My 1-year-old dog bites my hands hard when playing. How to stop?

Question

I got a 1 year old Lhasa Apso mix 2 days ago. He is super sweet, except when he wants to play he tends to bite, even when I provide toys for him instead. He will ignore the toy at times and go for my hands and arms. He bites to the point that it hurts and has left a few bruises. How can I teach him that he can play bite if it's soft? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year old

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

It is best if you don't let Toby bite at all, even during play! Even play bites in small dogs with sharp teeth can lead to punctures or bruising on human skin. When you play, always play with a toy, not your hands. That means you also have to refrain from using your hands to tease him, I know it can be hard to resist! If he nips, lightly tap him on the nose, tell him no, then re-direct his attention to a toy that you can play with together, like a squeaky toy or tugging on a rope toy. Stay consistent and eventually he will learn that biting humans is not good; it can take several months of consistency when playing for a young dog to learn. With any toy, make sure that Toby isn't tearing it apart or chewing off pieces that he could swallow!

My 1-year-old dog bites my hands hard when playing. How to stop?

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