Why Does My Puppy Bite Me and No One Else?

Puppies might aggressively bite one specific person because he makes them feel threatened or because they’re trying to establish dominance. On the other hand, play-bites with one owner can reflect affection, attraction, or a desperate need for stimuli.

So, why does my puppy bite me and no one else, and what can I do about it? To properly deal with the situation, you first need to pinpoint the cause.

5 Reasons Puppies Exclusively Bite One Person

Let’s take a look at the common reasons why a puppy might bite you, but no one else:

1.   Your Puppy Is Showing You Affection

Not every puppy bite is a warning sign of aggressive behavior in canines. Remember that young dogs use their mouths to play and engage others.

As long as there’s no snarling or growling, you can assume that your puppy is just trying to show affection.

If he bites during pets, he might even believe that you’re the one who’s initiating playtime. In that case, he’s just trying to keep up with you.

You’re likely to find yourself in that situation if you’re the person who spends the most time with the pup.

The Fix: Find Healthy Alternatives for Playtime

Try not to reject the puppy when he’s showing you affection.

Instead, let him know that this is wrong via a verbal clue like “leave it” or whatever command you’re practicing. Then, pause the playtime for a few seconds without interacting or talking.

When the puppy stops the bites and backs off slightly, resume the game. This should teach him that biting is off the table, but other options are good to go.

It also helps to get interactive toys, like freebies, so you and your pup can enjoy the playtime.

2. You're Not Approaching Him Right

If you feel like your pup’s bites aren’t playful at all, then the behavior could be a defense mechanism.

While most puppies adore the attention, they might not be fully comfortable with human interaction just yet.

For instance, you might be reaching from above his eyesight, which can be threatening for some dogs.

You could also just be picking the wrong times or places to pet your puppy. Remember that even the most outgoing pups need personal space.

The Fix: Learn How to Pet the Puppy Without Threatening Him

Each individual dog likes petting differently, but here’s a general approach to consider:

• Wait till your pup walks up to you and don’t trap him for pets or cuddles.
• Get down to his level and let him see your hands reaching out to him.
• Try safe spots like the neck and under the chin.
• Keep your strokes soft and gentle to avoid overworking the pup.

If the puppy likes or tolerates your touches without biting, reward him with a treat. That should slowly get him to open up and stop biting you.

However, there could also be a deeper underlying misunderstanding that broke the trust link between you and your pup.

So, if you’ve tried fixing your approach but still have a problem, it might be time to seek a professional trainer’s consultation.

3.   Something About You Is Soothing

Sometimes, a teething puppy might find one person to be more soothing to nibble.

For instance, you might have a softer and smaller hand compared to other household members. These could be more tempting for your pup to bite.

Similarly, dogs might be more sensitive to a certain perfume you’re wearing.

Keep in mind that some researchers believe that dogs find women less threatening. That’s why he might choose one owner for nibbles over the others.

The Fix: Redirect the Teething Bites to a Chew Toy

Remember to show your teething puppy that you’ll not engage with his bites. Then, redirect his nipping to a suitable chew toy.

With picky pups, you might need to keep trying a few toys and sticks, though.

So, be patient and don’t give up quickly. Letting him use your hands to test his brand new teeth now will encourage this behavior as he grows!

4.   Your Puppy Is Trying to Be the Alpha

Since dogs are pack animals, they always expect to see a dominant “alpha” leader in any setting.

According to the American Kennel Club, pups start exploring their places in the hierarchy at around four months.

If they don’t see that this assertive alpha is you, they might step over and try to establish their dominance. They might do this by biting, snarling, or jumping.

This could happen regardless if you’re the only owner or if there are other people in the household. For instance, they might show your partner more respect than you.

The Fix: Establish Dominance and Set Boundaries

If someone in the household has figured out the dog’s training patterns, let them step in with some advice.

Remember that every individual puppy will require a slightly different training plan. So, getting the cheat sheet from someone who knows the pup is easier.

However, if you’re the sole dog owner, you can only start by being firm with your bite inhibition training. Then, set clear boundaries about off-limit activities and places for your puppy.

To keep the pup from growing too submissive, you can enroll him in a socializing class or agility training.

5.   The Environment Is Boring Your Puppy Senseless

Suppose your pup only bites at home, where it’s just the two of you together. Then, when he meets other people, he has fun but mostly behaves himself.

In that case, you’ll know that he only needs stimuli to keep him engaged.

Remember that young dogs usually have way more energy than adult ones. Without a release, they might turn a little destructive and bite their owner as a cry for attention.

The Fix: Give Your Pup a Change of Scenery

With an under-stimulated puppy, a dynamic routine can be a simple yet effective fix. You’ll have to keep it up until he outgrows the biting phase.

Here are a few tips to try:

• Find playmates for your puppy through a socialization class.
• Take him out to public parks more often.
• If he’s comfortable with your friends, have them over frequently.

However, it’s crucial to keep your dog on a leash till you aren’t fully confident in his training.

Even if he seemingly bites you only, you never know when something will trigger him. The last thing you want is him biting strangers or children in the park!

Paul S.

Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.