Will my puppy stop nipping and biting on its own as it grows up?

Question

Will puppies eventually stop nipping without any training? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | 12 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

In most cases, yes - biting and mouthing during play is a normal puppy behavior that resolves on its own with age. Occasionally, the behavior can persist into adulthood in some puppies who are easily over-aroused or have other emotional or behavioral issues. You can help Comino learn how to use his mouth appropriately by providing lots of different toys for him to play with, and redirecting him to one of his toys whenever he bites you during play. He should also have lots of different chew items such as bully sticks, rawhide chews, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. Most puppies are no longer biting and mouthing nearly as much by 8-10 months of age. If your pup does not show any signs of improvement after that age, or if the biting seems to be getting worse over time instead of better, then I would recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can help you in person. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

Will my puppy stop nipping and biting on its own as it grows up?

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