My puppy keeps biting my hands. How can I stop this nipping?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Male | unneutered | 5 months and 25 days old
How do I train or stop my dog from nipping and gnawing at my (and others) hand as his teeth is getting sharp and I don't want it to become a habit. How do I approach this?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 26th, 2017
I see that Chance is still a puppy, only about six months old :) Biting and mouthing is very normal behavior in a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. Chance is also teething right now, which often increases mouthy behavior. This is a normal developmental stage that will resolve on its own as he gets older, but there are a few things you can do in the meantime to help. First, make sure that he has a variety of different toys available to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. He should also have lots of different things to chew on, such as bully sticks, large rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. If he bites you during play, just redirect him to one of his toys and use that to play with him instead. If you're petting him and he bites your hands, calmly stop petting and ignore him until he calms down. This behavior resolves in most dogs by 12-18 months of age, sometimes sooner - so just be patient and consistent in the meantime while he learns. :)
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 24th, 2017
Puppies this age will bite and chew out of curiosity, when bored or playing and during teething. You can teach Bella what is appropriate to chew and what isn't very easily. When she chews/bites inappropriately, stop playing and offer a stern "No" or "No bite". Once she stops, offer an appropriate sized chew toy. Praise her when she complies. Cease play if she doesn't until she calms down. Avoid rough play or activities that get her too riled up. Be firm and be consistent. For teething, you can buy chews toys that can be frozen them given. A wet washcloth can also be frozen to provide relief for sensitive gums.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on June 7th, 2017
This is normal behavior for a young puppy, however that does not mean that you want him to continue doing it. The earlier you start to correct these problems the easier it will be to train him in the long run. When Snoopy bites tell him loudy and sternly "no bite!" and place him on the floor away from you and ignore him for a couple minutes. You can also try to redirect his biting behavior by giving him something appropriate to bite or chew on like a toy. Be firm and be consistent and he will realize that when he bites he gets no attention from you and he will learn to stop.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 17th, 2018
Congratulations on your new puppy! Play biting and being excessively "mouthy" is very common in puppies. I have not personally had luck with the techniques of saying "No!" or holding the muzzle. I find that makes puppies more excited. My general rule for puppies is that you make a high pitched squeak (like a littermate puppy would do if they bit too hard), then walk away from the situation. More than anything, your puppy wants to play with you. If you walk away, it is negative reinforcement, so they are less likely to do that behavior again. Depending on the puppy, the goal is to get them to look away from you or start doing something else before you engage in play again. Repetition is the key to this training process. I found that a long rope toy made a good toy to play with my puppy because there was lots of toy for him to bite at without touching my skin. I also found that allowing him to play with other dogs was a great way for him to learn what is appropriate play. I took my dog to doggy day care twice a week as a puppy which really helped with his energy level as well as appropriate play technique. And finally, start a puppy class. A basic obedience class is so important for a puppy. They want to behave, but don't know what to do with their energy. And an Aussie mix certainly has a lot of energy! I hope that was helpful! Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on November 5th, 2016
This is completely normal puppy behavior - he will grow out of it as he gets older, but for now you will need to be patient with him, as this is how puppies explore the world and how they instinctively want to play. Make sure that he has a variety of different toys to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. Providing items to chew on like bully sticks, cow or pig ears, rawhide chews, or food puzzle toys such as a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter can also be helpful. If you are playing with Paopao and he bites your hands, just redirect him to one of his toys and use that to play with him instead. If you're petting him and he bites you, calmly stop petting and ignore him until he calms down. At this age, you may only be able to pet him when he is calm and sleepy - this is okay, and will improve as he gets older :)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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