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My puppy bites and humps me. Is this normal? How do I stop it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | | 10 lbs

My puppy will never let me just pet him unless he's asleep he always wants to bite my hand, & he always tries to hump my arm, only me. No one else

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on September 7th, 2016

I see that Bailey is still very young, about three months old :) This is very normal behavior for a puppy this age - they want to put their mouth on everything and would rather bite than be held or petted. This is how they explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. Humping is also a common attention-seeking behavior in young puppies, or can be a sign of over-excitement or frustration. The good news is, these issues will improve on their own as he gets older; it's a normal developmental stage for puppies, just like toddlers who grab everything with their hands and may not always want to be hugged or held. At this age, you may only be able to pet him or cuddle with him when he's sleepy - this is okay. If he bites your hands, just stop petting and ignore him until he calms down, or grab one of his toys and use that to engage him in play. Most dogs are no longer mouthing nearly as much by the time they are 8-12 months old, so hang in there - just be patient and consistent, and he will get calmer and easier to pet as he gets older.

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