Why Is My Puppy Biting So Much?
Puppies are cute and cuddly…and they love to bite!
If you have recently brought a puppy home and your hands, sleeves, ankles and children’s clothes are all under attack, please know you are not alone. Puppy biting is one of the most common things new puppy owners struggle with.
It can feel relentless. One minute your pup is curled up looking angelic, and the next they are hanging off your jumper like a tiny land shark.
Let me first say, puppy biting is usually very normal. It does not mean your puppy is aggressive, dominant, or being naughty on purpose. Most of the time, it means your puppy is teething, playing, exploring, overtired, overstimulated, or struggling to settle.
That does not mean you have to ignore it. Puppy teeth hurt! But before we can help your pup make better choices, it helps to understand why the biting is happening in the first place.
Puppies Explore With Their Mouths
Puppies use their mouths in the same way young children use their hands.
They pick things up, chew, tug, bite and investigate the world around them. Your trouser leg, the corner of the rug, your child’s sleeve or your favourite slipper may all seem very interesting to a young puppy.
This is not your puppy trying to be difficult. They are learning about their new home in the only way they know how.
What can you do?
Make sure your puppy has plenty of suitable things they are allowed to chew. Puppy-safe chews, soft rubber toys, age-appropriate chew toys and enrichment toys can all help give your pup an outlet for this very normal behaviour.
Teething Can Make Biting Worse
Just like babies, puppies go through a teething stage.
Their gums can feel uncomfortable, and chewing helps relieve some of that pressure. During this time, you may notice your puppy biting more often or looking for anything they can get their teeth into.
Shoes, chair legs, blankets, hands, leads and clothing can all become tempting.
Try not to wait until your puppy has already chosen your furniture or fingers. Have appropriate chews available throughout the day, especially during the times your pup tends to get more bitey.
Frozen puppy-safe enrichment, suitable chew toys and supervised chewing time can make life much easier.
Play Biting Is Normal Puppy Behaviour
If you watch puppies playing together, you will see lots of chasing, grabbing, mouthing and wrestling.
When your puppy moves into your home, you and your family become their new playmates. Hands, feet, dressing gowns, trouser legs and children running through the house can all become part of the game.
The problem is that human skin is much more sensitive than puppy fur.
Your puppy may think they are playing normally, but it can feel painful and overwhelming for you.
Try to avoid rough hand play. It might seem funny when your puppy is tiny, but it teaches them that hands are toys. Instead, use longer toys such as tug toys or soft puppy toys so your pup can bite and play without catching your fingers.
Overstimulation Often Looks Like “Bad Behaviour”
Puppies can become overstimulated very quickly.
Visitors, children running around, exciting play, training sessions, handling, new places and noisy homes can all be a lot for a young puppy to process.
When puppies are overstimulated, they are not calmly thinking about what they should do next. They are usually running on excitement and impulse.
This is when you may see:
- Zoomies
- Barking
- Jumping up
- Grabbing clothes
- Biting harder than usual
- Ignoring toys they normally like
If your puppy seems to get worse the more you interact with them, they may not need more play. They may need less stimulation.
What can you do?
Move to a calmer area, offer a chew or lick mat, reduce noise and movement, or help your pup settle in their crate, pen or safe space.
Sometimes calm enrichment is much more helpful than another exciting game.
Your Puppy May Be Overtired
This is one of the biggest missing pieces in puppy biting.
Puppies need a lot of sleep. But many puppy owners accidentally keep their pups awake for too long because they assume a busy puppy needs more exercise or entertainment.
In reality, an overtired puppy can look like a naughty puppy.
They may bite harder, run around wildly, bark for attention, grab clothes, jump up and seem completely unable to settle.
This is why many puppies turn into “sharks” in the evening. By that point, they have often had a full day of noise, visitors, play, training, handling and new experiences. Their little brains are tired, but they do not know how to switch off.
A tired puppy does not always put themselves to bed. Sometimes they need help.
A gentle evening routine can really help:
- Toilet break
- Calm sniffing or quiet enrichment
- A chew or lick mat
- Less wild play
- Into their crate, pen or resting area
If your puppy bites more at night, don’t automatically assume they need to burn off more energy. They may simply need help coming down from the day.
So, Is Puppy Biting Normal?
Most of the time, yes.
Puppy biting is usually a normal stage of development. Your pup is learning how to use their mouth, how to play, how to cope with excitement and how to settle in a busy human home.
That said, normal does not mean easy.
Puppy biting can be painful, frustrating and upsetting, especially in homes with children. The aim is not to punish your puppy for being a puppy. The aim is to guide them kindly and consistently, so they learn what they can bite, what they can chew, and when it is time to rest.
Final Thoughts
If your puppy is biting, you are not doing anything wrong.
Your pup is not trying to take over the house. They are teething, playing, exploring, getting excited, and sometimes getting very tired.
Once you understand why the biting is happening, it becomes much easier to help them.
In the next post, we’ll look at what to do in the moment when your puppy bites, including how to redirect them, how to manage the environment, and how to teach calmer choices.
If puppy biting, chewing or evening chaos is becoming hard to manage, our Puppy Classes can help you understand what is normal and give you practical ways to guide your pup through this stage.
