If you find it cute that your little German Shepherd puppy is biting your hand, think again!
GSDs grow-up to become strong and muscular dogs.
If you encourage them when they bite or make ‘aww’ sounds, it will adopt biting as a habit. However, once a GSD pup grows, its biting habits are not cute at all. Trust me on this one.
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Why is My German Shepherd Puppy Biting and Nipping?
Little pups that bite on hands or chew on toys are doing so because they are developing teeth.
Recently, we got a new addition to our GSD family, a cute male named Bobby, and surely Bobbly likes to bite everything. He doesn’t like plastic materials and thus he doesn’t like his dog mom Kong toys.
We did order a set of tug ropes for him and it is working. (for now at least).
Here is the model that we ordered from Chewy.
They chew on toys because their gums feel irritated and to make the pain go away, they bite and chew on things.
This behavior during the teething period is very normal and not much of a problem. However, if a GSD pup doesn’t leave its biting habit behind when it has grown into an adult, it becomes a huge problem for everyone.
Another reason that GSDs bite a lot is that they did not receive proper training as pups. When people start to appreciate or encourage GS biting or nipping, they are making it develop this into a habit.
Your dog will start to bite at visitors and household items. This is a problem that needs to be controlled right away or else someone will end up getting hurt. If you let your GSD bite and nip, you are letting it take over.
Biting and nipping is also a play game for GSD pups. They like to bite other pups in the litter, and this is usually harmless. However, when a pup gets hurt unintentionally, it makes a loud sound. This sound is an indication for the pup that it is hurt, and it is time to stop.
How to Stop a German Shepherd from Biting and Nipping?
There are several ways you can train your pup not to bite or nip. If your pup is biting because of teething, it is not a problem.
However, if your pup’s biting habit is getting out of control, adopt the following strategies to get control over it.
- The first step is to tell your dog that biting is not acceptable.
- You will do this with the help of voice commands, body language, and hand signals.
- If your pup bites at you, make and ‘ouch’ sound.
- Pull your hand away and say ‘No.’
- Move away from your pup and stop playing.
- When you stop playing with your pup the moment it bites, it will associate no play with biting.
- Repeat this practice whenever your GSD bites or nips.
- It will help your GSD learn that biting and nipping is not appreciated.
If this method doesn’t work and your GS pup is still biting, try this:
- Start playing with your pup.
- Let it grab your hand and as soon as the pup bites, say ‘No’ in an authoritative tone.
- Put your thumb in your pup’s mouth and under its tongue.
- Put your other finger lightly beneath its chin.
- Your pup will not be able to bite you and in this uncomfortable situation, it will try to get your fingers out of its mouth.
- This is an effective technique that will make the puppy feel uncomfortable and it will avoid biting you.
- Remember, you will have to repeat this technique several times until your pup completely hates taking your hand in its mouth.
This doesn’t work either? Try this:
- If you are playing with your pup and it starts biting your hands, say ‘No’ immediately.
- Pull your hand backward and pinch your pup in the neck.
- Do not pinch too tightly.
- This will make the pup associate pinching with No, and it will soon stop biting you.
Be Consistent in what You Teach
If you are trying to train your dog to behave and stop biting and nipping, make sure you are doing it with consistency and repetition.
While training a GSD, you will need to repeat your technique several times until it starts to learn. Your GSD needs to know that biting and nipping is not acceptable and will upset you.
You will also need to become the leader of your dog, not a friend of the same level. When you are a leader, you control the dog’s behavior. When the dog accepts you as a leader, it starts to follow the rules you set and the commands you give.
Do not let your puppy bite on your hands during the training process.
Doing so will create confusion in your dog’s mind, and it will not be able to learn that biting is not good.
Reward Good Behavior
If your dog is doing well and following your orders, do not forget to offer it a treat. Food treats are a kind of reward that you offer your dog only when it learns something.
Make sure you have enough treats with you when you are training your pup.
When your pup stops biting you on your ‘No’ command, offer it a treat. This way your GSD will learn that no biting means a yummy treat.
In the later stages of your pup’s training, you can replace treats with cuddles or anything that appreciates your puppy.
Many troubled owners visit GSD training centers to get rid of their dog’s biting behavior. However, if they adopt effective obedience training strategies, they will be able to control their dog’s behavior.
Conclusion
Do not let your pup’s biting habits turn to concrete. A little pup’s biting and nipping is likable, but as soon as it grows into a muscular dog, its biting will cause injuries.
If you need any help regarding your GSD’s behavior and habits, read on to our complete package of GSD guide for amateurs. You can also sign-up for our newsletter to get an expert opinion on GSD behaviors.
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Last Updated on November 3, 2021 by Shepped Team
Hi,
Thanks for posting this valuable information. We have a new GSD pup who is so kind but needs to brought up properly. I will be consulting you often :)
Michele
I need some advice ? I have a German shepherd that me and my wife just had netured and we got em back . we know he in pain but I went to feed em ? And he nipped my Hand didn’t draw blood but I don trust em w my wife I have no idea what to do ? Please help ?
Hi I Just Got My 2Month Old German Shepard. And I Understand Hes Teething i got him chew toys and he loves them. But when i play with him he bites my hands arms and legs with all his strength. He will not stop. He ignores my commands and continues the same! What else can i do!
