Common Reasons For Goldendoodle Biting & Ways To Tackle It

Goldendoodles can be such sweet, lovable dogs. They’re often used as therapy dogs because of their gentle, loving disposition, and high levels of intelligence. But sometimes, even the best of Goldendoodles can bite. If you’re wondering when do Goldendoodles stop biting, or why your Goldendoodle is biting in the first place, read on for some answers.

Table of Contents

• Why Is My Goldendoodle Constantly Biting Me? Common Reasons & Explanations
• How To Discourage Goldendoodles From Biting Or Excessive Chewing
• When Do Goldendoodles Stop Biting?
• Goldendoodle Biting: Frequently Asked Questions
• Goldendoodle Biting: Final Thoughts

Why Is My Goldendoodle Constantly Biting Me? Common Reasons & Explanations

Biting is a very common reaction in dogs, but if left unattended, this can become a problem in the long run. Below we’ll talk about some of the most common reasons why your Goldendoodle could be biting you. 

Goldendoodle Puppy Biting When Teething

Most puppies bite during teething, when they’re exploring the world with their mouths and are trying to figure out what everything is. This is normal behavior, but when do Goldendoodles stop biting? This will usually stop around six to twelve months old when their adult teeth come in.

However, sometimes Goldendoodles continue to bite even after they’ve finished teething. There can be several reasons for this, including boredom, fear, aggression, or even just excitement. If your Goldendoodle is continuing to bite after teething, it’s important to try and figure out the root cause so you can address it.

Goldendoodles Bite While Playing

One of the most common questions we get asked about Goldendoodles is “Why do Goldendoodles bite while playing?” There are a few reasons why your Goldendoodle may be biting while playing. 

First, it’s important to understand that Goldendoodles are bred as companion animals, which means they have a strong desire to please their humans. However, this also means that they can sometimes become overexcited when playing and may not know their own strength. Additionally, Goldendoodles often inherit a prey drive from their Retriever ancestors, which can manifest as biting during play. 

Your Goldendoodle Bites Because They’re Excited

Goldendoodles may also bite simply out of excitement. If they get too excited, they may not know how to express it in a positive way and could end up biting instead. This is most common when meeting new people or animals, or during playtime. When do Goldendoodles stop biting out of excitement? As soon as you start training and socializing your pup!

Goldendoodles May Bite Out of Habit

Excessive Goldendoodle biting may also be due to a learned habit. It’s very simple actually – if you don’t properly socialize and train your dog bite inhibition, they may start biting because they’ve learned that this behavior is acceptable and normal.

Goldendoodle Biting Can Be A Sign Of Stress, Anxiety, Or Boredom

One of the most common reasons for Goldendoodle biting is boredom. Goldendoodles are very intelligent dogs and need a lot of mental stimulation. If they’re not getting enough activity or attention, they can become bored, which can lead to destructive behaviors like chewing and biting.

Moreover, destructive behaviors can also be due to stress and anxiety, one of the common culprits being separation anxiety. If your Goldendoodle is left alone for too long, they may start to feel anxious and stressed, which can lead to them chewing on things or biting.

Goldendoodle Biting Due To Fear Or Aggressive Behavior

Finally, Goldendoodles can also bite out of fear or aggression. If they feel threatened or scared, they may lash out and bite in self-defense. Similarly, if they’re feeling aggressive, they may also bite. Aggression can be caused by many things, including fear, possessiveness, or even just a general dislike of someone.

How To Discourage Goldendoodles From Biting Or Excessive Chewing

If your Goldendoodle is biting, the first step is to try and figure out why. Once you know the reason, you can start to address it. Goldendoodles are generally known as friendly and lovable dogs. However, like any other dog breed, they can sometimes exhibit behavioral problems, including biting. If your Goldendoodle is biting, there are a few things you can do to discourage this behavior.

Redirect Your Dood’s Attention

First, provide plenty of chew toys for your dog to gnaw on. This will help satisfy their need to bite and redirect their chewing behavior away from your hands and feet.

Tackling Goldendoodle Biting During Playtime

If your Goldendoodle is biting while playing, it’s important to provide firm yet gentle discipline and to teach them an alternate behavior. You can teach them the “leave it” or “drop it” command, which can help them learn not to bite. You can also redirect their attention from your hands and feet by providing them a chew toy. 

And if they’re overly excited, make sure to teach them how to appropriately express their excitement, such as through play. Don’t forget to provide plenty of positive reinforcement when they behave well. The key here is to ignore unwanted behaviors, and only reward good behaviors. You should never punish your pup for misbehaving. In fact, punishment can have the exact opposite effect. 

