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How to Get a Puppy to Stop Biting

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There is so much to love about puppies. They’re adorable, snuggly, loving and playful. But puppies also come with some destructive behaviors — accidents inside the house, chewing on things they aren’t supposed to, and perhaps worst of all, biting.

Biting, or “mouthing,” is part of how a puppy learns about the world. It’s often meant to be a playful behavior, but those sharp little teeth can hurt! Here are a few tips on how to stop puppy biting in St. Louis, even in a playful way.

Looking for more comprehensive puppy training? Check out our Puppy Essentials Webinar or schedule a free in-home assessment with one of our professional trainers.

Dog Training Elite St. Louis offers a professional puppy training program near you in St. Louis to teach how to get a puppy to stop biting.

Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite St. Louis location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.


Silver

$1,100

General obedience for well-behaved pups

  • One-on-One In-Home Training Sessions 4 Sessions
  • Group Training Sessions 4 Sessions
  • Come
  • Place
  • Heel(walk with you without pulling)
  • Sit
  • Behavioral Correction

Gold

$1,900

Advanced obedience/behavioral modification with a goal of off-leash control

Have a second pup? Save $500 on a second training package for Gold or Platinum!

  • One-on-One In-Home Training Sessions 6 Sessions
  • Group Training Sessions 12 Sessions
  • Come
  • Place(go to bed)
  • Heel(walk with you without pulling)
  • Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Get Into Car or Kennel
  • Off(furniture, if desired)
  • Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
  • Down(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Housebreaking / Potty Training Help
  • Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
  • STOP Running Away
  • STOP Digging, Chewing, Running Away, Chasing Animals, Jumping on People, Mouthing/Licking, Getting into Trash

Platinum

$2,700

Platinum offers advanced obedience/behavioral modification with a goal of off-leash control. Includes training options for therapy, emotional support, and offers more one-on-one and group sessions than Gold.

Have a second pup? Save $500 on a second training package for Gold or Platinum!

  • One-on-One & In-Home Training Sessions 8 Sessions
  • Group Park Training Sessions 16 Sessions
  • Come
  • Place(go to bed)
  • Heel(walk with you without pulling)
  • Sit(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Off(furniture, if desired)
  • Quiet(stop excessive barking & whining)
  • Down(next to you & off leash at a distance)
  • Housebreaking / Potty Training Help
  • Get into Car or Kennel
  • STOP Digging, Chewing, Running Away, Chasing Animals, Jumping on People, Mouthing/Licking, Getting into Trash
  • Choose to Address Advanced Concerns: - Calm Anxiety & Build Confidence
    - Control Aggression / Reactivity / Resource Guarding (towards other dogs or people)
  • Or Choose Therapy Dog training (See Details) or Emotional Support Animal training (includes an advance task/skill):
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Highest Rated Dog Obedience Trainers Near You in St. Louis
Top Dog Trainers Near Me in St. Louis
In-Home Dog Trainers Near You in St. Louis

Our Balanced Theory

We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.


  • Empowering Owners
    We empower Owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times.
  • Personalized
    We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis.
  • Environment Specific
    We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
  • Supportive
    We support Owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session").
  • Involved
    We work with all members of the household.
  • Simplified & Customized
    We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
  • Continued Training
    Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training.
  • Lifetime Investment
    We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term.
  • Satisfaction Ratings
    Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.

We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!

Matt and his team were incredible. As an owner who had previously only used treat-based training before, I was extremely hesitant to try other methods such as an eCollar. Despite my hesitation, Matt took the time to explain to me what an eCollar was actually used for and dispelled many of the misconceptions I had heard on the internet. Like treats, an eCollar is a tool, and one that surprisingly DOES NOT HURT! How do I know? We tried it on ourselves at the setting we would be using on our dog! After our introductory meeting, we were paired with Hunter, who is just the most incredible dog trainer any owner could hope for. Our dog was working on reactivity toward other dogs. Hunter took the time to explain both high-level dog psychology to establish a framework for us to think about our dog's behavior, as well as multiple tangible tricks and training routines that we could put into daily practice. What I really like about Hunter's style of training is that he doesn't apply some inflexible, his-word-is-law approach, but meets our needs and our dog where they are. Could not recommend Dog Training Elite more highly (except by saying, work with Hunter if you can)!
— Robert Chen
Posted July 5th 2023
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We cannot say enough about Matt and his team at Dog Training Elite. We recently completed our sessions for the service training and certification of our Labrador puppy, and they worked to make us each successful every step of the way. The trainers are all responsive and passionate about their work, and best of all, the dogs with which they train. Both the individual sessions and the group training sessions were well managed and essential components for our dog’s training. We are forever grateful to Matt and all of the staff at Dog Training Elite!
— Jennifer Falk
Posted June 18th 2023
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Could not recommend Dog Training elite more!! Extremely dedicated group of people with a deep knowledge of dog behavior. Very compassionate and will work with you nonstop until you meet your goals with your pup!! Very happy with this amazing team.
— Natalie
Posted May 26th 2023
google
Best Training Program we have used! I really like how we train alongside our dog. All trainers are extremely helpful with excellent advice and solutions to issues. Matt has assembled a terrific team with well organized, educational classes. We’ve had a great time “at school” and my dog is making great strides in the Therapy Dog Program.
— Tina McNulty
Posted May 3rd 2023
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I contacted Matt at Dog Training Elite because my 6 year old dog was holding me hostage. I couldn't leave him with anyone, I was uncomfortable when company came over. I tried local store Training classes but there were still problems. My dog was dragging me up and down hills, barking and jumping at other dogs and being possessive of furniture and other items in the house. He now plays with other dogs, walks along side of me, sits calmly and waits for commands. He is a happy dog now and I no longer worry about his behavior. Thank you Dog Training Elite.
— Debbie Cooper
Posted April 23rd 2023
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I did a lot of research before picking Dog Training Elite. I am so happy with my decision. My puppy had learned so much in the 6 at home lessons. He had some aggressive behavioral issues that have gotten significantly better since we started training. I couldn’t recommend them more!
— Jane Hodell
Posted April 21st 2023
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George did a fantastic job with Cooper and helped him with his anxiety and fear of new people. Cooper loved working with George and has a lot more confidence thanks to him
— Matt Sumners
Posted April 5th 2023
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Matt and his team do an incredible job and they all have the best hearts. I reached out to DTE with a fear reactive dog, completely hysterical over a bite incident. Within 30 minutes Matt was at my house for an evaluation, and upon meeting my dog he decided that he did not think the aggressive program was necessary, and we gave the obedience program a try first, and he was right! We met a few trainers before finding one that not only bonded with my dog, but one my dog felt comfortable with, and for the remaining sessions it was him we had the pleasure of seeing once a week. He pushed all of us out of our comfort zone, challenging me to work hard and earn that trust and confidence my dog again. I am happy to say that with DTE’s obedience program we are now able to take the dog with us to eat on the patios of populated bars without so much as a bark or a growl. My dogs trust in me, my trust in him, and my trust in myself have all benefited from working with Dog Training Elite. I now have the tools to keep my dog, and everyone else safe, happy, and comfortable; and not only has the reactivity gotten better but my dog is overall better behaved, more obedient, less anxious, and just all around a better listener. I could not be more pleased or more grateful for my experience with Matt’s team of trainers.
— Mallory Newberry
Posted March 31st 2023
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Five stars to Matt Willis and his staff of Dog Training Elite for their excellent work in training our miniature Australian Shepherd Poodle (Aussiedoodle) to be a psychiatric service dog. At four months they began teaching my small dog along with my husband and me. At age twelve months Maya became a certified psychiatric service dog. She now qualified to accompany us in restaurants, grocery stores, airplanes, public transportation and other public places. Without the expert assistance of Hunter, Dom, and particularly Matt obtaining certification would not have been possible in so short a time with such a young dog. I would recommend Matt and company to anyone wanting his or her dog to be obedient, follow commands and provide comfort, companionship and assistance. They are absolutely the BEST!
— Cindy
Posted March 29th 2023
