4 Reasons Why Your Puppies Bite You

When humans are babies, they want to grab everything with their hands. Puppies don’t have hands, so their next best option is to use their mouth – and, accidentally, their teeth.

This means your dog may bite you without meaning to as they explore the world, or even instinctually. Puppies may bite because:

1. They are frightened of something you did or something in the environment.
2. They are guarding against things they have, like food, treats, toys, or bedding.
3. They are playing and don’t understand that human skin is not as tough as puppy skin.
4. You hurt them and this is the easiest way to tell you that you did.

So what can you do about a bite? Here are some steps to take.

Step 1

Determine the cause of the bite. Pay attention to what triggers the behavior. Does it happen when you bump into them? Are they guarding something? Did something frightening happen? Is it part of play?

Step 2

Teach them to inhibit their bite. A puppy needs to learn that human skin is nothing like puppy skin. Do not encourage them to bite and opt for games and toys where the risk of them biting you is high. Reduce fear by introducing treats and rewards. If your dog is resource guarding, seek professional help.

Step 3

Bring your puppy to a training class. There are lots of things they can learn from there!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay