Most puppies think it is an exciting game stalking, nipping, or biting your fingers, or ankle. But this is not helping the dog at all to become a mature and responsible pet overtime. Indeed, you at least as dog owner have one reason why the puppy needs to be dissuaded from getting accustomed to play biting. The big reason is that biting says, "I'm more dominant than you," or "I want to challenge your authority."

In fact, chomping on your hand is the puppy's way of checking what is your position in the pack, and what is their own position. Moreover, if the dog's line of reasoning turns up the idea that nobody at home is in charge, it will want to assume that responsibility. And a dog preoccupied with such a duty is a tense, unhappy and unpredictable house pet.

But back to the first idea of this article: you are the dog's Alpha, which means that from this point on you must teach or train the puppy not to nip or bite at your hands (or feet). Stopping puppy biting is actually doing the dog a big favor.

To get a puppy to stop this behavior, make an abrupt, loud, high-pitched voice the next time the puppy bites. Then when the dog lets go of your hand, turn away from him, and cut short the activity you and the puppy were doing prior to the incident (but be aware that some activities may indeed cause the dog to get excited and to play a mock-fight, e.g. a tug of war). After a few moments of not paying attention to him, go back to him, but this time carry along a chewie toy to distract him from making an attempt at your hand.

This sort of behavior is actually the exact reaction that the dog's littermates would also make if the puppy started playing rough with them too. Within a few days, your puppy will understand that using his teeth on his human alpha leaders make the people turn away from him.

The key to ultimately stopping puppy biting is consistency. From this point forward, never allow your puppy to get away with laying his teeth on peoples' hands or nip at any other person without the result of people moving away from the dog.

How is appropriate play behavior reinforced in a dog? The answer is in the method just elaborated upon. This is best done between two and four months of age. But the only sort of biting that should not worry you is soft biting on bare hands. Should the dog do so, refrain from sudden movements. Remain still and then redirect the puppy's attention to a more suitable chew toy.