Help! My Puppy is a Land Shark: A Guide to Normal Puppy Biting

Puppy biting is 100% normal behaviour, but it can be frustrating (and let’s be honest, painful!). Anyone who has had a puppy hanging off their ankles by their teeth will agree: puppy teeth are literally the sharpest thing on Earth.

If you’re dealing with a biting puppy, you’re not alone. In my decade of training dogs as my full-time job, I’ve only met a handful of puppies who didn’t bite. It hurts when it’s on you, the kids, or your guests.

But here is the major thing to remember… It… will… pass. I promise.

But I know that won’t help while your arm is being chewed, so here is the "why" behind the biting and how to get through it.

Why Do Puppies Bite?

There are a few reasons your puppy is using you as a pincushion:

Exploring the World: Puppies investigate with their mouths just like human babies use their hands. It’s their first natural response to everything new.
Play Skills: They use their mouths to play with other puppies. They just haven't learned yet that human skin is much thinner than dog scruff!
Teething: When those gums are sore, biting provides pressure that actually relieves the pain. We can't blame them for that.
Fear or Over-Tiredness: If a puppy is overwhelmed, they may bite to create space. Think of the "evening zoomies"—an overtired puppy is a bitey puppy!

How Do We Know What’s "Normal"?

Most biting is just standard puppy curiosity. However, if your puppy is biting relentlessly, can't be calmed, or seems to be biting out of genuine fear or frustration, it might be a sign that something else is going on.

If you’re worried that your puppy’s biting feels different or more intense, it’s always best to ask a professional. Click here to email me—I’m happy to help you figure it out.

How to Stop the Biting (And Save Your Skin)

Variety is Key: Provide chew toys with different textures—soft, hard, and cold. Keep a "toy station" in every room so you can grab one quickly.
Redirect, Don't React: If those teeth hit skin, calmly remove yourself or the puppy from the situation. Redirect them immediately to a legal chew toy.
Supervise Social Time: Especially with children. If the puppy gets too "wired," it's time for a nap in a crate or pen.
Bite Inhibition: Don't engage when they are mouthy. Avoid rough wrestling with your hands; they won't understand why they can do it to you but not to your grandma!

The "Big No-No" List

Don't Punish: Hitting or yelling only makes a puppy afraid of you. Fear leads to more biting, not less.
Stop the Squealing: You might have heard this helps, but in my experience, it just makes you a "human squeaky toy." It makes you more exciting to bite!
Timing is Everything: Don't try to groom or cuddle your puppy when they have the zoomies. You’re just setting them up to fail.

Want to get your training off to the 'Right Start'?

Training a puppy is rewarding, but it can be exhausting when you're doing it alone! I specialize in helping Rugby and Warwickshire owners turn "Land Sharks" into calm, sociable companions.

If you'd like a personalised plan to tackle biting, toilet training, and focus, my 90-minute 'Right Start' Consultation is the perfect way to get ahead of the game.

Click here to Email Me and check my current availability

Or check out my Services Page here for more info