A dog undergoing training with the experts at Dog Training Elite - get professional puppy biting training in Columbia, SC and help your dog curb this bad habit.

Professional

Biting Behavior Training

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC

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 Columbia, SC

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 balanced training, we ensure your pup feels safe and secure while providing effective and lasting results.

Call today to schedule your free consultation and stop biting behavior issues with our elite dog and puppy biting training in Columbia, SC.

See Training Packages

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 Midlands SC owner smiling with his dog in Columbia, SC.

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC

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.

An image of an adorable puppy - get expert puppy biting training in Columbia, SC with Dog Training Elite.

Take it to the Next Level

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC

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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.

Additional Behavioral Training

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC - Columbia Dog Socialization Classes. DTE
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Stealing Food, Clothing, or Other Objects
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Resource Guarding
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Food Guarding & Begging
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Mouthing, Nipping & Rough Play
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Anxiety & Submissive Urination
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Jumping Up & Hyperactivity
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Excessive Licking
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Leashing
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Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors
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Escaping
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Heeling
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Potty Training

Hear From Our Customers

Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Dottie Reynolds
    Apr. 25, 2025
    Crystal is amazing. Each time she tells us what she plans to have our dog Ocho do in each session, I think to myself— yeah, good luck with that. But, she is in full command but in a very positive and supportive way. The Elite process is well organized and systematic. In just 3 weeks, we have seen a remarkable difference. Thank you, Crystal!
  • Sprint Data Solutions
    Mar. 28, 2025
    Elite did a good job with the lesson and training as always
  • Katherine Anderson
    Apr. 24, 2025
    Crystal is marvelous with my dog, Earle. She gives him very clear commands, that he usually obeys. She explains what she’s doing to me very clearly. I would highly recommend Crystal and Justin. In fact, I have recommended them.
  • John Ogle
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has done an exceptional job with our puppy. The transformation after five sessions is amazing. It is worth the investment!
  • Shawn Covington
    Mar. 14, 2025
    I feel as if we made the right decision using Dog Training Elite. They are very knowledgeable and friendly.
  • Betty Pearson
    Jan. 14, 2025
    Take his time and shows a LOT of patience with my CoCo and me. Highly recommend!
  • Cathy Blanks
    Mar. 28, 2025
    Instructors are extremely knowledgeable and my dog responded immediately. Already seeing behavior improvement after 2 sessions.
  • Rhonda VanMeter
    Apr. 17, 2025
    Crystal is outstanding. The program is well designed and has been very effective so far.
  • Janet Dennis
    Feb. 24, 2025
    Justin is very patient with our fur baby and with us. We are more than pleased with our experience.
  • Alec Pettigrew
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Our initial assessment with Crystal went well. Packages and expectations for results were made clear. Crystal was accommodating and respectful.
  • Brian Pioreck
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Professional, polite, straight forward, and honestly. Crystal explained the whole process as well as expectation that would be set. She provided a skills demonstration in a practice environment and made it clear that success relied on my investment.
  • Bonita Dominique
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Excellent Dog Traing
  • Amanda Boozer
    Apr. 7, 2025
    Crystal came to our house for an initial evaluation. She was patient, kind, and seemed confident and knowledgeable.
  • Leah Thomas
    Mar. 26, 2025
    In a short 3 weeks, we have already seen great improvement with our puppy, Ruby. Justin is 100%! Knowledgeable, kind, patient, wonderful with Ruby. Highly recommend
  • Mary Raunikar
    Mar. 25, 2025
