from your hand without nipping and chewing on them! Trading your hands and other objects for toys that are appropriate to chew on can also help. Offer an appropriate chew toy instead, and be sure to praise any time she is found chewing on the right objects instead!

A stern and forceful "No" should get him to stop biting. Once he does, offer an appropriate item or toy for him to bite and chew. Praise and rewards him consistently when he complies. If he continues to bite, immediately stop all interaction until he settles down. This may include walking away from him or putting him in another room. Be firm and be consistent.

Yes, you are correct that it is important to teach Cujo not to put his teeth on humans even when he is playing. Play biting and being excessively "mouthy" is very common in puppies and a normal behavior. I have not personally had luck with the techniques of saying "No!" or holding the muzzle. I find that makes puppies more excited. My general rule for puppies is that you make a high pitched squeak (like a littermate puppy would do if they bit too hard), then walk away from the situation. More than anything, Cujo wants to play with you. If you walk away, it is negative reinforcement, so he is less likely to do that behavior again. Depending on the puppy, the goal is to get them to look away from you or start doing something else before you engage in play again. I found that a long rope toy made a good toy to play with my puppy because there was lots of toy for him to bite at without touching my skin. I also found that allowing him to play with other dogs was a great way for him to learn what is appropriate play. I took my dog to doggy day care twice a week as a puppy which really helped with his energy level as well as appropriate play technique. And finally, start a puppy class. A basic obedience class is so important for a puppy. They want to behave, but don't know what to do with their energy. I hope that was helpful! Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is indeed common in puppies (and some adult dogs). When Julius gets riled up or too excited, stop all play until he calms down. If he bites, a stern "No" or "No bite" should get him to stop. Praise and reward him when he complies. Be firm and be consistent.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lirril. Play biting is a normal part of puppy development. It is how littermates learn to play together. This sets the basis for how older adults will interact. However, puppies need to be trained what is acceptable to their owners and what is not. When she mouths you, tell her "no" and redirect her to something positive such as a toy. If her behavior persists, walk away. She needs to learn that this type of behavior will not be allowed and she will lose the opportunity to interact with you. She will also benefit from obedience classes. It will build her confidence and help her to understand basic commands. It will give you a basis on which to build upon for further training. If her biting appears more than just playful and is truly aggressive, this can be a serious situation. You will need to seek a behavioral consult with her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

No, please do not cut your puppy's teeth - this would be very painful for him, and could also cause infection and other serious problems. Biting and mouthing during play is very normal behavior for puppies, and will resolve on its own with age. In the meantime, make sure that Pocholo has a variety of different toys to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys for chasing and fetching. It can also be helpful to provide lots of different items to chew on - things like bully sticks, cow or pig ears, rawhide chews, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. If you are playing with him and he bites you, just redirect him to one of his toys and use that to play with him instead. If he bites your hands when you pet him, calmly stop petting and ignore him until he calms down. You may only be able to pet him when he is sleepy right now, which is fine - just be patient and consistent with him as he grows, and the mouthing will stop on its own.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Beretta. I recommend redirecting her to something positive when she starts biting. Give her a bone or a toy to play with instead of her chewing on you. If this does not help, then ignore until she settles down. I hope this information helps!