A dog undergoing training with the experts at Dog Training Elite - get professional puppy biting training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN and help your dog curb this bad habit.

Professional

Biting Behavior Training

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

Request Free Assessment


Request Free Assessment


Our Biting Behavior Training Could Help:

Reduce fear-based biting
Address anxiety-related biting
Manage teething behaviors
Improve impulse control
Build confidence in social settings
Enhance trust with owner
Prevent aggression toward other animals
Ensure safe interactions with children and adults

Stop Puppy Biting with Dog Training Elite

Dog & Puppy Biting Training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN

Biting is a natural response for dogs, especially puppies. It can come from anxiety, fear, past experiences, or simply a lack of training. While biting may seem harmless, if left unchecked, it can become dangerous for other animals and pose serious safety risks to children and adults. Addressing this behavior early is essential to having a well-behaved, calm dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we offer customized training plans designed to address the root causes of biting. Whether it’s due to teething, fear, or other underlying issues, our trainers work closely with you to develop a targeted approach for your dog’s specific needs.

With DTE, you get expert training backed by nearly 50 years of experience and a commitment to excellence. With a focus on positive reinforcement training, we ensure your pup feels safe and secure while providing effective and lasting training results.

Call today to schedule your free consultation and stop biting behavior issues with our elite dog and puppy biting training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN.

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Get Your Free Assessment

You and your canine companion really can have it all. See how easy it can be to become a member of the elite pup society by requesting a free consultation today!

A Dog Training Elite Twin Cities owner smiling with his dog in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN.

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

How to Get a Puppy To Stop Biting? Teach them that Biting Hurts

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Getting a puppy to quit mouthing is actually very simple. You just have to teach your puppy that biting hurts.

How do you teach this? By helping your puppy learn “bite inhibition.” Bite inhibition is a puppy or a dog’s ability to control how hard they bite. Typically puppies learn bite inhibition from playing with other puppies. Biting or mouthing is a common play tactic between puppies and dogs, but occasionally a puppy will bite too hard. This causes their playmate to yelp with pain and stop playing.

The reaction of the bitten puppy helps the puppy who did the biting realize their mistake and learn not to bite so hard. Just like puppies learn how to be gentle with each other, they can learn the same lesson from humans. Even if your puppy has learned bite inhibition while playing with other puppies or dogs, they still need to be taught how sensitive human skin is.

Follow the example of your puppy’s playmates. Let your puppy mouth your hands during play. When they bite you too hard, yelp like a puppy and let your hand go limp to indicate that you have been hurt. This should stop your puppy from continuing to bite you or continuing to play. When they stop, or if they attempt to make you feel better by licking your hand, praise your puppy and resume play. You can also try “time-outs” for your puppy, where you stop playing for 20 seconds after being bitten.

The goal is to teach your puppy that if they bite, playing stops. If they are gentle, play continues. Make sure to reward your puppy with praise and possibly treats when they do a good job. At Dog Training Elite, we know positive reinforcement is the best and most effective way to train puppies and dogs.

An image of an adorable puppy - get expert puppy biting training in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN with Dog Training Elite.

Take it to the Next Level

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

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Once your puppy understands that they shouldn’t bite human skin hard, start working on teaching them not to bite human skin at all. Use the same techniques of yelping and stopping play. Over time, gradually reduce the amount of biting you allow until your puppy eventually learns not to bite at all.

Some other techniques for to stop mouthing include the distraction method. If your puppy tends to want to bite you when you pet them, distract them with treats so they'll get used to being touched without mouthing your hands or arms. Keep your puppy’s favorite toy with you, and if they starts mouthing your hands, give them the toy to bite instead.