    I cannot recommend Justin and Crystal enough! When I rescued a 30 lb 3 month old Great Pyrenees for my first time owning a dog solo, I didn’t realize what I was in for. If you know anything about Pyrs, you know it’s a miracle my dog listens to me at all and possesses any sense of urgency whatsoever. I attempted training him on my own for about a month before I reached my limit. When I had my consultation with Justin, I finally saw the light at the end of the land shark puppy phase. Justin and Crystal helped Bug go from an unmotivated, reactive, fluffy escape artist with an attitude to an extremely well-behaved therapy dog with consistent recall, great manners, and top notch off leash obedience that will last the rest of his life. I can say with 100% confidence that working with Justin and Crystal has been the best choice I have made as a dog owner! If you are the kind of person that loves to get compliments from family, friends, and strangers about how well behaved and well trained your dog is, Justin and Crystal are the dog trainers for you!
  • Stacey Rostek
    Mar. 19, 2025
    He was great! He knew how to handle our aggressive dog in difficult situations when training him!
  • jerri strother
    Mar. 8, 2025
    My dog Keebo has been going through in house training for the past 5 weeks and it has been great. My friend also has her dogs Tucker and Sadie in training. I never thought it would be possible to have visitors walk through the door and it could be calm in the house. Prior to training our three 100 lb dogs would go crazy and bombard the visitor. It was very chaotic. Now we can place our dogs in their spot and they will stay there as the visitor enters the house. Quietly. It’s wonderful. They have also learned how to heal, sit, down ect. Our dogs all knew basic commands but the difference is now the commands mean sit and stay. Down and stay until you give the command to release them. I even texted Justin one day and said how amazing it was that the HVAC guy could come into the house and our dogs didn’t go crazy. It’s one thing to go through training and feel like it’s working but when you can actually try it for the first time with a visitor it’s wonderful. We are so thankful to Justin and his team. They are patient and have a very calming demeanor. It’s been a great experience and we are looking forward to group sessions at the park soon. If you live in Lexington, Chapin or the Lake Murray area please give them a try. You won’t be disappointed.
  • Tim Dorton
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Justin was professional, polite, and an effective dog trainer. He exhibited patience and consistency. Our dog is showing progress with each session.
  • laird weaver
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Crystal and Justin are miracle workers!! I have been so impressed with their quality of work for my dog Valley and look forward to doing the next level of training with them for my service dog! This is the most worthwhile investment I have ever made for my dog and I can’t wait to see how great level two is! The way they do the training and their whole process is just so unique and the results speak for themselves. I get so many compliments on my dog out in public now and it’s just been a great experience. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an amazing dog and trainer.
  • GB Olsen
    Dec. 17, 2024
    My corgi and I are learning so much from Crystal and makes it clear to me the value of being consistent.
  • Dottie Reynolds
    Apr. 25, 2025
    Crystal is amazing. Each time she tells us what she plans to have our dog Ocho do in each session, I think to myself— yeah, good luck with that. But, she is in full command but in a very positive and supportive way. The Elite process is well organized and systematic. In just 3 weeks, we have seen a remarkable difference. Thank you, Crystal!
  • Sprint Data Solutions
    Mar. 28, 2025
    Elite did a good job with the lesson and training as always
  • Katherine Anderson
    Apr. 24, 2025
    Crystal is marvelous with my dog, Earle. She gives him very clear commands, that he usually obeys. She explains what she’s doing to me very clearly. I would highly recommend Crystal and Justin. In fact, I have recommended them.
  • John Ogle
    Apr. 23, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has done an exceptional job with our puppy. The transformation after five sessions is amazing. It is worth the investment!
  • Shawn Covington
    Mar. 14, 2025
    I feel as if we made the right decision using Dog Training Elite. They are very knowledgeable and friendly.
  • Betty Pearson
    Jan. 14, 2025
    Take his time and shows a LOT of patience with my CoCo and me. Highly recommend!
  • Cathy Blanks
    Mar. 28, 2025
    Instructors are extremely knowledgeable and my dog responded immediately. Already seeing behavior improvement after 2 sessions.
  • Rhonda VanMeter
    Apr. 17, 2025
    Crystal is outstanding. The program is well designed and has been very effective so far.
  • Janet Dennis
    Feb. 24, 2025
    Justin is very patient with our fur baby and with us. We are more than pleased with our experience.