Follow the instructions above. It will take time.
what home made food i can feed fo my GSD l
pupply
Hi
Just i have got my 50 days GSD puppy, when I am playing with hme him he bites my legs. He will not stop that and ignores my commands and continues the same! What can i do.. how to stop his bitting
Reply
It’s like said above. I have a 3 month old gsd and he was terrible about buying arms and pants legs. It’s not something that is going to happen over night but you have to be patient and consistent with the dog. It will more than likely take a while. But if you apply what’s said above it will get better day by day
I have a ten week female she does the same thing likes to bite anything that moves quick sleeves pants etc. when we play she thinks a real hand is more fun than an inanimate stuffed toy or rope. She just is smart and they are bossy I want way dogs. I have been doing the thumb in her mouth or I wrestle with a sec after she bites me until til I can pinch her neck and put her down and tell her no get up and walk away she gets all mad tries to stay follow and bite sometimes so I just keep making her stop and saying no not yelling but no not to stern not to calm and ignore her after three days of this she only has an episode like that once or twice a day and she doesn’t bite the little kids she only get like that to me I guess because she doesn’t like to mind but I don’t hurt her I usually just have a toy ready and that works but for the rest of it she comes 85 percent of time right now sits and lays and stays both laying and sitting and walks on leash some she like to try to go home the whole way out so when she turns around to go home and pulls I just stand there make her keep siting when she doesn’t walk and that makes her bored and then she follow the come command and walk 20 feet turn and do it again then she walks like a show dog the whole way home so I guess you just have to be super persistent never give up don’t hurt it but don’t let it win keep its mind busy
for some reason my 1 year old German Shepherd female her name is Jessie for some reason when I let her in to put her in the kennel she will crowd around me and I tell her “No” but she starts nipping at me and jumps on me and scratches I don’t know what to do anymore can someone please help me with this I keep ending up with bruises and scratches everywhere :(
You have to giver her a toy when she starts biting you then she will get distracted.
Try it!!
If that doesn’t work then idk.
At what age should u start teaching the no biting techniques listed here? We have a 10 week old GSD… She loves chewing on my hand. I’ve been letting her and sometimes, if she gets too rough I command stop and she does listen. But should I already be teaching no bite or do I need to wait a few more weeks til she is not such a baby?
We bought a 7 month old german shepherd puppy. She was basically raised by a pack of german shepherds with little human contact. She was never wormed as a puppy and was full of works. I saw all the red flags but bought her anyway. The problem is she bites me all the time, my arms, my ankles. She doesn’t listen when I say “ouch” or “no”. She is perfectly calm until I walk into the room. I walk her, I feed her, I play ball with her. She doesn’t know how to receive affection – she bites when you try to pet her. She doesn’t want to please me. How do I develop a relationship with this dog?
You need to go to a trainer who specializes in s as aggressive dogs. I had a aggressive German Shepherd and it worked wonders.
I’m not sure if this is a problem, but I don’t like it, so I’m reaching out for some advice. When I discipline my almost 5 month old puppy (I’ve only had her for a few weeks), when I lay her down on her side and say no when she bites, she growls, shows her teeth, turns to bite you, and barks and barks, biting the whole time. I just hold my hand on her neck (like a bite) and say NO sternly. She’ll settle down after a few seconds and I let go. Then she’ll lay there and repeat the whole process until I “bite” her again with my hand. It takes a long time before she will settle down and stop biting me, but then she’ll repeat this over and over anytime I try to stop her from doing something she wants to do…bite, jump on people, chew the furniture, etc. Is this dog aggressive and going to hurt someone, or am I doing something wrong? I’ve had Shepherds before, and Pit Bull mixes, and Rottweiler mixes, and I’ve been to obedience many, many times, and I believe I know what to do to train my puppy, but I haven’t come across this behavior before. I hope you can offer some practical advice, because she is a sweetheart all the rest of the time. She is not food aggressive, she is not aggressive with other dogs…as a matter of fact, she usually cowers to them at the dog park. She LOVES people, and this is usually when she is at her worst. When I try to stop her from jumping all over people, I put her in a down and stay, but that’s when all the growling and biting, and barking starts. Like a tantrum. So I hold her on her side with a “bite” with my hand to her neck to settle her down but, like I said, she continues this behavior until I either have to put her outside or in her crate, where she’ll bark and bark and bark. I walk her every morning for 45 minutes, and we walk her at night as much as we can. In between, she goes to the dog park to get more exercise. I hope you can help me figure this out. Thanks.
MY dog is 6 months old and he does not stop biting and nipping and he jumps on people and bites his leach. He doesn’t listen at all. PLEASE HELP ME.
Is there a paper copy available?
Thank you!! At 10 weeks Sarge is such a nibbler/biter!! Looking for guidance and training.
I need help my gsp is 2 months and wont stop bitting and nipping on my hands and face she bit my lip i dont know if she was playing or serious but im in a process of training her but she just dont get it what should i do
My GSD puppy was given to us from a breeder before he was 8 wks old. Does this make for more biting
Thank you for posting this information. We have a13-week old GSPup (Gustav) and his biting is out of control. We use a “time-out” when he becomes overstimulated; we use “NO” forcefully and “Ouch” when biting too hard. The thumb under the tongue is one I haven’t heard about. We are completely in favor of the positive reinforcement behavior. We enrolled him into a positive reinforcement puppy training class. And our vet, too, is in line with our thinking, but the breeder suggested otherwise. What are your thoughts?
My male 3 year old male shepherd nips people clothing such as pants an shirts but does not bite when people get close to me when visiting me how do I stop this he weighs 90 lbs thanks