How do I stop a 12 week old puppy from biting my hands all the time?

Question

I have gotten him chew toys and have one handy but he goes for my fingers.Those little teeth hurt!!!!!

Answer 1

I cannot believe how much bad information is out there and thanks to Cesar Milan who is propogating even more bad information about dogs and dog training - please don't listen to him. He and his methods have been condemned by the ASPCA and veterinary associations across the country as well as trainers around the country for setting dog training back to the 'dark ages'.

As a trainer for Sirius Puppy Training, started by Dr. Ian Dunbar (trainer, behaviorist and veterinarian as well as renowned author and founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers) here is the scoop on puppy biting and bite inhibition and what is taught in our classes:

It is normal for puppies to bite. They have razor sharp teeth and underdeveloped jaw muscles so they cannot actually do any pressure damage, but can get feedback about the power of their jaws during the first 4-5 months of their life because the razor sharp teeth still hurt.

A puppy spends most of it's day sleeping, eating, eliminating and most importantly learning bite inhibition through playing with its littermates, when nursing from its mother and feedback from you - its owner. If it bites too hard in play, its littermates will yelp and play stops for a few seconds. This happens over and over again until the pup learns that when it bites too hard, play stops, but as long as it's biting with a soft mouth, play continues.

You can do the same with your puppy. Force the issue in order to give your puppy lots of practice - that means take time every day to stick your finger in your puppy's mouth and work on this.

Week One:
Allow the puppy to mouth/bite away until you feel a hard crunch.
Give a high pitched yelp - the way it's littermate would.
DO NOT YANK YOUR FINGER AWAY - that leads to chase the hand which is a huge reward for the puppy.
Instead, wait until the puppy releases (which he will at your yelp) and immediately praise and give him a treat.
Repeat this several times.

Week Two:
Allow your puppy to mouth, but this time give the yelp when you feel just an uncomfortable pressure.
Repeat the process.

Week Three:
Any light mouthing elicits the yelp from you.
This will apply now to any clothing or face nipping.
By this week your puppy will learn that humans are big weenies and he must be very careful with his teeth around their skin.

Week Four:
No dog initiated mouthing.
If he does, immediately put him in a time-out for 10 seconds.
Let him out and try again. You must be consistent with time-outs for mouthing.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PUPPY BE ALLOWED TO BITE AND MOUTH AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON A TAPERED SCHEDULE. If you stop a puppy from mouthing altogether right from the get-go, you end up with a dog that does not know the strength of it's jaws and never develops bite inhibition. Therefore, if someone were to accidentally step on it's tail in the future and it turns around to bite, the dog that was never allowed to mouth and given tapered feedback will give a damage bite (punctures) whereas the dog that was taught bite inhibition will be able to turn around and perhaps put it's teeth on you to tell you that hurt, but will not break skin.

That is why you should not bonk it on the head, or hit it with a newspaper or grab and shake its muzzle or any of the 'dominance asserting' crap that is propagated out there. Your puppy is developing normally and must learn bite inhibition and you must teach it appropriately.

Answer 2

First of all, yes they do hurt. When my dog was a puppy and in that bite everything stage, I picked up a product called bitter apple. There are several manufacturers, and I have not found any one brand to be better than another. But you can spray it on anything that you do not want the dog to chew on (even his own fur, which is great if he picks up that bad habit). I used to spray it on one hand only, then when I started playing, and my dog went to wrap her gums around my hand (I made sure it was the sprayed hand), the foul taste made her stop, it distracted her, and I was able to redirect her attention to a chew toy or something else that was appropriate for her to have in her mouth. It only took me 3 or 4 playtimes of doing this to get through to my dog.

Word of caution though. These products taste terrible to humans too, so do not put it on your hand and then put that hand to your mouth, or you will all too quickly see why it is such a good way of teaching your dog not to bite, lol.

Have a long and fun life together with your new friend :o)

Answer 3

Try a sharp "NO" when he does it. I have also heard that if you howl like an older dog would it helps. He may not realize that he's hurting you. If you are playing with him and he does this only give him a couple of chances. If he continues to play too rough or bite say one last "NO" and then end the game. He will learn that playing rough or biting means the fun is over. Wait 5 or 10 minutes then repeat. Giving him fewer and fewer chances, until if he doesn't stop after one "NO" then fun is over. He'll learn.

Answer 4

My puppy used to do that all the time when she was little..she's still a pup at 16 months...but when she grabs my finger(s) I just hold my hand still as she's trying to chew it...and then she realizes I stopped playing, she stops chewing on them. Then she herself lets her grip go off of my hand and waits for me to start playing again. When she's super excited and dosen't stop I grab her mouth and pull her in close and look into her eyes and say "NO" and walk away. After a while she picked up that she needs not to do that...Hope that helps!

Answer 5

Ever watch the program "The Dog Whisperer"?

I believe it comes on TLC.

But anyway, you must establish dominance with the animal. Let the puppy know that you are boss. You can do this easily (with little to no pain to the animal) by grabbing it by the skin of its neck (gently, no force needed) letting it feel your fingertips in its skin.

Then gently push it's head to the ground (after it bites you) and say "NO" rather forcefully while doing it. (this simulates an alpha male biting the puppy's neck.) You may have to do this for a few times for the pup to get the hint, but be patient, it will learn.

Answer 6

My Shih Tzu is a male 13 1/2 week old. He bites all the time too. He's not trying to be mean, but he thinks it's cute and does it when he wants to play. My husband and I grab his mouth and say No firmly, but he still does it. He has a stubborn streak! We give him chew toys, bones, pig ears, other types of toys,etc. but none of it has worked yet. I need advice too. :-)

Answer 7

I have found that is you give him a firm pinch on his neck, while making a load psssst, sound really works wonders...not only for biting but for all kinds of naughty behaviors. If you think that he is the dominant type, then you need to let him know that your the boss, and to do that just pick him up, cradle him on his back in your arms, and the more he struggles to get off his back,( a dogs submissive position) squeeze a little tighter, until he gives in to being submissive. Oh and the pinch on the neck represents the mother dog scolding them.

Answer 8

Puppies chew on everything because they are like teething babies. I would continue with the chew toys and reward him when he chews on them but when he goes for your fingers give him thump on the nose. He will eventually think of your fingers and the thing the thumps his nose and not a chewy!

Answer 9

a newspaper work really well every time the puppies start biting you. get him or her with a newspaper not hard just make a little noise on her butt. that what worked for me. but, you have doe it every time so you let the puppie know that why she getting in trouble. once it learns that when it does something wrong you smack with a newspaper its work for almost everything not just biting. its gives them understanding that there doing something wrong. i hope this helps you with your problem

Answer 10

My puppy started doing that 2 weeks ago, just say NO in a firm voice and spank him or spank his nose (not to hard). It will take time but he will get the hint that he's hurting you and eventually he'll stop.