Puppies typically stop biting as they transition from baby teeth to adult teeth, which occurs around 12 to 13 weeks of age. Most puppies have all their adult teeth by about 7 months old, and at this point, teething-related biting usually stops. However, the biting behavior itself should begin to subside with consistent training and clear responses from people and other dogs by this time. Many puppies naturally grow out of the biting phase between 3 to 5 months of age. The biting may reach its peak during teething but tends to decline significantly after the puppy finishes teething at around 5 to 6 months. Some breeds or individual puppies might continue to be a bit mouthy beyond that age, but the bites are usually gentler and more controlled. If biting persists beyond this developmental period, it may be due to learned behavior where the puppy finds that biting elicits some response or outcome. Training methods such as redirecting biting to toys, using time-outs, yelping to signal a bite is too hard, and encouraging rest and naps are effective ways to curb biting. In summary:
- Puppy biting peaks around 12-13 weeks (3 months).
- Adult teeth are usually present by 7 months.
- Biting behavior typically subsides significantly by 5-6 months.
- Some puppies may still mouth gently beyond 6 months.
- Consistent training and redirection are key to stopping biting.
This biting phase is considered normal and developmental, and most puppies grow out of it naturally with proper guidance.
