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What's a good way to stop a puppy from play biting?

Whenever you try and play with my puppy, he tries to bite and he has really sharp teeth so he makes me bleed alot. I also have small cousins that come over alot and I’m scared in case he bites them hard or jumps up at them and catches their face because he could really hurt them. Please help.

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Answer #1

First…quit using your hands to play with the pup…use a toy. All pups play bite, some more aggressively than others. You can try yelping if he bites too hard…letting him know in dog language. If he’s more aggressive about it, you can get up, go into another room and close the door.. leaving the game. He will figure out soon enough, that YOU control the game, and when he gets too wild YOU will end that game.

Using your hands to play wrestle etc with a puppy, will encourage play wresting when he’s bigger. I have big dogs, and don’t like a large dog thinking he has that liberty (mouthing) around people.

Answer #2

Thanks :D

Answer #3

Puppies don’t have hands to touch and feel things. They are still learning much like a small child and their mouth is their gateway to the world. It’s not so much about making your puppy stop biting- It’s about making him stop biting people. When you play with him, use a toy, as Phrannie said, as opposed to your hands. As soon as he bites your hand (even if that particular bite didn’t hurt at all) you have to stop playing, tell him ‘NO’ , stand up and be the dominant one, and walk away for 5 minutes. Then you can continue playing. Whenever he bites, he has to learn that it’s unacceptable behavior. Make sure everybody that plays with him does the exact same thing when he bites or else he will get confused.

Answer #4

simply tell him no and smak it lightly on the head or butt in alternation so he sees this as a consequence and not as an attack.if you only hit one when someone goes to pet it itll attack.dogs are very intellegent and pick up on more than ppl give em credit for

Answer #5

I feel guilty even when I just tap him though. He’s not biting as much now, anyway :)

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