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Me and my puppy Napoleon had a great experience with Dom our trainer. He is amazing! I was worried about the collar and he was very gentle yet firm and guided us through it all. I highly recommend this program for anyone who wants to train their puppy !
— Sri kolli
Posted March 24th 2023
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Originally came to DTE to help with leash aggression on my GSD puppy. After working with her a couple sessions, they identified that she was leash reactive, not aggressive, and her behavior is now under control between the 1:1 sessions with Hunter and Matt and the group sessions with all of the trainers (can't leave out Dom!). She has been enrolled in the personal protective training and is progressing nicely. The combination of 1:1 sessions and the group sessions at the training facility help the handlers learn proper training techniques and safety. Obedience and control of your K9 is always stressed in the protection classes and combines perfectly with the obedience training offered by DTE. I'm very happy with the knowledge, professionalism and service of the staff and look forward to working with them more in the future.
— Timothy Holdener
Posted March 19th 2023
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We started service dog training with DTE in January 2023. We are now in group classes with Roselle. We cannot say enough great things about DTE STL. We drive an hour and twenty minutes each direction to go to training, and it is worth every minute and mile.
— Natasha Bassett
Posted March 18th 2023
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We LOVE Elite! Matt was incredibly helpful at our initial meeting. He was open and transparent by what we could expect from the dog trainer's, our dog and from ourselves. Freyja, our German Shepherd, has thrived under their training. Our trainer Hunter has been amazing! She went from being terrified of being in a new space to confidently doing all the commands she has learned. Can't wait to see how much she grows and learns.
— Keri Ann Hunt
Posted March 18th 2023
google
So thankful for Hunter and DTE! I was worried that Tater would have been deemed as an actual “aggressive” dog but a few minutes with the owner, Matt, and he knew that she did not deserve that label and she was able to be helped. Within 1 session she was already on her way to becoming more comfortable in herself as a dog and relax. Thank you Hunter and DTE!
— Bree White
Posted February 25th 2023
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We couldn’t be happier with Dog Training Elite. We started working with them at the puppy stage and decided to continue with training. Now my daughter has the perfect ESA dog for the support she needs. We have people tell us all the time what a well behaved dog we have and we owe it all to the trainers at Dog Training Elite!
— Becky E
Posted February 7th 2023
google
Hunter has this amazing understanding of dogs and their humans. Would definitely recommend Dog Training Elite, it was a great experience and totally worth the time and effort. We immediately saw results after the first session, how exciting!! Thanks for all your help, our Finn has done a 180 and we couldn't be happier.
— debbie struckhoff
Posted November 9th 2022
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Unbelievable experience with DTE! My family couldn’t be happier with the transformation because of their program.
— Matt Bishop
Posted October 27th 2022
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Highly recommend. Jason, Dominic and Hunter helped transform our 2 cane corsos from having no manners to being great dogs that listen and are now great in the house.
— Dan Baker
Posted October 25th 2022
google
I would highly recommend Dog Training Elite to any dog owner. The skills and knowledge not only taught to my pet but to myself are invaluable. I have had a few dogs in the past and have gone through other training programs; but Elite by far is the best program, I have experienced. The staff and trainers are top notch professionals. Special thanks to Dom and Matt.
— Michael Lumetta
Posted October 13th 2022
google
Definitely worth the investment. Not only is Claire now an off leash dog, I feel comfortable knowing how to use the e-collar properly in a positive relationship with my dog. Jason was awesome.
— Zachary Roe
Posted October 13th 2022
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Dog Training Elite St. Louis offers expert services - like how to stop puppy biting.

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

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.

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At Dog Training Elite St. Louis, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs. Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite St. Louis works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.

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Take it to the Next Level

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 him, distract him with treats so he’ll get used to being touched without mouthing your hands or arms. Keep your puppy’s favorite toy with you, and if she starts mouthing your hands, give her the toy to bite instead.

What to Avoid

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:

  • Avoid wiggling your fingers or toes in your puppy’s face to entice them to play. This encourages your puppy to bite your hands and feet.
  • Don’t jerk your hands away from your puppy if they bite you. They might lunge forward to grab you with their mouth.
  • Never slap or hit a puppy for biting. This ineffective and cruel and can backfire as a training method. Your puppy might start to play more aggressively, with more biting, or they can become afraid of you.

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.

Dog Training Elite St. Louis has an award winning program in St. Louis, including how to get a puppy to stop biting.

Start Puppy Training Now

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. 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.

What are you waiting for? Contact Dog Training Elite today for a free in–home assessment or schedule a free training demo to see what your puppy can become.

Dog Training Elite St. Louis can teach you how to stop puppy biting.