The biting phase is a normal part of puppy development that all dog owners will experience. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, so it’s inevitable that their sharp little teeth will find their way to human skin, clothing, shoes, and more. While puppy biting is perfectly natural, it’s important to curb this behavior to avoid injury and damage. So how long does this intense chewing and nipping usually last?
When Does Puppy Biting Start?
Puppies begin teething and biting around 3-4 weeks of age. At this stage, it is simply playful mouthing as they learn how to develop bite inhibition with their littermates. The puppy biting phase fully sets in once the puppy leaves its mother and litter around 8-12 weeks old. This is when biting and nipping becomes more frequent and potentially more painful as adult teeth start coming in.
Peak of Puppy Biting
The peak of puppy biting occurs between 12-16 weeks of age. During this stage, their baby teeth are being replaced by larger, sharper adult teeth. The gums are more sensitive and the urge to chew is very strong. Puppies also become more mobile during this stage and want to explore everything with their mouths. It is common for play biting to become more aggressive around this age. Owners may experience broken skin from razor-sharp teeth. Patience and consistency in training is crucial to curb biting behavior.
When Does Puppy Biting Reduce?
After 16 weeks, the frequency and force of puppy bites should start to decrease. As they lose their baby teeth and the adult teeth come in fully, the chewing urge lessens. Puppies have better control over the pressure of their jaws and can now learn bite inhibition. With consistent training and redirection, puppies will learn that human skin and belongings are off limits. The biting phase is considered over around 6-8 months old, when puppies gain better impulse control.
Factors That Determine Duration of Puppy Biting
While most puppies outgrow biting around 6-8 months, the exact duration can vary. Factors that influence how long puppy biting lasts include:
Breed Characteristics
Some breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers are known as mouthy breeds. They tend to nip and mouth more as puppies and take longer to learn bite inhibition. Herding breeds like Border Collies also have a tendency to nip at heels while playing. These breeds may require more diligent training to curb biting.
Individual Temperament
Puppies with more excitable, high energy temperaments are often extra bitey. They get carried away more easily while playing and mouthing. Calmer puppies or those with more shy temperaments may bite less frequently overall.
Training Methods
Using positive reinforcement and redirection techniques will help puppies learn faster that human skin and belongings are off limits for biting. Punishment or harsh corrections tend to only make matters worse. Consistency is key, so everyone in the household should use the same training methods.
Exercise Needs Met
Puppies have a lot of energy and need productive outlets for chewing and biting. Providing plenty of appropriate chew toys and playing games like fetch prevents boredom and excess energy from leading to biting people or furniture. Physical and mental stimulation is important.
Socialization
Well-socialized puppies learn bite inhibition from their mother and litter. Early socialization with other puppies and adult dogs provides important feedback on biting pressure. Puppies separated too early tend to mouth and bite more.
Tips to Survive Puppy Biting Phase
Here are some useful strategies dog owners can use to deal with puppies in their biting phase:
Have Plenty of Chew Toys Available
Give your puppy acceptable things to chew like rubber teething toys, ropes, compressed rawhide. Rotate the toys to keep the puppy interested. Offer appropriate chew toys whenever you play with your puppy or when it starts mouthing you. This provides an acceptable teething outlet.
Use Bitter Sprays and Gels
Applying bitter no-chew sprays and gels to furniture legs, shoes, hands, and other areas the puppy likes to bite can deter biting. The unpleasant bitter taste helps teach what items are off limits. Do not spray these deterrents directly in the puppy’s mouth or face.
Try Frozen Treats
Freezing a wet washcloth, stuffed Kong toy, or rope toy can provide cooling relief for sore gums. The cold temperature is also distracting when a puppy gets overly bitey during play. Supervise your puppy with frozen items to avoid choking risks.
Use Hand Feeding
Feeding a portion of your puppy’s kibble through hand feeding teaches respect for human hands and reinforces gentle mouth habits. Make your hand go still when the puppy’s teeth touch skin, then reward calm mouths. Practice this in short daily sessions.
Withdraw Attention
When your puppy starts biting or mouthing during play, immediately stand up and withdraw all attention. Turn your back on the puppy for 30-60 seconds. This teaches that rough biting ends the fun. Praise and resume play when the puppy is calmer.
Use Gentle Corrections
For hard biting, interrupt the behavior with a loud “Ouch!” to startle your puppy. Then redirect their mouthing to a toy. Startle devices like pet corrector spray or a shake can also deter biting. Do not physically punish puppies for biting.
Enroll in Training Classes
Find a good positive reinforcement puppy kindergarten class. These classes will have supervised off-leash play that helps puppies learn bite inhibition. Trainers can also guide you on effective methods to reduce biting.
Avoid Games That Encourage Mouthing
Avoid wrestling games like tug-of-war or hands that wiggle fingers to mimic prey during the teething stage. These games rewarded mouthing behavior and may increase biting. Stick to calm games like fetch that provide an outlet for energy without encouraging biting.
When to Be Concerned About Puppy Biting
While biting during the teething phase is normal, there are certain signs that could indicate problematic or aggressive behavior developing:
– Biting that continues aggressively after 6-8 months of age
– Biting that breaks skin and causes deep punctures or lacerations
– Biting directed at the face, throat, or sensitive areas
– Biting without any signs of playfulness, appears “angry”
– Biting over food, toys, bedding, or other objects
– Biting that is unpredictable and unprovoked
If biting seems abnormally aggressive or a risk to family safety, seek help from a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist right away. Do not attempt overly harsh corrections that could make behavior worse. Management and prevention are needed until the cause of aggression can be addressed.
Puppy Biting By Age Table
| Puppy Age | Teething Stage | Biting Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| 8-12 weeks | Baby teeth start coming in | Mouthing and nipping starts |
| 12-16 weeks | Losing baby teeth, adult teeth erupting | Peak biting phase, may break skin |
| 16-20 weeks | Adult teeth almost all in | Biting starts to decline |
| 5-8 months | All adult teeth erupted | Rarely bites humans, responds well to training |
| 8 months+ | Teething complete | Biting behavior should be minimal |
Conclusion
The intense puppy biting stage usually lasts from around 12-20 weeks as puppies teethe and explore the world with their mouths. With positive and consistent training methods, most puppies can learn to curb biting behavior well before they turn 6-8 months old. Seeking professional help is recommended if biting remains problematic after teething is over. While frustrating, remember that puppy biting is temporary. Keep redirecting to appropriate items, use deterrents when needed, and try to remain calm and patient as your puppy grows out of the mouthing phase.