“How do I get my dog to stop biting my face?” That’s not a fun question to be asking yourself! But what’s going on when your dog does this? Why does your dog want to bite your face? Is this just an age-related thing that they’ll eventually grow out of? Are the medications you should be using, or are those things you want to avoid?

Today, we’re going to give you all of the answers you need to stop this obnoxious and painful behavior from your dog. Soon, you’ll have the loving relationship you want with your dog, and you’ll be able to play with them without worrying about what might happen. That’ll be great, right? So without further ado, let’s get to our article “How to Stop My Dog From Biting My Face.”

Why Does My Dog Want to Bite My Face?

Your dog wants to bite your face because they’re trying to play, and are just a little overexcited. Dogs use their mouths to explore their world, particularly when they’re puppies. So if your dog is biting your face or nipping at it, then it’s most likely that they’re just trying to play a game with you. Look for other signs of play like wagging their tail or doing play bows.

There’s also a smaller possibility that your dog bites your face because they’re being aggressive and want to show dominance. If this is the case, you’ll likely have little doubt in your mind as your dog is probably also doing things like staring and growling. Be careful about putting your face near your dog’s for the time being, as they’re seeing it as a threat to them.

But regardless of why your dog is biting your face, you need to take steps to stop it right away. Brushing it off as just a playful act gives your dog the impression that it’s not only okay, but also encouraged (because you’re probably giving in and playing with them after).

It then won’t be long before your dog is also biting your ears, biting your hair, and biting your nose — possibly all to the point of drawing blood when they bite. No one wants this, of course, so it’s important that you work on stopping these actions immediately through behavioral training. We’ll go over how to do that in the last section of this article.

Will My Dog Grow Out of Wanting to Bite My Face?

Your dog may grow out of wanting to bite your face if they’re a puppy and still teething (which usually ends by 6 months), but you shouldn’t just wait for them to age out of it. If your dog is older, then they definitely will not grow out of wanting to bite you on the face.

A puppy biting your face will get the impression that it’s part of play, and will continue to do it as an older dog, even after they’ve long ago finished teething. An older dog will also learn that it’s okay, and will only escalate the behavior. Either way, you need to address it right away through behavioral training no matter the age of your dog.

Are There Medications to Stop My Dog Biting My Face?

There are medications to stop your dog biting your face and other areas, but you should not use them. They are ineffective and often only make the dogs more curious due to the smell. It’s possible some dogs will even bite more if you use these medications. And you’ll not be fixing the problem, just moving it to a different area.

How to Stop Dog Biting Face

To stop your dog biting your face, immediately let out a calm but firm “no” or “ouch.” You should then stop whatever activity you were doing with them and put them into a time-out in their crate or a closed-off room with no toys for about 10 minutes. You can then let them out, but if they again try to nip your face, repeat the process.

But if your dog gets the idea and does not try to bite you on the face or anywhere else, reward them with pets, praise, and a small treat. Be patient and consistent, and ensure that anyone else who spends time with your dog is also following these steps. Your dog will soon learn that biting on the face gets them negative results while being good does not.

Still, you’ll need to work on what was causing your dog to think it was ever okay to bite on the face in the first place. And to do that, we’ll need to talk about what really makes dogs work.

You’ve likely heard before that dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader. But when your dog bites you on the face, regardless of the reason why they’re doing it, they are clearly telling you that they do not respect you in this role. They may even see themselves in it, rather than you.

Obviously, you can’t allow this to continue or your problems will only get worse.

Don’t worry, though, because this is a very common issue in dog households, meaning you haven’t failed them. It’s also something that is easily correctable, provided that you have the right directions to follow for yourself.

Once you’ve shown your dog that you are their pack leader — and one who deserves their respect — they’ll stop biting your face, and you’ll also be able to end all the other behavioral issues you’re likely having. You’ll obviously be happier, but your dog will be too because you’ve freed them of all the stress that pack leader confusion places on their little shoulders.

Everyone wins. Sounds terrific, doesn’t it?

“Well, sure, but how am I supposed to do this?”

You should watch an excellent free video series which covers this very subject (how to be your dog’s pack leader) by a renowned trainer named Dan. In his series, he explains everything you’ll need to know in ways that are very simple to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets right to the point so that you’ll start seeing these crucial changes in your dog in a hurry.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And no, you’re not going to have to be mean to your beloved four-legged friend. In fact, you won’t even have to raise your voice. Dan uses only 100% humane and loving training methods at all times because it’s the right thing to do and it’s the only way to achieve fast and permanent results from your dog.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to being able to get kisses from your dog without worrying about what else they might do, so I’ll let you get started now. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading “How to Stop My Dog From Biting My Face.”