  • Alec Pettigrew
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Our initial assessment with Crystal went well. Packages and expectations for results were made clear. Crystal was accommodating and respectful.
  • Brian Pioreck
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Professional, polite, straight forward, and honestly. Crystal explained the whole process as well as expectation that would be set. She provided a skills demonstration in a practice environment and made it clear that success relied on my investment.
  • Bonita Dominique
    Apr. 11, 2025
    Excellent Dog Traing
  • Amanda Boozer
    Apr. 7, 2025
    Crystal came to our house for an initial evaluation. She was patient, kind, and seemed confident and knowledgeable.
  • Leah Thomas
    Mar. 26, 2025
    In a short 3 weeks, we have already seen great improvement with our puppy, Ruby. Justin is 100%! Knowledgeable, kind, patient, wonderful with Ruby. Highly recommend
  • Mary Raunikar
    Mar. 25, 2025
    I cannot recommend Justin and Crystal enough! When I rescued a 30 lb 3 month old Great Pyrenees for my first time owning a dog solo, I didn’t realize what I was in for. If you know anything about Pyrs, you know it’s a miracle my dog listens to me at all and possesses any sense of urgency whatsoever. I attempted training him on my own for about a month before I reached my limit. When I had my consultation with Justin, I finally saw the light at the end of the land shark puppy phase. Justin and Crystal helped Bug go from an unmotivated, reactive, fluffy escape artist with an attitude to an extremely well-behaved therapy dog with consistent recall, great manners, and top notch off leash obedience that will last the rest of his life. I can say with 100% confidence that working with Justin and Crystal has been the best choice I have made as a dog owner! If you are the kind of person that loves to get compliments from family, friends, and strangers about how well behaved and well trained your dog is, Justin and Crystal are the dog trainers for you!
  • Stacey Rostek
    Mar. 19, 2025
    He was great! He knew how to handle our aggressive dog in difficult situations when training him!
  • jerri strother
    Mar. 8, 2025
    My dog Keebo has been going through in house training for the past 5 weeks and it has been great. My friend also has her dogs Tucker and Sadie in training. I never thought it would be possible to have visitors walk through the door and it could be calm in the house. Prior to training our three 100 lb dogs would go crazy and bombard the visitor. It was very chaotic. Now we can place our dogs in their spot and they will stay there as the visitor enters the house. Quietly. It’s wonderful. They have also learned how to heal, sit, down ect. Our dogs all knew basic commands but the difference is now the commands mean sit and stay. Down and stay until you give the command to release them. I even texted Justin one day and said how amazing it was that the HVAC guy could come into the house and our dogs didn’t go crazy. It’s one thing to go through training and feel like it’s working but when you can actually try it for the first time with a visitor it’s wonderful. We are so thankful to Justin and his team. They are patient and have a very calming demeanor. It’s been a great experience and we are looking forward to group sessions at the park soon. If you live in Lexington, Chapin or the Lake Murray area please give them a try. You won’t be disappointed.
  • Tim Dorton
    Jan. 28, 2025
    Justin was professional, polite, and an effective dog trainer. He exhibited patience and consistency. Our dog is showing progress with each session.
  • laird weaver
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Crystal and Justin are miracle workers!! I have been so impressed with their quality of work for my dog Valley and look forward to doing the next level of training with them for my service dog! This is the most worthwhile investment I have ever made for my dog and I can’t wait to see how great level two is! The way they do the training and their whole process is just so unique and the results speak for themselves. I get so many compliments on my dog out in public now and it’s just been a great experience. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an amazing dog and trainer.
  • GB Olsen
    Dec. 17, 2024
    My corgi and I are learning so much from Crystal and makes it clear to me the value of being consistent.

What to Avoid

Dog Training Elite Midlands SC

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 Midlands SC.
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Educate, Empower, Elevate, Elite

Victory Begins With Elite Education

Two golden retreivers at a show demo with Dog Training Elite Midlands SC.

Dog Training Elite

Contact Us Today and Stop Puppy Biting in Columbia, SC

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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 Midlands SC. 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.