Bringing home a new puppy is exciting — but those sharp little teeth can turn playtime into a painful experience fast. If your puppy is constantly biting your hands, ankles, or clothes, you’re not alone. Biting is a completely normal part of puppyhood, especially during teething. The good news? With the right approach, you can teach your pup to stop this habit quickly and gently.
Why Puppies Bite
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. They bite for many reasons:
- Teething discomfort (especially between 8–20 weeks)
- Play and social interaction
- Attention-seeking
- Overstimulation or boredom
It’s not aggression — it’s communication and discovery. Your job is to show them better ways to interact.
What Not to Do
Before we get into training methods, here are 3 things you should never do:
- Don’t hit or yell at your puppy — this causes fear and breaks trust
- Don’t allow rough play with hands — this reinforces biting
- Don’t pull away quickly when bitten — it triggers chasing
Instead, you want to guide their behavior with calm, consistent redirection.
Step-by-Step: How to Stop Puppy Biting
1. Redirect to a Toy Immediately
The moment your puppy starts mouthing your hand or clothes, offer a toy instead. This shows them what’s acceptable to chew.
Tip: Keep toys nearby in every room. Rotate them to maintain novelty. Chew toys with different textures are best for teething puppies.
2. Use a Verbal Marker Like “Ouch!”
Let out a clear, sharp “Ouch!” or “Eh!” as soon as you feel a nip, then stop play for 10–30 seconds. This mimics how littermates learn bite inhibition.
After the pause, offer the toy and resume calmly.
3. Reward Calm Interaction
When your puppy licks or sniffs you without biting, praise them warmly. Reinforce the behavior you want.
You can also use treats to reward gentle mouth behavior. Clicker training works great here.
4. Avoid Hand Games
Never use your hands as a toy. Wrestling and slapping might seem fun, but it teaches your puppy to see hands as targets. Use rope toys or plushies instead.
5. Provide Frozen Chew Toys
Teething puppies get relief from cold textures. Freeze a wet washcloth or stuff a Kong toy with peanut butter and freeze it.
This gives them a soothing, bite-safe alternative.
6. Use Time-Outs for Persistent Nipping
If your puppy ignores redirection or gets more excited, calmly remove yourself from the room for 30–60 seconds. This teaches that biting ends the fun.
Be consistent — puppies learn fast when cause and effect are clear.
Bonus: Teach the “Leave It” Command Early
Teaching “Leave it” can be incredibly effective for all types of unwanted behavior, including biting. Use it as part of your training routine by rewarding your pup for backing off when you present a treat or toy.
Start easy and increase difficulty gradually.
What If Nothing Works?
If biting escalates into aggression, or if your puppy becomes frustrated and growls when corrected, it’s worth speaking with a certified dog trainer. However, for 95% of puppies, consistency and patience will solve the issue in a few weeks.
Extra Tools That Help
- ✅ Soft-bite puppy chew toys ([affiliate link])
- ✅ Frozen treat-stuffed Kongs ([affiliate link])
- ✅ Clicker and reward pouches ([affiliate link])
- ✅ Our free 7-Day Puppy Training Guide for more behavior tips
Final Thoughts
Stopping a puppy from biting is all about consistency, redirection, and calm leadership. Your pup isn’t being bad — they’re learning what’s okay and what isn’t. Stay patient, stay consistent, and celebrate every little win.
Want more help? Download our free guide below for a complete 7-day step-by-step training schedule.