When I got my puppy, he was a tiny ball of energy with a mouthful of sharp teeth that seemed to find my fingers irresistible. At first, I thought it was cute, but as he grew, those playful nibbles turned into painful bites. That’s when I realized I needed to start training him—not next week, but right away.

Puppies, around 8 weeks old, are already learning bite inhibition from their littermates, making this the perfect age to step in. By redirecting biting to chew toys, using positive reinforcement, and teaching a firm “no bite” command, I was able to curb his biting before it became a habit. Consistency was key, and within a few weeks, he learned to control his playful instincts.

The earlier you start training your puppy not to bite, the easier it is to teach them good manners for life!