Home › Reviews › Stop a Puppy From Biting
Dog Behavior

How to Stop a Puppy From Biting

The ASPCA and VCA both say play biting is normal puppy behavior, and they give the same basic fix: teach the puppy to be gentle, end the game when teeth touch skin, and hand over a toy instead.

Liv
·6 min read
Play biting is normal. When teeth touch skin, yelp (ASPCA) or stop play, say "off" and back away, leaving the room if the biting continues (VCA). The ASPCA says to ignore the puppy for 10 to 20 seconds after a hard bite; then offer a toy. Do not hit, slap or shake the puppy (ASPCA, VCA). Seek a professional if the biting looks aggressive or fearful (ASPCA).
How We Select Products: We set the criteria first from veterinary and shelter guidance (a toy that gives the puppy something acceptable to bite, and no physical punishment) and then read the Amazon listing for each product. We have not tested these products ourselves, so where we repeat the manufacturer's description we say 'per the listing'.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, PawPicks earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why Puppies Bite

The ASPCA says puppies explore the world with their mouths and teeth during play, chewing and investigation.[1] VCA says play biting is generally a form of social play rather than teething, and that puppies need to learn bite inhibition, which is how much jaw pressure causes pain.[2] If your puppy is chewing furniture and shoes rather than people, that is a different problem; see our guide to when puppies stop chewing.

Teach Bite Inhibition

The ASPCA defines bite inhibition as a dog's ability to control the force of their mouthing. Puppies normally learn it from littermates: when one bites too hard, the other yelps and stops playing.[1] You can teach the same lesson:

  1. Yelp, then go limp. The ASPCA says to give a high-pitched yelp when the puppy bites and then let your hand go limp.[1]
  2. Give a short time-out. The ASPCA says to ignore the puppy for 10 to 20 seconds after a hard bite.[1]
  3. Ask for gentler mouthing over time. The ASPCA says to yelp at progressively softer bites, and to repeat the sequence no more than three times in 15 minutes.[1]
  4. Offer something to bite. The ASPCA says to substitute a toy or chew bone for fingers and toes.[1]

Yelp or Leave the Room?

The two sources describe the same idea slightly differently. Pick the approach that calms your puppy rather than winding it up.

MethodWhat the source saysSource
Yelp and go limpA high-pitched yelp when the puppy bites, then let your hand go limp, then a 10 to 20 second time-out after a hard biteASPCA
Stop play, back awayStop play, say a sharp "off" and back away; if the puppy persists, close a door and walk out of the room, so the message is that all social interaction with you stops when the biting startsVCA

VCA adds that this teaches the puppy that biting ends your attention, which is why it suggests walking out of the room if the puppy persists.[2]

Redirect to a Toy

The ASPCA says to substitute a toy or chew bone when a puppy gnaws fingers and toes, to feed treats from your hand while petting to discourage mouthing, to encourage fetch and tug instead of hand wrestling, and to carry a favorite tug toy to redirect foot and ankle biting.[1] VCA suggests soft toys, food toys and tug of war to satisfy the need to mouth, with tug stopped immediately if teeth touch skin and the puppy taught to give the toy up on command.[2]

KONG Puppy Teething Chew Toy (Small Puppies)
Best Rubber Chew

KONG Puppy, Natural Rubber Teething Chew Toy, for Small Puppies

A natural-rubber puppy toy you can stuff with treats; the ASPCA says to substitute a toy or chew bone when a puppy gnaws fingers and toes.

Pros

  • Natural rubber made for growing puppies, per the listing
  • Can be stuffed with treats, per the listing

Cons

  • Sized for small puppies, so check the size for a bigger breed
  • Needs supervision like any chew
Price varies by size and seller; check current price on Amazon
Check current price on Amazon
KONG Puppy Goodie Bone
Best Chew Bone

KONG Puppy Goodie Bone, Natural Rubber Chew, for Small Puppies

A rubber bone with a hollow for treats, for puppies that want something to carry as well as chew.

Pros

  • Natural rubber chew toy, per the listing
  • Stuffable with KONG treats, per the listing

Cons

  • Sized for small puppies
  • A treat-filled toy adds calories
Price varies by size and seller; check current price on Amazon
Check current price on Amazon

What Not to Do

The ASPCA says not to wave your fingers or slap the puppy's face to entice play, not to jerk your hands or feet away because that encourages grabbing, and not to slap, hit, shake the scruff or whack the nose. It says hitting a puppy for playful mouthing can make the puppy bite harder.[1] VCA does not recommend physical methods and says pain can cause aggression, anxiety or fear.[2]

When to Get Professional Help

The ASPCA says to seek a professional, and names a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, if the biting looks aggressive or fearful. It describes temper tantrums as more serious than playful mouthing.[1] Your own vet is a good first call if you are unsure.

Quick Comparison

ProductWhat It's For
KONG Puppy Teething Chew ToyA rubber chew you can stuff with treats, to redirect biting
KONG Puppy Goodie BoneA rubber bone with a treat hollow

Our Take

Biting is normal, and the fix is consistent rather than harsh: end the game when teeth touch skin, hand over a toy, and never hit. If the biting looks fearful or frustrated, talk to your vet or a behaviorist. For puppies that also pull on the lead, see our guide to stopping leash pulling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The ASPCA says puppies explore with their mouths during play, chewing and investigation, and VCA says play biting is generally a form of social play.
The ASPCA says to yelp when the puppy bites, let your hand go limp, ignore the puppy for 10 to 20 seconds after a hard bite, and ask for gentler mouthing over time.
The ASPCA describes a yelp and a short time-out. VCA describes stopping play, saying "off" and backing away, and leaving the room if the puppy persists. Use the approach that calms your puppy rather than excites it.
The ASPCA suggests toys or chew bones, fetch and tug, and VCA suggests soft toys, food toys and tug of war, with tug stopped if teeth touch skin.
No. The ASPCA warns that hitting a puppy for playful mouthing can make the puppy bite harder, and VCA does not recommend physical methods.
The ASPCA says to seek a professional, such as a certified behaviorist, if the biting looks aggressive or fearful, and it describes temper tantrums as more serious than playful mouthing.
About Liv
Co-founder & Lead Reviewer, PawPicks · Haarlem, Netherlands

I live in Haarlem with two dogs, Teddy and Bear, and a cat called Fountain. Seven years of that, and most of what I know I learned by getting it wrong first. I co-founded PawPicks so that you can check before you buy instead of after, and I say plainly when the evidence behind a popular remedy is thinner than the label suggests.

More about Liv →

References

  1. ASPCA. Mouthing, Nipping and Biting in Puppies. ASPCA (no date shown on the page; read 2026-11-06)
  2. VCA Animal Hospitals. Play Biting in Puppies (last updated July 18, 2019). VCA Animal Hospitals (read 2026-11-06)

Keep reading