You know how happy our dogs can get when they see us. They wag their tails and jump up on us with excitement when we come home from work or even just out in the backyard. But unfortunately, many dogs will take things even further and also bite when they are excited, which obviously we don’t want.

So what do we do? Keep reading and we’ll answer all the questions you have, and tell you how to end it in this article “My Dog Jumps and Bites When Excited, How Do I Stop It?”

How Do You Train a Dog Not to Jump and Bite When Excited?

To train a dog not to jump and bite when excited, use the following steps to handle things in the moment, then continue reading below to learn how to end the behavior for good by getting down to the real cause of it:

1. Don’t get angry or give them attention.
2. Gently push them back down and give a calm but firm “down” command.
3. Keep your arms folded and do not make eye contact.
4. Continue until your dog has settled down.

Prolonged attention of any kind will reinforce the behavior, so it’s important to not give in to your dog’s behavior by getting angry or by playing with them. Make sure anyone else with you also ignores their behavior. It may take time but your dog will eventually get the hint.

But while these steps will get your dog to stop jumping and biting when excited, you need to remember that the underlying behavioral issue (anxiety, overexcitement, etc.) that was causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address that, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“Well, how do I make these changes last then?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog jumps and bites when excited and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog jumping and biting when excited ever again!

Why Does My Dog Bite Me When Excited?

Your dog might bite you when excited because they are having fun, and they enjoy putting things in their mouth including during play. Your hands or feet just happen to be the closest thing to them.

Dogs jump and bite when excited, and they may have inadvertently gotten the impression that you enjoy it too. If you’ve let out a yelp, squeal, or moved away but continued playing, they will interpret this as part as of play. It’s natural, with dogs being descended from wolves, but it still a behavior that needs to be trained away.

Keeping the game going without interruption during this time has mistakenly positively reinforced your dog jumping and biting during play. We went over how to get your dog to stop in the first section.

At What Age Do Puppies Stop Jumping and Biting?

Puppies will stop jumping and biting typically at about 5-6 months old. It’s normal for them to engage in this behavior as they are learning and growing, but if they continue to jump, nip, and bite past this age you may have a behavioral problem that needs to be addressed.

Do Dogs Grow Out of Jumping and Biting When Excited?

Dogs will grow out of jumping and biting when excited if they are still puppies. If they are older than six months, however, then your dog has not learned to play properly.

Older dogs that continue to jump and bite when they are excited should be addressed through behavioral training. Failure to do so could lead the dog to believe that it’s encouraged, and will lead to them continuing to push boundaries.

Soon, you will have a dog that is biting and being overly aggressive during play. Even if your dog only sees it as play, other dogs or people might not. Someone could get injured, or you could have an out-of-control dog fight on your hands.

Senior Dog Jumping and Biting When Excited

If your senior dog is jumping and biting when excited, you need to learn to give them the attention and play they are craving without encouraging the behavior. Left unchecked, a dog’s excited jumping and biting could lead to trouble.

You can begin training away the behavior by not rewarding them with attention when your dog jumps and bites when excited. Every time you give them attention — positive or negative — you are reinforcing the behavior.

When your dog is jumping and nipping, do not touch them. Give a calm but firm “down” command, and continue to withhold affection and stop play until they do so. Be consistent, and they should slowly start to get the idea.

You should now know why dogs jump and bite when excited, what to do in the moment, and how to stop it long-term. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading our article “My Dog Jumps and Bites When Excited, How Do I Stop It?”