Dog Biting 101: Managing Your Buddy’s Toothy Troubles

There’s nothing like coming home to find your buddy having chewed up your slippers or even running to you – and clamping their little jaws around your foot or when you try and pet them. But as it turns out, dog biting isn’t just a matter of chew toys and teething. It can also signal problems like boredom, stress, anxiety, and even fear. Here are a couple of the root causes to your buddy’s biting behavior and how helping them burn of some extra energy can be one of the ways to overcome it.

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Why is my dog biting & chewing on everything?

Biting is one of the first ways dog learn to interact with the world around them, as puppies. It’s why teething is one of the primary causes you’ll find your dog biting. Puppies often bite to relieve the discomfort of their baby teeth falling out and adult teeth growing in.

Besides, dogs might also bite during play – it’s a natural behavior for them. Play biting is how they interact with other dogs, as well as humans. This includes learning how hard they can bite. Chew toys and regular training can play a role in teaching your buddy their boundaries and weaning them off this behavior.

⚠️ Because unfortunately, a dog biting might always end up in the worst case scenario if you don’t take steps to figure out the root cause of it. Even worse:

Dog bites are not rare; these are common events that occur in normal family’s lives and it is estimated that 15% of dog owners have been bitten by their own dog. 

– VCA Animal Hospitals¹

So besides teething or play, your dog might also be biting as a reaction to:

Fear, stress, or anxiety

A fearful dog might bite as a means to defend itself. It’s a learned behavior they’ve picked up from their environment. Which, sadly in some cases, might mean a history of abuse, violence, and mistreatment. In some cases, it could also signal medical problems, like anxiety.

Improper socialization

If your dog wasn’t able to spend much time with Mama dog and its littermates, they might not have learned not to bite at an early age. Meaning they might not be able to tell the difference between a playful nip – and a harder, significantly more painful bite.

⚠️ Your dog’s body language can help you pick up on whether they’re biting you out of fear or aggression – or they’re just fooling around.⁶ (And haven’t learned their boundaries yet.) Watch out for signs like:

• A wrinkled muzzle
• Exposed teeth
• Lips curled back

All these signs indicate your dog might be biting out of aggression – and not playful behavior instead.

Pain or discomfort

If you’ve got a dog biting you whenever you try and pet them or approach them – and it seems to have begun out of nowhere – drop by your vet. It might be due to them struggling with an illness, infection, pain, or discomfort. In some cases, your dog might even bite themselves to self-soothe from any localized pain or injury. (If you were wondering, “Why is my dog biting his foot?”) These might include causes like nerve damage and even arthritis, which you might find more so among senior dogs.

Their breeding history

For example dogs bred as:

• Guard dogs might have been trained to bite down on an escaping “target”, to hold them in place and prevent them from slipping free.
• Hunting dogs are usually trained to clamp down on prey animals to prevent escape. These dogs usually have a high prey drive and need a firm hand on the leash when you’re out in the woods or nature together.
• Herding dogs tend to “nip” at the heels of cattle or sheep on farms to keep them in line. Without a farm of animals to boss around, they might do the same to you, your kids, or even others outdoors!

💡So while your dog’s breeding history does play a role, regular training and socialization can help them better learn their boundaries – and that their environment now is very different to that of their ancestors’. Meaning they don’t need to bite or chase down prey, a running target, or other animals to do their “job.”

Other reasons your dog might bite

Besides these broader reasons, you might end up dealing with a dog biting due to:

• Surprise, like if you’ve just woken them up from sleep – or if they were in the middle of a dream. (Or a nightmare.) In these cases, call out your dog’s name softly rather than waking them up, so they feel calmer.
• Guarding what’s “theirs”, like food, toys, or other objects. Teaching your buddy to put their toys away as a “job” can come in handy here.
• Frustration, especially if they feel “trapped” – like when they can’t reach that yummy treat because you’ve got a firm hand on the leash.
• Behavioral issues, including boredom or compulsive behaviors. This might lead your dog to chew on objects, but also their paws and feet at times.

So in a nutshell, it’s a combination of instinct and learned behaviors that might lead your dog to bite. Much of which you can address with proper training, socialization, and a ton of patience.

How to stop a dog from biting

First things first, it makes sense to identify what’s causing your dog to bite as a reaction. Whether it’s fear, anxiety, stress, improper socialization – so you can best figure out how to address it.

Start socializing your dog early

By getting your buddy used to other pets and people, you can help them learn what’s good dog etiquette – and what isn’t. This includes bite inhibition and how to get along with others without causing them harm. This doesn’t just apply to puppies, but to adult and senior dogs as well. (Depending on when you’ve adopted them.) Socializing them to their new environment helps them learn through interacting with other dogs, pets, and humans, especially what’s considered acceptable behavior.

💡 When you’re interacting more frequently with other dogs and dog parents, it can also help you figure out your dog’s individual temperament. Some are simply more open to contact and interaction with others – others less so. So you can pick up the warning signs your dog’s getting antsy, annoyed, or stressed out – and set some boundaries with other dog parents accordingly. (Especially whether your dog is comfortable being patted or approached.)