Tackling Boredom

If your dog is bored, try giving them more activity and attention, such as daily walks, runs, games of fetch, playtime, and training sessions. You should also make sure your pup has plenty of interactive games and puzzle toys to play with. As they’re also highly intelligent, getting plenty of mental stimulation is crucial to curb unwanted and destructive behaviors. 

Both mental and physical stimulation are crucial for Goldendoodles – active dogs as they are. So, make sure that your pup has plenty of opportunities to express all that pent up energy in an appropriate manner. A tired dog is a happy dog and is less likely to bite out of boredom or excitement. 

Deal With Stress & Anxiety

If your Dood is anxious or stressed, figure out what may be causing the anxiety for your pup. Crate training, positive reinforcement, and teaching your pup how to enjoy alone time can be helpful in this case. If they are frustrated, try to provide them with more structure and obedience training, such as setting a daily schedule and sticking to it. You can also try some dog-specific relaxation techniques. 

If your Goldendoodle is biting due to fear or anxiety, work on slowly desensitizing them to the things that trigger these feelings. If they’re afraid of people, start by having people give them treats from a distance. Slowly increase the proximity as they get more comfortable. If they’re anxious when left alone, start by leaving them alone for short periods of time and gradually increasing the duration. 

We also recommend you consult with your vet about the most appropriate course of action. Not only is your Dood’s stress and anxiety affecting you, it also causes your precious companion unnecessary mental distress. 

What About Aggressive Goldendoodle Biting?

If your Goldendoodle bites out of aggressiveness, you’ll likely have to seek professional help from a qualified dog trainer or behaviorist. If they’re fearful or aggressive, you may need to work with a trainer to help them overcome their fears. Aggression is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. A professional will be able to assess the situation and help you come up with a plan to address the aggression.

Other Considerations To Keep In Mind

With proper training and socialization, your Goldendoodle will learn to control their biting behavior and will be a well-mannered companion for years to come.

However, the key is to start early and be consistent with your training. If you allow your dog to mouth and nip sometimes but not others, they will be confused about what is acceptable behavior.

In addition to that, dogs are much more likely to pick up on good habits if you teach them from a young age. That’s why we always recommend you start from the day you bring your new puppy home, as it helps establish good behaviors and boundaries. 

Finally, be patient! Like all dogs, Goldendoodles need time to learn what is expected of them. With a little time and effort, you can help your Goldendoodle learn to keep their teeth to themselves.

By the way, we cannot stop raving about the Online Puppy School by Baxter & Bella that includes tons of helpful resources on how to successfully train your puppy. Of course, it also includes lots of tutorials and resources on how to tackle excessive Goldendoodle puppy biting. What’s especially great about this program is that you can follow it from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, and it will teach you everything you need to know about how to raise your puppy into a well-behaved and confident adult. 

What Should I Do If My Goldendoodle Bites Me?

If your Goldendoodle bites you, it’s important to remain calm and assertive. Do not scream or hit your dog, as this will only make them more likely to bite again in the future. Instead, calmly say “no” or “ouch” and walk away. This will help your dog understand that biting is not an acceptable behavior. If your Goldendoodle continues to bite, you may need to seek professional help.

When Do Goldendoodles Stop Biting?

So, when do Goldendoodles stop biting? This is a common question among Doodle owners, and unfortunately, there is no single answer. Some Goldendoodles may outgrow their biting habits by the time they reach adulthood, while others may continue to mouth and nip throughout their lives, especially if you don’t deal with the problem appropriately. 

It’s natural for puppies to want to explore the world with their mouths, and Goldendoodles are no different. However, with a little patience and training, most Goldendoodles will learn to curb their biting habits by the time they’re six to nine months old. 

Goldendoodle Biting: Frequently Asked Questions

Goldendoodle Biting: Final Thoughts

Goldendoodles are wonderful, loving companions. However, like all dogs, they need to be properly trained and socialized in order to become well-mannered members of the family. 

While Goldendoodles are generally friendly dogs, they can sometimes bite due to excitement, boredom, stress, or fear. If your Goldendoodle is biting, there are a few things you can do to discourage this behavior, including providing chew toys, increasing mental and physical stimulation, and desensitizing them to their triggers. If the problem persists, seek professional help from a certified trainer or behaviorist.

Ultimately, if your Goldendoodle is biting, it’s important to figure out the root cause of the problem so you can address it. With some patience and training, you should be able to stop your Goldendoodle from biting for good. They’re sweet-natured and gentle dogs that deserve a loving home, and with some help, they can be the perfect companions.