Dr Roger Mugford<\/a>, is a world-renowned animal psychologist who pioneered reward-based training methods and transformed how people understand and work with dogs. His approach emphasises positive reinforcement and practical application rather than outdated dominance theories.<\/p>\nToday, Company of Animals is led by Dr Emily Mugford, as a veterinary surgeon with over 20 years’ experience in small animal practice, Emily brings deep understanding of both pets and their owners. Her veterinary background means she evaluates every approach through the lens of animal welfare first – ensuring the advice we share genuinely helps puppies and their families.<\/p>\n
The practical guidance in this article draws on the expertise of Fiona Whelan, Head Behaviourist at our Pet Centre in Chertsey, Surrey. Fiona has worked as a behaviour specialist since 2002 and previously ran her own training and behaviour establishment for seven years. Her hands-on experience with thousands of puppies informs everything we share here about managing and redirecting biting behaviour.<\/p>\n
This guide explains why puppies bite, when you can expect the behaviour to reduce, and practical training techniques that actually work.<\/p>\n
Why Puppies Bite: Understanding the Behaviour<\/h2>\n
Before you can address puppy biting, it helps to understand why it happens. Puppy biting isn’t naughty behaviour that needs punishing – it’s a normal and necessary part of canine development.<\/p>\n
Teething<\/h3>\n
Just like human babies, puppies go through teething. Their baby teeth need to come through, and later their adult teeth replace them. This process is uncomfortable, and biting helps relieve the pain in their gums while helping those teeth work through. The comparison to human babies is useful here – when babies are teething, they bite and mouth objects to relieve discomfort. Puppies do exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n
Puppies typically start teething around 3-4 weeks old when their baby teeth emerge, and go through a second phase around 12-16 weeks when adult teeth begin replacing them. This second phase often coincides with the time puppies arrive in their new homes, which is why many owners experience peak biting during this period.<\/p>\n
Learning Bite Inhibition<\/h3>\n
Bite inhibition – learning how hard they can bite without causing pain or damage – is one of the most important lessons puppies need to learn. Puppies actually need to bite during development because this is how they learn to moderate their bite pressure.<\/p>\n
In a litter, puppies learn bite inhibition from their siblings and mother. When a puppy bites too hard during play, the other puppy yelps and stops playing. This teaches the biter that hard bites end the fun. Your job as an owner is to continue this education, teaching your puppy that human skin is even more sensitive than puppy skin.<\/p>\n
Exploration<\/h3>\n
Puppies don’t have hands. They explore their world with their mouths, which means everything gets tasted, chewed, and investigated with teeth. A human baby would grab objects to examine them; a puppy uses their mouth for the same purpose. This mouthing behaviour isn’t aggressive – it’s your puppy’s way of learning about objects, textures, and the world around them.<\/p>\n
Play and Excitement<\/h3>\n
Biting is a natural part of how puppies play. Watch any group of puppies together and you’ll see plenty of mouthing, chasing, and playful biting. When your puppy gets excited during play, those teeth often come out. This doesn’t mean your puppy is aggressive – they’re simply playing the only way they know how.<\/p>\n
When Do Puppies Stop Biting?<\/h2>\n
There’s no magic age when puppy biting suddenly stops. Puppies will continue biting if they get enjoyment from doing it, and some dogs enjoy mouthing all their lives – particularly if rough play has been encouraged during puppyhood.<\/p>\n
This is where household consistency becomes crucial. If someone in your home enjoys getting down on the floor for rough-and-tumble play with your puppy, the puppy learns that this is a great game and will continue seeking it out. The biting behaviour gets reinforced rather than reduced.<\/p>\n
Most puppies show significant improvement by around 6-7 months, once their adult teeth are fully in and the discomfort of teething has passed. However, this timeline depends heavily on consistent training throughout the puppy phase. The key factor is your response to biting, not simply waiting for them to grow out of it.<\/p>\n
Puppy Biting Training Tips That Actually Work<\/h2>\n
Effective puppy training works with your puppy’s natural instincts rather than against them. These techniques are based on positive reinforcement – the same approach developed by Dr Roger Mugford and used by professional behaviourists worldwide.<\/p>\n
Redirect to Appropriate Items<\/h3>\n
Your puppy needs to bite – the key is teaching them what they can bite. Keep appropriate chew toys within easy reach at all times. When your puppy starts mouthing your hand, calmly redirect them to a toy instead. Praise them enthusiastically when they chew the toy.<\/p>\n
The goal is teaching your puppy to redirect their mouthing and biting onto appropriate items. Hands, feet, and clothing are never acceptable targets, but toys always are. As their adult teeth develop and biting becomes less of a physical necessity, they’ll have already learned to direct that behaviour onto appropriate objects. Consistency from everyone in the household is essential.<\/p>\n
End Play When Biting Happens<\/h3>\n
When your puppy bites too hard, respond the way another puppy would: make a brief, high-pitched yelp, then immediately stop playing and turn away. This mimics the feedback puppies get from littermates and teaches them that hard biting ends the fun.<\/p>\n
Wait a few seconds, then re-engage. If biting happens again, repeat the process. Your puppy will quickly learn that gentle play continues while biting makes the game stop. Avoid dramatic reactions – shouting, waving arms, or pushing your puppy away can seem like exciting play to them.<\/p>\n
Provide Teething Relief<\/h3>\n
If your puppy is teething, give them appropriate outlets for that discomfort. Frozen washcloths, rubber teething toys, and specially designed puppy chews can all help soothe sore gums. A puppy with plenty of appropriate chewing options is less likely to target your furniture or fingers.<\/p>\n
Teach Calm Greetings and Interactions<\/h3>\n
Many biting incidents happen during greetings and high-excitement moments. Teach your puppy that calm behaviour gets rewards. Ask them to sit before giving attention, treats, or starting play. This helps them learn that jumping, mouthing, and nipping aren’t the way to get what they want.<\/p>\n
Interactions with people should be positive and rewarding, but they should also teach appropriate behaviour. Everyone your puppy meets can help reinforce good habits by asking for a sit before giving treats, not encouraging jumping up, and keeping greetings calm rather than excitable.<\/p>\n