Every puppy uses its mouth. The AKC says play biting is "completely normal for puppy teething and necessary for development," and something you can train away with a few simple steps. A Dutch Shepherd puppy brings two extras to the job: a herding background and a lot of energy. Here is what the AKC and the ASPCA say about teaching a soft mouth, and what a herding breed adds to it.

Azul, Alpha Kennels' Dutch Shepherd dam, sitting on lead on a wet beach under a cloudy sky, mouth relaxed
Azul on the beach. A calm, relaxed mouth is the goal.

Why puppies bite

The AKC's Dr. Jerry Klein and certified trainer Kate Naito list five common reasons puppies nip: to share how they feel, to start a game, to explore, genetics, and teething. Dr. Klein calls nipping "usually a 'conversation starter' in puppies," a way to start play.

It is also a long phase. Naito puts it this way: "Since dogs are teething until roughly seven months old, and some dogs have puppy-like play energy well into their second year, it can be a long road."

The herding factor

The AKC has assigned the Dutch Shepherd to its Herding Group. The breed page says that in the past, these dogs were often charged with taking the sheep out to pasture every morning and bringing them back to the barn each evening on their own.

Dr. Klein says breeds in the herding group may nip more often, because they were bred to herd calves and sheep by using their mouths to nip at heels. He names Corgis, Collies and German Shepherds as examples. Naito adds a fair caution: don't make assumptions purely on a dog's breed.

The AKC's guide to herding behavior explains how it shows up at home. The instinct is triggered by movement, and "to a herding dog, however, 'other animals' means the humans in the house, too." It warns that if your kids run away when the dog nips their feet, "that will only trigger the behavior to continue." Its fixes:

Size matters too. Naito notes that "the bigger the dog, the more painful" play biting can be, and that "families with large, strong, active breeds should be prepared to do lots of age-appropriate training and exercise for their young dogs."

Step one: teach bite inhibition

The ASPCA defines bite inhibition as a dog's ability to control the force of its mouthing. Why it matters, in the AKC's words: "There may come a time when they're in pain or fearful, and they put their mouth on you or someone else." If a dog has learned bite inhibition, the AKC says, it understands that it shouldn't bite down hard.

Puppies usually learn this from each other. When one bites a littermate too hard, the other yelps and play usually stops for a moment. The ASPCA's method copies that:

One caution from the AKC: for some puppies, the yelp "actually gets them even more worked up and likely to bite." If that is yours, turn quietly around, walk away, or gently put your puppy in its crate for a few minutes to calm down.

Step two: teeth off skin

Once the hard bites are gone, the ASPCA's next goal is no teeth on people at all. Now a time-out comes every time you feel teeth touch your skin: walk away and ignore your puppy for 30 to 60 seconds. Then give the mouth somewhere better to go:

Dabo, working-line Dutch Shepherd, lying on a rug at home with an orange ball, ears up
Dabo with his ball. Give the mouth a better place to go.

Sometimes a biting puppy is a tired puppy

"Sometimes a biting puppy is really an overtired puppy," the AKC says, and it needs a quiet space or its crate for a nap. Other times it needs a potty break, food or water, or a chance to burn off energy. Keep the crate calm, so your puppy never connects it with punishment. We wrote more about building that rest in The Off-Switch, and about the right amount of exercise for a growing puppy in our exercise guide.

What not to do

When to call a pro

Dr. Klein is reassuring: "Play biting does not mean your puppy is vicious." But he adds, "if you haven't been able to moderate the behavior by the time they're 6 months old, it's a good idea to consult an experienced dog trainer or animal behavior specialist."

The ASPCA also describes a puppy "temper tantrum," which is more serious than play. Signs include a stiff or frozen body, lips pulled back to show teeth, growling, and bites that hurt much more than normal mouthing. Don't yelp in that moment. Stay calm, and plan to get a qualified professional involved, because "repeated bouts of biting in frustration are not something that the puppy will simply grow out of."

The short version: puppy biting is normal, and a herding breed may add some chasing and nipping to it. Teach a soft mouth first by stopping play on hard bites, then aim for no teeth on skin. Redirect to tug and chew toys, ask for a sit before games, and don't let kids turn into running targets. Skip yelling and physical corrections. If it isn't improving by about 6 months, call a trainer.

Planning the first year? Read our guide to the socialization window and working dogs and kids.

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