Puppy biting and teething can be very frustrating and painful for pet parents. If your once calm puppy has turned into a menacing puppy biter, our Gilbert vets are here to tell you how to curb this behavior.
Why does my puppy keep biting me?
Dealing with a teething puppy can feel like a lengthy ordeal if your furry friend cheats on everything in sight. However, it's essential to remain calm and understand that your pup isn't intentionally misbehaving; they're just trying to alleviate the discomfort of teething. Chewing on various objects may be their way of finding relief.
When do puppies start teething?
Puppies usually get their first set of teeth at around five or six weeks of age, and at about 16 weeks old, they will start to lose their sharp baby teeth as their adult teeth begin to come in.
How long does the biting stage last?
At around six to seven months, your dog should have all 42 adult teeth, and your teething should be over. However, the four to five months of intense teething can be tough for many pet owners. Puppies often chew to relieve the pain, which can damage furniture, shoes, or even your fingers and toes due to their small size.
How to Stop a Puppy from Biting
If you're wondering how to train a puppy not to bite, our Gilbert vets have a number of tips that could help curb your puppy's naughty behavior.
Store Some Puppy Friendly Teething Toys in the Freezer
Just like teething babies, puppies often relieve teething pain by chewing on cold or frozen items. While specific teething toys are available at most pet stores, almost any dog toy can be frozen to help your pup. Kongs, rubber bones, and soft toys designed for dogs are all great options for providing relief.
Offer Your Pup Extra Durable Chew Toys
Specific puppy teething bones by brands such as Nylabone are sized appropriately for small, medium, and large breeds. They come flavored to encourage your puppy to chew on them instead of dull, odorless items, thus promoting healthy chewing habits and relieving teething pain.
Edible Teething Sticks for Puppies
Many reputable dog food brands offer edible puppy teething treats and bones to help relieve your puppy's mouth pain. Your vet may recommend a specific product for your puppy, or you can visit your local pet store and choose from various flavors and sizes. Select the right size for your puppy to benefit the most from the teething treat you choose.
Healthy Frozen Foods For Puppies to Chew
Many puppies enjoy tasty treats like frozen bagels, carrots, and other healthy veggies. If you plan to offer your pup a frozen treat, always speak to your vet first to ensure it's a good option.
My puppy keeps biting me, what should I do?
Nipping and biting are natural ways for puppies to play. The hurt pup releases a high-pitched yelp when one puppy bites another too hard. If your young dog is nipping and biting at you, stopping this behavior before it becomes a problem is important.
One effective approach to stopping this behavior is to mimic the yelp of a hurt puppy when your puppy bites you. A loud 'OW' in a high-pitched voice should startle your puppy and cause them to back off.
When your puppy stops and backs off, be sure to offer a reward for good behavior. If this approach leads your puppy to nip at you more aggressively, quietly stop playing with them, walk away, or gently put your puppy in its crate for some quiet time.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.