Understand Why Your Dog is Biting
There are a few common reasons why dogs may start biting everything in sight:
Puppies explore with their mouths as a natural part of their development. Mouthing and gentle biting allows them to investigate their environment. Puppies generally outgrow this stage as they mature. For more information, see this article on puppy biting.
Your dog may be teething if they are between 3 and 6 months old. The pain and discomfort from erupting teeth can make dogs chew and bite more. Provide safe chew toys to help relieve teething pain. This guide has more tips for dealing with teething.
Dogs that don’t get enough physical and mental exercise can start biting out of boredom. Make sure your dog gets adequate walks, play time, and stimulation. Tired dogs are less likely to bite. Check out this article on exercise needs by breed.
Stress and anxiety can also cause dogs to act out by biting objects or people. Changes in routine, lack of socialization, or negative experiences can all trigger stress that exhibits as biting behavior. Help relieve your dog’s stress and anxiety with routines, socialization, and positive reinforcement training.
Redirect Biting to Appropriate Items
One of the most effective ways to stop a dog from biting is to redirect their biting instinct to appropriate chew toys instead of furniture or hands. Providing a variety of chew toys can satisfy your dog’s natural urge to chew while protecting your belongings.
Look for durable chew toys made of tough nylon or rubber that are designed specifically for aggressive chewers. Rotate different toys to keep your dog interested and avoid boredom. You can also try soaking chew toys in low-sodium broth and freezing them to create refreshing teething toys to soothe sore gums.
Veterinarians recommend brands like Nylabone, Goughnuts, and Kong for durable chew toys that can withstand aggressive chewing. Supervise your dog with new toys and replace any that become worn.
Having a wide selection of enticing chew toys on hand can redirect your dog’s chewing urges to appropriate outlets rather than destructive or aggressive biting.
Exercise Your Dog
Getting enough physical and mental exercise is crucial for reducing problem behaviors in dogs like biting. Dogs were bred to be active, and exercise allows them to burn off excess energy in a productive way. According to the American Kennel Club, the amount of exercise a dog needs varies greatly by breed, but on average, aim for at least 30-60 minutes of activity per day [1]. High energy breeds like Labrador Retrievers may require over an hour.
Make sure your dog gets both physical and mental stimulation. Go for daily walks, play fetch, or take your dog to a dog park for off-leash play. Interactive toys and training sessions also provide mental enrichment. If your dog is constantly bored and underexercised, they are more likely to act out by biting furniture, clothing, or body parts. Providing adequate activity tailored to your dog’s needs can curb inappropriate biting.
Manage Stress and Anxiety
Creating a calm environment can help reduce an anxious dog’s stress levels. This includes keeping noise and activity minimized, especially during times when the dog seems particularly on edge. Providing a quiet, comfortable space, such as a crate lined with blankets, can give the dog a peaceful den-like area to retreat to when feeling overwhelmed.
Crate training is an excellent way to create this type of safe space for an anxious dog. Crates should be positively reinforced with treats and praise so the dog associates it with comfort rather than punishment. Place familiar toys and blankets inside and keep the crate in a low traffic area. Never use the crate for punishment as this can exacerbate anxiety. With proper training, the crate can become a place of relaxation.
Anxiety wraps or shirts are another option for creating a calming environment for a dog. The gentle pressure has been shown to release calming hormones and signals safety similar to a hug for humans. It’s important to introduce the wrap gradually with positive reinforcement to prevent any association with restraint or punishment.
Use Bitter Sprays
Spraying bitter apple spray on objects your dog likes to bite can help deter them from biting those items. Bitter apple spray has a very unpleasant taste for dogs that will teach them to avoid biting objects that have been sprayed. According to customer reviews, products like Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray are effective and safe for deterring biting behaviors.
