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

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Male | neutered | 5 months and 4 days old

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?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on November 20th, 2016

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

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    Answered By Sarah Derksen, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 7th, 2018

    Hi. The good news is he is young and impressionable. Lol. I recommend that you have him work with a trainer. You can Google them in your area, but it would be best to get a personal recommendation from your veterinarian for one they recommend to their clients. If you do have further questions or more specifics please feel free to open a consultation.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on March 7th, 2020

    He's a puppy and likely teething as well as playing, exploring and testing boundaries. It's up to you to teach him what is appropriate and what is bot. When he bites or chews things he isn't supposed to(including hands and feet), stop him with a firm, loud "No" or "No bite". When he stops, offer something he can chew on. If he responds positively, offer praise and a small reward. If he persists, stop all activity/interaction until he settles down, even if you have to put him in a separate room. Be firm and be consistent.

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