Help! My Pup is Biting/Teething...

Teething and playful biting are part of every puppy’s learning phase.

If you’ve recently brought home your Teddy Puppy, congratulations — and welcome to puppy parenthood! Along with the cuddles and kisses come some normal (but sometimes frustrating) puppy behaviors — biting, barking, jumping, and teething. Don’t worry — these are all natural parts of your puppy’s development, and with consistency, patience, and structure, your puppy will grow out of them quickly. At Teddy Puppies, we’ve helped hundreds of families through this stage, so here’s a guide to help you understand why puppies behave this way and how to lovingly guide them toward better manners.

Understanding Puppy Biting & Teething

Puppies don’t realize that biting hurts — it’s simply how they play and explore their world. They use their mouths like humans use their hands. Between 8 and 16 weeks old, your puppy’s baby teeth are sharp as little needles, and they’re learning bite control, also known as “bite inhibition.”

When puppies play with their littermates, they yelp/whimper when bitten too hard — that sound teaches the biter to ease up. You can mimic that same feedback.

• When a puppy bites me, I might whine like a sibling puppy would to let them know that this is painful for me. I might also wrap their lips around their own teeth and put some pressure (until they whimper a little) to make the connection for them that what they are doing is causing me this painful feeling. They bite because they are playing or teething, and they want relief, but they don't connect the dots to realize that when they bite people, it is painful for us. This play biting is how puppies interact with each other, but they need to learn it is not an appropriate way to play with a human.

Tip: Never yell, hit, or use fear. Puppies learn best through redirection, not punishment.

• A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy! Another tip: increase your puppy's exercise routine, especially in the morning, coming out of the crate, and before bedtime. I recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise, running around and riling them up, so they are more likely to be able to settle down when you want them to. Puppies often get the “zoomies” before bedtime — plan a short play session before their last potty break to help them settle faster.
  

• Be ready to redirect your puppy with high-value safe chew toy options. My pups usually love these cow hooves or buffalo horns with peanut butter frozen inside to be extra enticing. They are a little stinky but that's actually why they are so loved by dogs. They also like Yak chews, which are hardened cheese. You can also get some mentally stimulating toys for them, like snuffle mats, treat puzzles, slow feeders with peanut butter frozen inside and more.

  
  

• Teething usually peaks between 3–6 months. During this phase, puppies crave something to chew because it soothes their gums. Offer safe, cold, or textured chew options to save your fingers and furniture!

  
  

• When your puppy bites you while playing, simply walk away. They want your attention, so teach them they only get it if they play nicely. Use timeouts as needed. Use exercise pens to create space barriers.

• Only give your puppy a treat when they lick it from your hand – never when using their teeth. Hold the treat firm and wait…they will figure it out. You can practice holding onto a treat in your fist waiting until your puppy leaves your fist alone (no pawing, biting, licking) then mark, “YES” and give them the food reward. Repeat but this time, count to (3) once they stop trying to get the treat before marking, “YES” and giving the food reward. Then work up to 5, 7, 10, 20 seconds of waiting patiently for the treat. When you do give the treat, they must lick it from your hand. If they use their teeth, hold onto it until their tongue comes out.

  
  

  Managing Barking & Jumping

  Barking is a puppy’s way of communicating excitement, boredom, or frustration. The key is not to yell back — that just sounds like barking to them!

  Try this instead:

  • Stay calm and ignore attention-seeking barking.

  • When they quiet down, mark it (“Yes!”) and reward with calm affection or a treat.

  • Teach the cue “Quiet” by saying it softly as soon as they stop barking, then reward.

  Jumping is also a sign of excitement and social enthusiasm. To fix it:

  • Turn your body away and cross your arms when they jump.

  • Only give attention when all four paws are on the ground.

  • Teach a “Sit for greeting” habit — they quickly learn that sitting earns affection, not jumping.

    
    

  Creating Space & Calm

  Sometimes you both need a short break. Here’s how to handle it gently:

  • Use an exercise pen or puppy play yard to create a safe, enclosed area.

  • If they’re overstimulated, calmly step out of the space for a minute to let them reset.

  • A tether or short leash inside can help keep your puppy nearby without allowing jumping or nipping during training moments.

    
    

  It’s Just a Phase (Promise!)

  This teething and nipping phase can feel endless when you’re in it, but it truly passes quickly. By the time your puppy is 6–7 months old, most will have lost their baby teeth and naturally stop mouthing. In all my years of raising puppies, I’ve never had an adult dog who continued biting. With consistency, patience, and love, your little one will soon outgrow this stage and become the gentle, affectionate companion you imagined.

  
  

  The biting phase is temporary — calm consistency helps your puppy mature into a well-mannered dog.

  
  

  Puppies don’t come pre-programmed — they’re learning about the world just like a toddler would. Your patience, calm consistency, and structure will shape their confidence and manners for life.

  
  

  If you ever feel stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out. We love supporting our Teddy Puppy families long after adoption day! My cell is 331-218-8696 if you want to reach me or reach out to any of our recommended trainers for consultations here.

Baxter and Bella has an entire lesson on Biting, Barking & Jumping inside our online puppy school, complete with video tutorials and written instructions. You can receive over 20% off with discount code Teddypuppies and can register here!