How to stop puppy biting
Why puppies bite, what to do in the moment, and a week by week plan to teach a soft mouth with rewards. Plus what to avoid and when to get help.
9 guides
Puppy training, from the first night home
Biting, accidents, crying at night and a tiny brain that wants to learn everything at once. Here is how to train a puppy, one week at a time.
Leash training a puppy
How to leash train a puppy: getting used to the collar or harness, first walks indoors, loose leash basics and how long puppy walks should be.
The first week
The first days are about safety, sleep and routine, not obedience. Set up a quiet corner with a crate or pen, keep visitors few, and take your puppy out to potty often. See your puppy’s first week for a checklist.
The big five
Most puppy struggles come down to five topics. Each has a full guide:
- Biting. Normal, and it gets better with the right response. How to stop puppy biting.
- Potty training. A schedule beats luck. Potty training a puppy.
- Sleep. Puppies need far more than you’d think. How much should a puppy sleep.
- The crate. A safe den, never a punishment. Crate training.
- Socialization. The window closes fast. Puppy socialization.
Socialization can’t wait
The first three months are when a puppy’s curiosity outweighs fear. What they meet calmly in that time tends to feel normal for life. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that puppies get safe socialization before they are fully vaccinated, and says puppy classes can start as early as 7 to 8 weeks, after a first set of vaccines at least 7 days before and a first deworming.
Quality beats quantity: one calm, positive meeting with a person in a hat is worth more than a crowded street that overwhelms your puppy.
First skills
Short, playful sessions of a minute or two:
- A marker word and their name.
- Sit for everything they want.
- Come, while they still follow you everywhere.
- Walking on a leash, indoors first.
- Drop it and leave it, for socks and dropped food.
What to expect at each age
| Age | Focus |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks | Settling in, potty routine, name, gentle handling, calm socialization |
| 10–12 weeks | Sit, down, recall games, short car trips, meeting friendly vaccinated dogs |
| 3–4 months | Leash walking, leave it, longer alone time, teething chews |
| 4–6 months | Real world practice, stays, polite greetings |
| 6–18 months | The teenage phase: patience, exercise and back to basics |
Every puppy is different. Use this as a rough map, not a schedule to worry about.
The teenage phase
Somewhere around six months, many good puppies seem to forget everything. It’s normal, and it passes. Keep training short, add exercise and brain games, and go back a step when you need to. See our program for the teen phase.
Quick guides
Train it with a plan
Frequently asked questions
When should I start training my puppy?
The day they come home. Around 8 weeks old, puppies can already learn their name, a marker word, sit and the start of house training. Keep sessions to a minute or two.
How long does it take to house train a puppy?
Many puppies are mostly reliable by 4 to 6 months, but it varies a lot by puppy, breed and routine. Accidents along the way are normal.
Is it OK to take my puppy out before all their vaccines?
Ask your vet about your area. Veterinary behavior experts recommend safe socialization before vaccinations are complete, because the first three months are the key window. Avoid places where unknown dogs gather, like dog parks.
My puppy bites all the time. Is that normal?
Yes. Mouthing is how puppies explore and play. Your job is to teach a soft mouth and give them better things to bite. See our guide to stopping puppy biting.
Sources and further reading
- Position Statement on Puppy Socialization. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).
- Howell, T., King, T., and Bennett, P. (2015). Puppy parties and beyond: the role of early age socialization practices on adult dog behavior. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 6, 143–153.