When using a bitter spray, be sure to spray items your dog tries to bite frequently. For example, if they bite furniture or shoes, spray a light coat on those objects. The goal is to teach the dog that biting those items results in a bad taste. With consistent use, the dog will learn that those items are off-limits for biting. However, be sure to provide appropriate chew toys and redirect biting to those items. Bitter sprays work best alongside positive reinforcement training.
Correct Unwanted Biting
When your puppy bites you, immediately say “no” in a firm tone to indicate that biting is unacceptable. According to the ASPCA, you want your tone to be authoritative but not too loud or aggressive (source: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-puppies).
After the firm “no,” redirect your puppy’s attention to an appropriate chew toy. Having toys on hand will allow you to immediately give your puppy something acceptable to bite down on. Praise your puppy when they take the toy instead of your hand or ankle. This positive reinforcement will help the puppy learn what they should be biting.
If your puppy continues to bite after being told “no,” use a brief time-out by having them sit in a separate boring area for 10-20 seconds. Once the short time-out is over, redirect them back to a toy. With consistency, your puppy will learn that biting results in isolation, but gentle play with a toy brings praise (source: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-puppy-biting/).
Seek Professional Help
If your dog’s biting behavior persists or escalates despite your best efforts, it’s time to seek professional help from experts:
A behavioral specialist like a certified applied animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist can assess your dog’s behavior and design an individualized modification plan. They have extensive education in animal behavior and training methods. Expect to pay $500-3000 for a course of treatment.
A veterinarian can rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be causing the biting. Pain, illness or other issues can contribute to aggression in dogs. Your vet can provide medication if needed and refer you to specialists.
Working with professionals ensures you are getting expert guidance tailored to your individual dog. They can evaluate the biting triggers and circumstances to pinpoint the most effective approach. Don’t hesitate to get help from the experts if you’ve exhausted your own efforts.
Prevent Bites from Escalating
If your dog is biting or showing signs of aggression, it’s important to take steps to prevent the situation from escalating. Here are some tips:
Monitor children interactions: Supervise closely whenever children and dogs are together. Don’t leave dogs unsupervised with young children. Teach children how to gently touch dogs and to leave them alone when eating or sleeping.
Muzzle train if necessary: For severe biting or aggression, muzzle train your dog so you can control biting risk in public. Introduce the muzzle slowly with positive reinforcement.
Rehome dog if aggression persists: As a last resort, rehoming with an experienced owner may be safer if aggression issues can’t be resolved through training and management. Rehoming should be carefully considered, as bites can recur in new homes.
Enroll in Training
Seeking training with a professional can help curb and prevent biting. Consider the following training options:
Obedience classes: Group classes allow dogs to socialize and be trained by experts using positive reinforcement techniques. Pet stores like PetSmart and Petco offer affordable group classes for puppies as well as adult dogs.
Private lessons: For dogs needing individualized attention, in-home private lessons with a certified dog trainer can teach obedience skills and address any problematic behaviors like biting. Lessons are customized for your dog’s needs.
Practice at home: Applying training techniques consistently at home is key for reinforcing good behaviors. Work on basic commands like sit, stay and leave it. Reward your dog with treats for desired behaviors. Limit access to tempting items that prompt biting.
Be Patient and Consistent
Biting behavior in puppies often takes time and consistency to correct. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, so mouthing and play biting are natural behaviors. With patience and perseverance, you can curb biting and teach appropriate play.
It’s important to stick to the training techniques and not give up. If one method isn’t working, try something else. But don’t flip flop between techniques too frequently. According to this article, it can take weeks or months to see real improvements in biting behavior, so be patient.
Remember that dogs aim to please their human companions. If you are consistent with training, your puppy will learn that biting results in negative outcomes like ignoring or time outs. And gentler play results in praise and rewards. With time, your puppy will make the connection and begin biting less while playing appropriately more.
The key is not to get frustrated or angry. Remain calm and be consistent. Eventually your efforts will pay off with a friendly, playful dog who has learned not to bite or nip.