How to correct play biting and mouthing? Doesn’t happen often. Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Female | spayed | 7 months and 14 days old | 48.8 lbs

Since Abby is still a puppy, she is not biting out of aggression, she is doing it to play. The most common reason for biting a human during play is because we allow puppies to see our hands as toys or we tease them with our hands. So the first step is to not play with her using your hands. Instead, always use a toy. Play fetch, tug, squeak things, etc. If she tries to bite you when you are not playing with her, tap her on the nose or squirt her with a water bottle and tell her no. Remember that she may be trying to get your attention. So wait a few minutes after reprimanding her, then play with her.

Play biting and being excessively "mouthy" is very common in puppies. And at 7 months of age, Simba is still a puppy (even though he has all his adult teeth), and you will need to teach him how to correctly play. I have not personally had luck with the techniques of saying "No!" or holding the muzzle. I find 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, Simba wants to play with you. If you walk away, it is negative reinforcement, so he is less likely to do that behavior again. At any point that Simba puts his teeth on you, play time is over. 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 was 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.

Hi there! This is a normal thing that all puppies do - it will resolve on its own with age as long as you don't actively encourage it, so there's no need to punish her for being a normal puppy :) Instead, work on redirecting her to a toy when she gets excited and wants to bite your hands or your hair - praise her and reward by playing with her as soon as she grabs the toy instead. You should also make sure that you are providing her with plenty of exercise, as well as appropriate things to chew on such as bully sticks, rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter.

My puppy bites my hands. How do I stop this mouthing behavior?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

How to correct play biting and mouthing? Doesn’t happen often

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM 130

Veterinarian

Published on April 15th, 2018

Congratulations on your new puppy! Play biting/mouthing is a normal puppy behavior but one we do not want to continue. I would recommend following the guidelines outlined by Dr. Sophia Yin, a veterinary behaviorist, on dealing with this issue. You can read her article with recommendations at: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy_play_leads_to_nip_marks_on_hands_and_arms/

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

My puppy bites my hands. How do I stop this mouthing behavior?

Most Helpful Answer

Other Answers

Related Questions

Why is my new pet biting? Is she stressed or scared in her new home?

My robo hamster is limp, bleeding, and collapsed. Is it wet tail?

Is my pet's occasional sneezing and eye crust a URI symptom?

How to keep a pet mom and her newborn babies warm and calm?

My hamster is suddenly bloated, angry, and biting. What should I do?

My new pet is squirmy when I hold her. How do I make her comfortable?

Share