What is going on when your dog won’t stop biting your legs? It’s incredibly frustrating and you just want it to quit happening as soon as possible. So what does it mean? Does your dog hate you if they bite your legs? Will your dog grow out of biting your legs, or do you need to do something about it to get them to stop?

Today, we’re going to answer all of the questions you have about this obnoxious and frustrating behavior. Soon, you’ll be able to spend time with your dog without glancing down every second to make sure you’re not about to be bitten! That’ll be nice, won’t it? Of course! So let’s not delay any longer and get to our article “How to Stop My Dog From Biting My Legs.”

How to Stop Dog Biting Legs

To stop your dog biting legs, you should tell them calmly but firmly to “stop” immediately. Your dog should then be put in a time-out in their crate or a closed-off room with no toys. Allow them out after about 10 minutes, then resume what you were doing. If your dog bites your legs again, then put them back into time-out.

Your dog should quickly begin to learn that biting your legs gets them negative results. You should then work on positively reinforcing their good behavior. When your dog is playing or around your legs and doesn’t attempt to bite, give them praise, pets, and a small treat. It won’t take long for your dog to realize that not biting is the much better option.

Finally, make sure that they have chew toys so that they have an acceptable outlet. You should also make sure that anyone else who spends time with your dog is following these steps so that your dog is getting the same type of feedback on their behavior. Be patient and consistent, and your dog should stop biting legs very soon.

Still, you need to address the fact that your dog ever thought it was acceptable to be biting your legs or anyone else’s, regardless of why they were doing it. And to do that, let’s first talk real quickly about what makes dogs work to begin with.

You’ve likely heard before that dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader. Well, when your dog feels like it’s okay to not obey your commands, or to be aggressive with you, or to boss you around by biting your legs, they are essentially telling you that they don’t respect you in this role.

If they did, they wouldn’t bite your legs, and they would listen to your commands to stop this (or any other) type of misbehavior immediately.

But don’t worry, because you’re not alone here. In fact, this issue is found in more homes with dogs than not. And fortunately, it’s also a problem that is easily correctable, provided that you have the right instructions to follow, of course.

Once you’ve shown your dog that not only are you their pack leader, but one worthy of their respect, your dog will stop biting your legs, stop all their other misbehavior, and finally listen to your commands the second you give them. And best of all, your dog will be much happier because all of the stress that pack leader confusion causes them will be gone.

Everyone wins. Sounds great, right?

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

You should watch an excellent free video series that’s on this exact subject —  how to be your dog’s pack leader — by a renowned trainer named Dan. In his series, he’ll show you everything you need to know in ways that are very easy to understand and to 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 no time.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And don’t worry, because you’re not going to have to be mean. You won’t even have to raise your voice. Dan uses only 100% humane and loving teaching methods at times. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s the only way to achieve fast, permanent results with your dog.

Why Does My Dog Keep Biting My Legs?

Your dog keeps biting your legs because they want something, and they’re trying to get your attention. Most likely, your dog is nipping at your legs because they want you to play with them. Look for other signs of play, like your dog doing play bows or wagging their tail to know for sure. They may also want food, or to be taken on a walk.

While aggression is also a possibility, dogs normally only bite someone on the legs for this reason as a last resort. Aggressive bites will be obvious, as they’ll be much harder and usually won’t let go. These types of bites will usually only occur when a dog is trying to distract the attention of someone who they feel is an immediate threat to someone they care about.

Regardless of the reason why, your dog biting you on the legs is never okay, even if it’s just a nip. Allowing it to continue, or responding by doing what your dog wants (play, giving them food, etc), not only gives your dog the impression that it’s okay, but also encourages it. This will mean that your dog will just start doing it even more.

Before long, your dog will be biting your arms, biting at your trousers, or biting your feet. They may even escalate things to the point of biting you and drawing blood. You obviously don’t want any of these happening, so it’s important that you begin behavioral training immediately to stop things before they get any worse. We went over how to do that in the first section of this article.

Does My Dog Hate Me If They Bite My Legs?

Your dog does not hate you if they bite your legs. Your dog is most likely just trying to communicate something to you, like that they want to play or that they need to go for a walk. Even if your dog is angry and bites you aggressively, it does not mean that they hate you — they just need to be properly trained to learn how to handle their emotions correctly.

Will My Dog Grow Out of Biting My Legs?

Your dog may grow out of biting your legs if they’re just a puppy, but you still need to be addressing things properly now. Whether your dog is young or old, allowing them to nip your legs gives them the impression that it’s okay, especially if you respond by giving in to their demands to play or serve them food.

To ensure that your dog stops biting your legs, or that your puppy will not be taught that this behavior is okay, you need to begin working on things right away through training. We’ll tell you exactly how to do that in the next section of this article.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to not having to worry about your dog being around your legs anymore, so I’ll let you get started now. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading our article “How to Stop My Dog From Biting My Legs.”