Or: Why My Mouth Keeps Finding You
If you’re here, there’s a good chance your hands look like you’ve been arguing with a cactus.
You might be wondering:
- Is this normal?
- Am I doing something wrong?
- Is my puppy aggressive?
- Will this ever stop?
Take a breath.
I’m not biting because I’m naughty.
I’m biting because I’m a puppy.
First, the Most Important Thing
Puppy biting is not a behaviour problem.
It’s a developmental phase.
I explore the world with my mouth.
I soothe discomfort with my mouth.
I communicate excitement, frustration, tiredness, and overwhelm with my mouth.
If you have a puppy, biting will happen.
That doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It means you have a puppy.
What Biting Feels Like From My Side
My gums hurt.
My body gets tired faster than my brain.
My emotions arrive before my self-control.
When things feel:
- too exciting
- too loud
- too fast
- too long
My mouth gets involved.
Not because I’m choosing chaos.
Because my nervous system is full.
Why “Just Tell Them No” Doesn’t Work
When you shout, yelp, push me away, or get frustrated, here’s what happens inside me:
- my arousal goes up
- my body gets louder
- my mouth gets busier
I’m not learning a rule.
I’m reacting to energy.
Biting isn’t solved by control.
It softens when my needs are met before I overflow.
The Real Reasons Puppies Bite
Most puppy biting comes from one (or more) of these:
- teething pain
- overtiredness
- overstimulation
- excitement without an outlet
- frustration
- lack of clarity
- too much interaction for too long
Very rarely is it about dominance or aggression.
Most of the time, it’s about timing and state, not attitude.
Why It Feels Worse Some Days
Biting isn’t linear.
It often spikes:
- during growth spurts
- in teething phases
- after busy days
- during fear periods
- when routines change
On those days, it can feel like nothing works.
That doesn’t mean nothing is working.
It means my body is going through something.
What Actually Helps Reduce Biting
Not punishment.
Not force.
Not expecting me to cope longer than I can.
What helps is:
- noticing patterns
- stepping in earlier
- offering the right kind of outlet
- shortening interactions
- building rest into the day
When my body feels better, my mouth calms down.
Why a Checklist Helps When You’re Tired
When you’re exhausted, it’s hard to think clearly.
Everything feels personal.
Every nip feels intentional.
Every setback feels permanent.
A checklist gives you something steady to return to.
It helps you ask:
- Is my puppy tired?
- Is this teething?
- Have they had enough rest?
- Have they had the right kind of activity?
- Do they need less interaction, not more?
That pause changes everything.
The Stop Puppy Biting Checklist
The checklist is there to support you in the moment, not overwhelm you.
You can:
- print it
- save it on your phone
- use it on tablet or desktop
- stick it on the fridge
It walks you through:
- common biting triggers
- quick checks to spot overtiredness or overstimulation
- what to offer instead of your hands
- when to stop interaction entirely
- how to respond without escalating things
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about consistency and awareness.
This Is a Phase (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)
Right now, biting feels constant.
One day soon, you’ll realise:
- the skin breaks stopped
- the intensity dropped
- the moments got shorter
- the calm stretches got longer
It fades quietly, not all at once.
What you do now doesn’t need to be flawless.
It just needs to be kind and steady.
Before You Download
I don’t need you to be firmer.
I don’t need you to be louder.
I don’t need you to dominate anything.
I need:
- clarity
- rest
- predictable responses
- and a human who doesn’t take this personally
If you’re dealing with puppy biting, you’re not alone.
You’re not behind.
You’re not raising a “bad” dog.
You’re raising a baby with teeth.
The checklist is here to help you through that, calmly.
Take it.
Use it when things feel wobbly.
Put it down when you need a break.
We’ll get through this together.