How do I get my dog to be less aggressive? He's 8 months and doesnt understand that he bites hard. Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered

I see that Rowan is only about 8 weeks old :) Biting is very normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how they explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. This behavior will resolve on its own as he gets older, but there are definitely some things you can do right now to help. 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. You should also provide lots of different items for him to chew on by himself - things like bully sticks, cow or pig ears, large rawhide chews, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. If you are playing with him and he bites you, just redirect him to one of his toys and use that to play with him instead. Verbal scolding or punishment usually just frustrates the puppy and gets him more worked up, so this is not recommended. If he bites your hands when you pet him, calmly stop petting and ignore him until he calms down. At this age, you may only be able to pet him when he is relaxed and sleepy - this is perfectly okay, and will improve as he gets older.

Biting and mouthing are very common in young dogs this age - this is how they instinctively want to play. Make sure that you have a variety of different types of toys for your puppy to play with - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. When you are playing and he bites you, just redirect him to one of his toys and use that to play with him instead. During "downtime" when you're relaxing, give him something to chew on to help keep him busy so that he doesn't bite you for attention - things like bully sticks, cow or pig ears, large rawhide chews, or puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter are all good options. This type of biting and mouthing normally resolves on its own with age, so be patient and consistent in the meantime and give him more appropriate ways to play with you instead :)

Why does my 8-month-old puppy bite so hard, and how do I stop it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered

How do I get my dog to be less aggressive? He's 8 months and doesnt understand that he bites hard.

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Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH 193

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on March 20th, 2018

Is Chuckie actually aggressive or is he biting you too hard when you play? I will presume that he is just biting you too hard when you play. Play biting and being excessively "mouthy" is very common in puppies. I have not personally had luck with the techniques of saying "No!" or holding the muzzle. I that makes puppies more excited. My general rule for puppies is that you make a high pitched squeak (like a littermate puppy would do if they bit too hard), then walk away from the situation. More than anything, Chuckie wants to play with you. If you walk away, it is negative reinforcement, so he is less likely to do that behavior again. Depending on the puppy, the goal is to get them to look away from you or start doing something else before you engage in play again. I found that a long rope toy made a good toy to play with my puppy because there was lots of toy for him to bite at without touching my skin. I also found that allowing him to play with other dogs is a great way for him to learn what is appropriate play. I took my dog to doggy day care twice a week as a puppy which really helped with his energy level as well as appropriate play technique. And finally, start a puppy class. A basic obedience class is so important for a puppy. They want to behave, but don't know what to do with their energy. I hope that was helpful! Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Why does my 8-month-old puppy bite so hard, and how do I stop it?

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