Puppy biting is one of the most common challenges new puppy handlers face—and the good news is, it’s completely normal. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and playtime with their littermates involved plenty of nipping. The problem? Those tiny puppy teeth are incredibly sharp!

Rather than trying to stop the behavior altogether, your goal is to teach your puppy how to use a soft mouth when interacting with people. Here are a few of our favorite tips to help:

Redirect to Appropriate Chew Toys

Always have a variety of exciting chew toys within reach. When your puppy starts biting hands, clothing, or shoes, calmly redirect them to a toy they can bite. The more successful they are at chewing appropriate items, the less they’ll practice biting you.

End the Fun if Teeth Touch Skin

If your puppy bites during play, simply end the interaction. Stand up and walk away or step behind a baby gate or exercise pen for 15–30 seconds. Puppies crave your attention, and they’ll quickly learn that gentle play keeps the fun going while biting makes it stop.

Use Management to Your Advantage

Exercise pens, baby gates, and tethers are wonderful management tools. They allow you to create a little space when your puppy becomes overly excited without turning it into a punishment. Sometimes everyone just needs a brief break!

Teach Gentle Food Taking

Your puppy should learn that food rewards come from gentle mouths, not grabby teeth.

Try this simple exercise:

• Hold a food reward in your closed fist.

• Wait quietly until your puppy stops pawing, licking, or biting at your hand.

• The moment they back away or remain calm, mark with “YES!” and reward.

• As your puppy improves, gradually increase the waiting time—from 3 seconds to 5, 7, 10, and even 20 seconds.

• When you offer the reward, make sure your puppy licks it gently from your hand. If they try to grab it with their teeth, simply keep hold of the treat until their tongue comes out instead.

Teaching patience around food naturally builds impulse control in many other areas of life.

Remember, puppy biting is just a phase—but only if we teach our puppies what we do want instead. Stay consistent, reward gentle behavior, and know that with practice, those sharp puppy teeth will soon become much softer manners!

Multi-generational Australian Labradoodles are a cross between many different parent breeds. The breed originated in Australia in the 1980s with the intent of creating an allergy-friendly service dog for the blind. Australian Labradoodles are a combination of a Poodle, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, and Irish Water dogs. These breeds were hand-selected for specific breed qualities to create the ideal service dog for those with allergies. Since then, the breed has continued on and spread across the world. Australian Labradoodles are now considered their own breed with its own breed clubs (ALAA and WALA).