Puppy Biting: What's Normal, What's Not, and How to Fix It
Those needle teeth are no joke. Learn why puppies bite, when it becomes a problem, and how to teach a soft mouth before bad habits set in.
Every puppy bites. It's how they explore the world, play, and manage teething discomfort. But there's a window — roughly the first six months — where you can teach a soft mouth easily. Miss it, and mouthing becomes a much harder habit to break in an adolescent dog.
What's normal
Mouthing hands during play, chewing everything at teething age (3–6 months), and getting nippier when overtired or overstimulated are all completely normal puppy behavior. Annoying, but normal.
What deserves attention
Biting that intensifies when the puppy is told 'no', guarding food or toys with stiff body language, or biting that targets ankles and clothing relentlessly are signs to start structured training now — these patterns rarely fade on their own.
The fix: teach what teeth are for
Redirect every bite to something legal — a toy or chew — the moment teeth touch skin. If the puppy keeps choosing your hands, calmly end the fun for 30 seconds. Puppies learn fast: teeth on skin makes the fun stop, teeth on toys keeps it going.
Consistency across the whole household is the hard part, and it's where most families struggle. That's exactly what our in-home puppy program handles — everyone learns the same rules, so your puppy gets one clear message.
A Clear Way to Start
Choose the program around your dog's needs and the outcome you want. Owners participate in coaching and practice between visits so the training carries into daily life.
$800 · 5 private in-home sessions
Puppy Foundations
For puppies approximately 8 weeks through 6 months old. Build the habits, communication, and household manners you want from the start.
$1,500 · 8–10 private sessions based on needs
Complete In-Home Training
A customized private training program designed around your dog's needs, covering obedience, manners, real-world reliability, and appropriate behavior problems.
$3,500 · approximately 4 weeks · pickup & drop-off included
30-Day Complete Board & Train
Approximately four weeks of professional training with pickup and drop-off included, real-world proofing, and owner transition coaching.
Puppy Foundations starts with a free phone consultation — no paid evaluation upfront. For in-home and Board & Train programs, the $99 evaluation is a separate paid service and is not credited toward a package. A $275standalone training session is also available for a focused goal when a full program is not the right fit.
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Some of the things people do to prevent resource guarding can actually contribute to creating it. Manage first. Train second. And don’t create a fight with your puppy that never needed to exist.
Want Hands-On Help?
Request a free 15 minutes phone consultation first, and the owner calls you first. If an in-home evaluation is the right next step, we send a private link for you to choose a time and pay $99 online. The 45–60 minutes in-home evaluation fee is separate and is not credited toward a training package.