Redirect your dog’s chewing & biting elsewhere

Besides chew toys and puzzle feeders, keeping your dog active on the regular can ensure they’re well-exercised enough to get up to any mischief. (Which might include play biting because they have more energy to burn.) And regardless of their age, size, or breed, most experts agree that at least 30 minutes of daily activity is healthy for most adult dogs.

So you could:

• Take your dog out running, cycling, or hiking with you.
• Set up a DIY obstacle course in your backyard, with some chairs, cushions, and pillows
• Keep them busy with some indoor games for a rainy day. (Especially “bitey” games like tug of war.)
• Make regular walks a priority. Even a few short trips around your blocks a couple of times a day work great.

💡A dog GPS tracker with built-in Health Monitoring can help you track how much exercise your dog has gotten, how many calories they’ve burned, and how much distance they’ve covered. A tired dog is a happy dog – and one that’s less likely to have the energy to nip or bite.

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Be consistent with your dog’s training

No matter what behavioral issues you’re dealing with, there’s no substitute for regular training – and especially if you’ve got a dog biting and chewing excessively. And when you’re consistent, you can set your dog up for success for the long run.

How to help your dog figure out bite inhibition

• Play with your dog as you normally might. Expect a little nipping or play biting.
• If your dog bites you harder than normal, get vocal. Make sure they hear you saying “Ouch!” or crying out loud.
• Do your best not to get mad, shout, or scold them – since it might actually worsen your buddy’s anxiety, if any. Rather…
• Stop playing with your dog for a minute or so. (So they learn that “biting = no play time.”)
• Repeat the process every time your dog nips or bites at you.
• Take a break if your dog gets too excited and keeps nipping or biting at you. Put them in “timeout” (i.e., in their crate or in another part of your house) for a few minutes to help them get the hint that “biting = no play time.”

The same principle applies when you’re teaching your dog other commands, like “Drop it”:

• Since you might have treats at hand, your dog might nip or try to bite you out of excitement or impatience.
• In these cases, make sure to only give your dog the treat when they’re gentle. If they grab at it or bite you to get to it, no treat.
• Make sure you reward your dog plenty when they ARE gentle and well-behaved. So they learn “no biting = reward.”

Keep your dog distracted from biting out of instinct

If you’ve got a herding or former hunting dog breed at home, they might nip at your ankles or bite at you to keep you in line. (Like they might an errant sheep or cow on a farm – or a woodland animal.) In times like these, you could distract them with these steps:

• Carry around one of your dog’s favorite chew toys.
• Stop whatever you’re doing if your dog nips at you.
• Attract their attention by showing them the toy.
• Let your dog grab the toy and play with it for a few minutes.
• Repeat the process to get your dog to redirect their chewing and biting to the toy – not you.

If you’re still running into trouble, you could enroll your buddy in an obedience class. This can help you leave some jobs to the pros, get your dog some socializing time, and ensure they’re trained with positive reinforcement. (And not punishment.)

Besides, we’d also recommend you get your family members (or housemates) in on the same rules. Consistency helps reinforce learning and reduces confusion and anxiety for your buddy.

Use a muzzle only if recommended by a professional

Now you might be wondering, is a dog muzzle an effective tool against biting behaviors? And, well, it’s a mixed bag. While muzzles CAN technically protect against your dog biting others, they only address the symptom – not the root cause of what’s causing your dog to bite in the first place.¹⁰

Because if sufficiently threatened (or spooked) enough, a dog can easily still lunge, scratch, or jump on another dog, animal, or person – and cause damage even if muzzled. (Not to mention the risk they’ll overheat, especially in the summer months.)

⚠️ So if you’re concerned about any dog biting behavior, make sure you only use a muzzle if your vet or a dog behavioral expert recommends one – keeping your dog’s individual needs in mind.

Because ideally, you’re only using a muzzle:

• For short periods of time
• Under full supervision
• If it’s breathable and well-ventilated
• If it’s designed to allow your dog to drink through it

“It is important to understand that a muzzle is not a solution to the underlying problem of a dog’s aggression.

Muzzling a dog can be a helpful tool in specific situations to prevent dogs from biting, but it is not a substitute for proper training and behaviour modification.”

– Pet Control HQ¹¹

Set your buddy up for success – and a bite-free life together

Dog biting, whether directed at themselves or others, can be alarming to deal with – but addressing its root causes can go a long way. These could include:

• Fear, stress, surprise, frustration or anxiety
• Pain or discomfort – including against themselves
• Not being able to learn bite inhibition from their mother and littermates
• Their breeding history, especially if they’re a herding dog breed or a former hunting dog
• Guarding or protective behavior

In these cases, building your dog’s trust can take time and effort – but you can work wonders by socializing your dog plenty, getting them daily exercise, and investing in regular training. All of which can help create a predictable schedule for your buddy – and reduce their anxiety with time.

In more serious cases, it’s always a good idea to seek professional help – most certainly from your vet, but also from a certified dog behavioral expert and trainers. They can best advise you what measures to take to prevent your dog from biting out of instinct and what positive reinforcement methods work best.

Help your dog stay fit and healthy

Get a complete overview of how much exercise and rest they’re getting. Compare their activity to that of similar dogs. Set daily goals. And find out if something might be off with Health Alerts.

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.