My puppy is biting and nipping. Is this normal? How do I train her?

Question

i've had my 4 month old pomeranian for about a month now, and i need help asap. she has started aggressively biting while playing and nipping at our feet while we walk. she growls at us when we tell her no and it's getting bad. i really don't want to give her away so i need help. Pet's info: Dog | Pomeranian | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 5 days old | 5.5 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Biting and mouthing during play and at other times including when you pet her, when you are walking, etc. is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. I do not recommend scolding her for this or telling her "no!", as this often makes dogs more frustrated and worked up, and tends to make the problem worse. Instead, redirect her to one of her toys and encourage her to bite the toy instead. Make sure that she 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. She also needs lots of different things to chew on - bully sticks, rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter are all good options you can try. This behavior normally resolves on its own as puppies get older, so there is no need to attempt to punish her for it - just redirect her to something more appropriate, and be patient while she learns :)

My puppy is biting and nipping. Is this normal? How do I train her?

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