Golden retriever puppy biting: carry jobs and calm hands

Golden retriever puppy biting is mostly a retriever’s mouth looking for something to hold. Goldens were bred to pick up and carry birds gently and bring them back, so a golden puppy uses its mouth for everything: hellos, play, your sleeves, the lead. The general method for any puppy is on how to stop puppy biting and nipping. This page covers what changes with a golden. For temperament, size and exercise, see the Golden Retriever breed guide.

I am Andrew Darov, a dog trainer. I am not a veterinarian. This is a behavior page about golden puppies and their mouths.

Why do golden retriever puppies bite so much?

A golden puppy bites so much because its mouth wants a job. Give it something to carry and most of the biting has somewhere else to go.

Several things stack up at once:

• A carrying breed. Goldens were bred to hold game softly and return it to a person. In a puppy that shows up as grabbing whatever is nearby, including hands.
• Teething. Adult teeth come in from about 3 to 7 months. Gums are sore and chewing feels good.
• People love. Goldens are very social. Greetings are the most exciting moments of the day, and excitement goes straight to the mouth.
• Short sleep. Busy puppies rarely put themselves to bed. The more tired they get, the harder they bite.
• Size. A golden puppy grows fast. A nip that was cute at 9 weeks hurts at 15 weeks.

This does not make the puppy rough or aggressive. It tells you what kind of jobs will work best.

Is this normal, or something else?

Lots of mouthing in play, at greetings and in the evening is normal for a golden puppy at 8 to 16 weeks. You should see a loose, wiggly body, a waving tail and a puppy that wants to keep playing.

Get help from a qualified trainer or behaviour professional if you see stiffening, a hard stare, growling over food, toys or a resting place, or biting when you touch a paw or collar. That needs a different plan from this page.

How do you give a golden puppy a carry job?

A carry job is any game where the puppy picks something up and brings it toward you. It uses the exact drive that makes the puppy grab your hands, and points it at a toy. A few short sessions a day are plenty.

1. Pick two soft toys. Choose toys the puppy can hold easily and you can take without a tug of war. Keep them for these games so they stay special.
2. Toss one a short way. One or two metres on the floor, in a hallway if possible so the puppy comes back the only way it can. Praise as it picks the toy up.
3. Reward the return. When the puppy brings the toy near you, show the second toy or a treat. As the mouth opens, take the first toy calmly and say thank you.
4. Give it back often. Most of the time, hand the toy straight back or toss it again. The puppy learns that bringing things to you is a good deal, so it stops running off with them.
5. End while it is still fun. Three to five throws for a young puppy. Finish with a chew on a mat or a nap, before the game turns wild.

Once this is easy, the full “let go” cue is on how to teach a dog to drop it, and a fetch game with a clear end is on fetch with a clean finish.

Why do toys at greetings help so much?

Many golden puppies bite hardest when someone comes home or a guest arrives. The puppy is thrilled and the mouth has nothing to do. A toy fixes much of that.

• Keep a basket of soft toys by the front door.
• Before the puppy reaches the person, hand it a toy or toss one at your feet.
• The person greets the puppy while it holds the toy, low and calm, with four paws on the floor.
• If the puppy drops the toy and goes for sleeves, the greeting pauses for a few seconds. Offer the toy again.

Many adult Goldens still greet with a toy in their mouth for life. That is a lovely habit to keep.

How do you handle a mouthy golden puppy calmly?

Brushing, towel drying after a muddy walk, putting on a harness and checking ears are all moments when golden puppies grab. Keep them short and give the mouth something else to do.

• Brushing. A few strokes, then a break. Spread a little soft food on a lick mat on the floor so the mouth is busy.
• Towel drying. Hand the puppy a toy to hold first, then dry one leg at a time.
• Harness and collar. Put it on while the puppy eats a treat from your other hand.
• The lead. If the puppy grabs the lead on walks, hold it still and offer a toy you carry in a pocket.
• Children. Children play with the puppy only with an adult close by. Use gates and a pen so everyone gets a rest.

Stop each session before the puppy starts to grab. Five calm seconds beat a minute of wrestling.

Why does sleep matter so much?

Overtired golden puppies run, grab clothes and ignore every cue. Young puppies need most of the day asleep. After about an hour awake at 8 to 12 weeks, the puppy goes to a crate or pen with a chew in a quiet room. The full plan is on enforced naps for puppies. If evenings are the worst time, an early evening nap often makes the biggest change.

What are the usual mistakes?

• Hand games and wrestling. They teach the puppy that hands are toys.
• Chasing the puppy to get things back. It turns every stolen sock into a game of keep-away. Swap instead.
• Endless fetch. Twenty throws wind a golden puppy up. Keep it short and end on purpose.
• Holding the mouth shut or scolding. It can make the puppy wary of hands and often makes the biting harder.
• Greetings with nothing in the mouth. Keep toys by the door so the most exciting moment has a job.
• Waiting for the puppy to grow out of it. Goldens grow fast. Start the toy habits in the first week.

Use this page with how to stop puppy biting and nipping for the core method and fetch with a clean finish for a game with rules. For the breed’s background, needs and family fit, read the Golden Retriever breed guide. More on the behavior hub.