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Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Nathan Wendland
    Dec. 20, 2024
    The training Mochi and I received from George has provided me with a new life. I began my training journey with Dog Training Elite when I knew that something was wrong. Symptoms of my service-connected PTSD surfaced after years and began cut away at me. But Mochi has been going through that with me, all this time. I unexpectedly lost my job in September. George has continued to supply the consistent training and support I needed to complete this journey regardless of the personal challenges I was facing. Today is graduation day. One year to the day I brought Mochi home from Hidden Valley Doodles. Today is also the day I was able to find help at my local VA mental health clinic. I have made it this far for one reason. Mochi. The training provided by George has led us to a place where I know I have a battle buddy with me, even though I have just gone through the darkest days of my life. Thank you, George, for this gift. I will try to pay it forward.
  • Jessica Epple
    Sep. 16, 2024
    Dog Training Elite Twin Cities has provided an outstanding experience for both Luna and me. Luna has developed essential skills like patience, self-control, and responsiveness, while also mastering her service task, thanks to the guidance of George and Courtney. The trainers’ flexibility, clear directions, and compassionate handling made the program invaluable, and I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking quality service dog training.
  • Jessica Ann
    Sep. 16, 2024
    Dog Training Elite Twin Cities has provided an outstanding experience for both Luna and me. Luna has developed essential skills like patience, self-control, and responsiveness, while also mastering her service task, thanks to the guidance of George and Courtney. The trainers’ flexibility, clear directions, and compassionate handling made the program invaluable, and I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking quality service dog training.
  • Robin Guerrero
    Aug. 21, 2024
    George is truly a dog whisperer. We were overwhelmed with a golden retriever puppy and failed out of a puppy obedience class before contacting George and Dog Training Elite. George gave me the confidence and knowledge to train our Daisy to became the dog we enjoy today. Life happens at home and George helped Daisy to stop counter surfing and invading our kitchen cooking area. Each meeting built upon prior skills and addresses issues you and your dog are experiencing. George was incredibly supportive as my dog had several health issues that we were dealing with and seeking medical attention. I just don’t think that I would be as close to my dog without my trainer George. Even when we fall behind on training the ground work is within my dog to get back at it.
  • Matt Corcorcan
    Aug. 19, 2024
    We had a great experience with George in training our new German Shepherd puppy. He did a great job teaching her basic commands but more importantly educating my wife and I on how to continue the training and handle her reactivity.
  • Melanie Hefner
    Aug. 16, 2024
    We enlisted the help of Dog Training Elite Twin Cities for training our Rottweiler pup, Wally. I couldn't be more pleased with our experience. During the in-home sessions, George involved my whole family (myself, my husband, and my 2 young sons) in the training activities, resulting in Wally following commands from all of us. George also took the time to work with Wally on our specific concerns beyond obedience (e.g. crate soiling, aggression). We take Wally everywhere (kids soccer games, baseball games, parks, etc.) and regularly receive compliments re: his behavior. George is 100% to credit for this. I very highly recommend Dog Training Elite.
  • kristina d'elia
    Jun. 25, 2024
    So incredibly thankful we found Dog Training Elite. It had been years since we had to go through the new dog phase and when we got our 3 year old rescue home this spring we were unprepared for the training she needed. George has transformed our dog. She is still a wonderful and energetic dog but with boundaries. She knows what is expected of her and the house doesn’t feel like chaos anymore. So grateful and I would not hesitate to use them again for any future dogs or recommend DTE to everyone with a dog.
  • Taylor Doeden
    May. 26, 2024
    We had a fantastic experience with George from Dog Training Elite! Our Scottish Terrier, Paul, showed remarkable improvement in his behavior across the board. George's training not only helped Paul build confidence in new environments but also significantly reduced his anxiety around new people. We couldn't be happier with the results and highly recommend George to anyone looking for a skilled and compassionate dog trainer. Thank you, George, for transforming Paul's behavior and making our lives so much better!
  • Mary Munson
    Mar. 10, 2024
    When we first brought our dog home, he was 1 1/2 year old, 60 lb dog with no training. He wanted to be loved and play all the time but his form of play was a little much to handle, jumping and mouthing us and our guests. After we trained with George, he was a completely different dog. He knows when to play and listens to commands even though he is busting with love and still wants everyone's attention. We would highly recommend working with George at Dog Training Elite, Twin Cities. He is patient and loving and quickly became our dog's best friend!
  • Jennifer Loupe
    Feb. 15, 2024
    I highly recommend Dog Training Elite. Previously I had enrolled in a different training program where my dog had to drop out due to her anxiety and reactivity. I also put her through a dog training month long boot camp. Neither of these had the success which I am experiencing now with Dog Training Elite. For the first time I am able to walk her without being afraid that her reactivity and pulling will be unmanageable. George is great and also answered promptly with suggestions when I texted with training questions. I am so glad I finally found something that is working.
  • Kate Lundsten
    Jan. 17, 2024
    My dog is a different dog since George came to my house. Louie loves to be trained and he is now a wonderful puppy. I would highly recommend George!
  • Katrina Cannady
    Dec. 13, 2023
    George is an amazing trainer! He is always on time, very kind & understanding, dogs worship him, & will have you seeing results with your dog almost instantly. I got my dog for my PTSD & George helped turn my 3-month-old puppy into one of the most amazing companions in the matter of 6 months. His training programs are very much worth your time, effort, & money.
  • Sue Schinke
    Oct. 27, 2023
    We worked with George and were very satisfied with this training experience. We have a 3 year old Rough Collie and were experiencing issues with leash reactivity and "Stranger Danger" in our home. Our Finley thought it was his job to control people he didn't know in our house. (These herding breeds can have a tendency to nip and herd). We can now manage this situation and have a more safe atmosphere for others. The e-collar training is fabulous if you have a dog that has impulses or a situation where "positive only training" isn't getting the results you want. Great for off-leash commands. You will not regret the decision to go forward with this training.
  • Lisa Nelson
    Jul. 30, 2023
    Take advantage of the free in-home assessment to see for yourself, but I highly recommend George for anyone looking for a dog trainer. I have an anxious American Bully that other trainers were not willing or able to work with, but George was able to build a great relationship with her and train both of us. He's very responsive, engaged, and specific with training feedback and epxectations, which I found was very helpful - also supportive for any/all questions that I've had. Going through training with George has significantly improved our quality of life - went from having a reactive dog that would bark anytime others entered the home to now having the skills in place to allow others to visit without it being a big event. Thanks George!
  • Leah Tillman
    May. 23, 2023
    My dog Nigel was very anxious, guarded, and reactive before we did training with George. Each session, George coached Nigel, but he also coached me on how to be a more assertive owner! I feel like I was given the tools I need to make sure Nigel is safe out in public. I was shocked at how quickly the reactive behavior subsided once Nigel felt more confident, and now he is a much happier dog. I’m more confident with him too. George is very knowledgeable and was able to answer any question I had, and he really listened to and abided by my training goals. I’m excited to continue with the Saturday park sessions!
  • Jay Zachau
    Apr. 26, 2023
    I thought I was hiring someone to come to my house and train my dog but really I was trained how to effectively train my dog. George was an excellent teacher and was super great with Oreo. Very flexible when I needed a reschedule and also with the lesson plan by helping with things outside of the list of commands in the contract. Would recommend to family and friends for sure. Looking forward to the group classes this summer.
  • Tamara Uhde
    Feb. 15, 2023
    Rosie was a reactive dog, we lived our life afraid of her becoming aggressive to those entering our home. George taught us week by week on basic commands that built upon each other. He was reliable and professional. Rosie is a different dog. The cost of individual in home training was worth every cent. Our Rosie is more confident of herself and comes by command, something we never thought could happen. We are so thankful!
  • Zac M
    Feb. 3, 2023
    George has done a fantastic job with our pit bull Cleo, not only is he skilled but he is also personable. Highly recommend him to anyone seeking elite dog training.
  • Madlyn McMullen
    Feb. 3, 2023
    George deserves this 5 star review! Such an all-around dog trainer and person! Helped not only train our four legged best friend but also us as owners. cleo is a pitbull who was extremely stubborn and jumped on anyone who came through the door. Cleo used to take ten minutes before calming down. Now Cleo sits and waits until she is given the okay to welcome guests. She is also reactive towards other dogs but if the help of conditioning Cleo with the collar and commands, she is a lot less reactive. He even volunteered his own dog to help equipped us with the tools to introduce our dog to others. He answered any and all questions that he had plus more. Would highly recommend!
  • Sara Veit Kaufman
    Dec. 21, 2022
    George was a wonderful trainer! We were out of options for our anxious, aggressive golden doodle. After working with George, we were able to take our dog to family holiday gatherings with no incident. George patiently answered all of our questions and equipped us to be better dog owners. We would highly recommend!

