When puppies play with each other, they use their mouths. Therefore, puppies usually want to bite or “mouth” hands during play or when being petted. With puppies, this is rarely aggressive behavior in which the intent is to do harm.
How do I stop my puppy from biting when petting?
When you play with your puppy, let him mouth on your hands. Continue play until he bites especially hard. When he does, immediately give a high-pitched yelp, as if you're hurt, and let your hand go limp. This should startle your puppy and cause him to stop mouthing you, at least momentarily.
Why does my dog want to bite me when I pet him?
Another reason why your dog growls and bites when you pet him is that he wants to play. You'll know that his biting is playful when it's not that hard, he doesn't sink his teeth into your skin, his tail is wagging, and jumping around.
Why is my dog aggressive when I pet him?
He can react very nervous toward new stimuli and your touch could elevate his level of anxiety. What is this? It could also be the case that your dog has learned to keep people away from him by growling at them (conflict aggression). This would also include situations when being petted.
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