Puppy Teeth, Sore Gums and Nipping: Redirecting Bites Without Losing Your Hands
Puppies explore with their mouths, and teething makes gums sore. Nipping is normal, but you can teach your puppy where bites are welcome.
Why puppies bite
Puppies bite to play, to explore and to ease teething discomfort. Each stage needs a slightly different response, but the goal is the same: give them a better option.
The redirect routine
- Stop the game as soon as teeth touch skin.
- Offer a toy right away.
- Praise the moment they switch to the toy.
- Pause the game if the biting continues.
Keep sessions short so puppies stay calm.
Toys that help during teething
Choose toys that are firm enough to chew but safe to supervise. The KONG Airdog Squeaker Ball and KONG Extreme Ball are good options for fetch. Take away anything that breaks into small pieces.
For softer chewing, the KONG Wild Knots Bear suits supervised cuddle time. Choose a size that is too big to swallow for your puppy.
Fetch to tire them out
A Doggi Rugby Ball Large bounces unpredictably, so keep sessions short and supervised. Tired puppies bite less.
Rewards for good choices
Use small, soft treats to reward calm behaviour. Black Dog Mixed Yoghurt Drops 1kg, Black Dog Fish & Chicken Sushi and a KONG Rewards Wrapz Medium/Large make it easy to reward quickly.
Teething and the adult teeth
Puppies lose their baby teeth gradually, usually by around six months. Check with your vet if teeth are retained, if gums bleed, or if your puppy stops eating.
Your next step
Write a short daily routine: play, toy swap, rest. Stick with it for a fortnight.