What to Avoid

Dog Training Elite Twin Cities

There are some behaviors we humans tend to engage in when we want to play with puppies that actually encourage them to bite. If you’re at a loss for how to stop a puppy from biting, make sure to avoid these habits:

Wiggling your fingers or toes in your puppy’s face can encourage biting behavior, making it harder to teach proper play.
Jerking your hands away can trigger your puppy to lunge and bite harder—stay calm and redirect their focus.

Hitting or slapping a puppy for biting is cruel and counterproductive. It can lead to fear or increased aggression in your dog.

At Dog Training Elite, we never use physical punishment to train puppies and dogs. We focus on rewarding desired behaviors. This method of training helps build a strong, loving bond between puppies and their owners.

A group of dogs being trained by the expert team at Dog Training Elite Twin Cities.
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Two golden retreivers at a show demo with Dog Training Elite Twin Cities.

Dog Training Elite

Contact Us Today and Stop Puppy Biting in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN

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Teaching your pup not to bite is a huge accomplishment. But puppies have so much more to learn, and even the thought of having to train a puppy can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling with your puppy’s destructive behavior or looking for help with general training, call Dog Training Elite Twin Cities. We have a tried and true training method that really works for dogs of any age, including puppies. Dog Training Elite offers both individual in–home training and obedience classes for puppies.

In–home training is the perfect way to help you and your puppy bond while working with one of our professional trainers. Our trainers will adapt training to your environment and needs and empower you to continue training on your own. Obedience classes are also a great way to help your puppy learn by exposing them to other dogs and people and new sights and sounds. Combining in–home training with obedience classes ensures a well–behaved puppy who learns quickly.

Contact Dog Training Elite today for a free in–home consultation or schedule a free training demo to see what your puppy can become.