Why Does My Puppy Bite Everything?
If you've got a puppy, there's a good chance you've experienced it.
Your hands, socks, trousers, shoes, sofa, rug….
Pretty much anything they can get their little teeth around. And if you're currently wondering “Why does my puppy bite EVERYTHING?”, you're definitely not alone.
Puppy biting can be frustrating, particularly when you're already trying to teach your puppy how to behave in their new home.
But the first thing I'd say is this: puppy biting is normal.
That doesn't mean you have to put up with being used as a chew toy!
It means we need to understand why it's happening and teach your puppy what we'd rather they did instead.
Why do puppies bite?
There are a few reasons.
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. They're also teething, learning how to interact with people and other dogs, and figuring out what gets a reaction.
Sometimes biting is part of play. Sometimes they're overexcited. Sometimes they're tired. And sometimes that seemingly endless attack on your ankles is actually your puppy's way of telling you they need more to channel that energy in a positive way, or on the flip side that they've had enough and need to switch off.
This is one reason I don't like looking at puppy behaviour in isolation.
If your puppy suddenly turns into a tiny land shark at 7pm every evening, the answer might not be “How do I stop the biting?” It might be: “What is my puppy actually telling me at 7pm?”. Much like lead walking I like to ask ‘why’ rather than just ‘how’ in order to improve the behaviour.
Don't just tell them what not to do
One of the things I see people struggle with is trying to stop unwanted behaviour without giving their puppy an alternative.
If your puppy bites your hands, simply telling them “no” doesn't necessarily teach them what you'd like them to do instead.
I'd much rather think about the following:
What can I redirect them towards?
How can I make the behaviour I want more rewarding?
Is my puppy overtired or overstimulated?
Are they getting enough appropriate opportunities to chew and explore in a positive way?
We're not just trying to stop behaviour. We're trying to teach the puppy what the better solution is.
Sometimes the answer is actually sleep
This one catches people out.
Puppies need a lot of sleep. And when they're overtired, they don't always curl up peacefully and go to bed. Sometimes the biting gets worse, they're zooming around, they might be grabbing everything and struggling to listen. And so it can be tempting to think: “They obviously need more exercise or stimulation.” Sometimes they do. But sometimes they desperately need a nap.
Learning to recognise when your puppy is tired or overwhelmed is a really useful part of raising them.
What should you do when your puppy bites?
There's no single magic technique that works for every puppy, but there are some principles I'd start with.
Make sure your puppy has appropriate things they can chew. Keep your reactions calm rather than turning it into an exciting game. Energy says a lot. Redirect them towards something appropriate when you can. Think about whether they're tired, hungry, overexcited or frustrated. And reward the moments when they're calm and making good choices.
Most importantly, remember that your puppy is learning. They're not deliberately trying to annoy you. They're figuring out how the world works.
This is why I focus on foundations
Puppy training isn't just about teaching a list of behaviours. It's about helping you understand your puppy. Why are they doing what they're doing? What are they communicating? What do they need? How can we teach them the skills they'll need as they grow up?
That's a big part of what we work on in my puppy classes in Tooting, South London. Yes, we'll teach the important training basics. But we'll also look at things like confidence, calmness, focus, settling (read more here!), socialisation and how to navigate everyday life with your puppy. My aim isn't to produce a puppy who looks perfect for just the six weeks. It's to help you build the foundations for a calm, confident adult dog.
My next 6-week puppy course starts 5th September in Tooting, South London, with just six puppies in the class.
If you've got a new puppy and want some guidance through those slightly chaotic early months, you can find out more about the course below.