How do I stop my 3-month-old puppy from biting and jumping on guests?

Question

Hey my dog will not stop biting/jumping on people. He is only three months old but his teeth are sharp. He bites hands/feet/calves: boots what can I do to get him to stop. People come to my house all the time, and don't like that he does this. He will growl if you try to stop him and bite more. When you ignore him he will go right back to doing it. What can I do to stop him? Pet's info: Dog | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Male | neutered | 5 months and 4 days old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

This is very normal behavior for a puppy this age - jumping up is a natural greeting behavior for dogs, and biting and mouthing are how puppies explore the world. You will need to be patient and consistent to teach him what you want him to do. When people come to the house, he needs to be on a leash or in another room behind a baby gate until he calms down. Praise and reward with treats when he keeps all four feet on the floor, or teach him to sit for greetings. 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 lots of things to chew on can also help, especially when you are busy or have company over - try things like bully sticks, cow or pig ears, rawhide chews, and puzzle toys like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. If these things don't help, I would recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person to teach more appropriate greeting behavior. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

How do I stop my 3-month-old puppy from biting and jumping on guests?

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