My puppy's biting is tearing skin. Should I see a behaviorist?

Question

My dog's biting/"teething" is getting out of control. He's constantly going after hands, feet, legs - just about anything he can find. It happens at random times of the day, especially when he wakes up to eat breakfast. I would be okay if this was play biting, but he's tearing skin and ripping clothes when he does this. We've never hit him with our hands or touched him with our feet. Should we contact a behavior specialist or will dog classes help? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 5 months and 14 days old | 13 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

This can be a very frustrating stage with some puppies! Biting and mouthing is a very normal behavior for pups this age - but if you think that what Dexter is doing is excessive, an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist would be the best option. He/she can evaluate him in person to help determine if what you're seeing is normal or not, and can show you some strategies to help with this behavior. A puppy class can be good for socialization and teaching basic obedience skills, but will likely not help at all with an issue like this. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

My puppy's biting is tearing skin. Should I see a behaviorist?

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