If you’re wondering how to stop puppy witching hour biting, then you’ve come to the right place.
Puppy witching hours are some of the most annoying parts of raising a puppy. And that combined with biting makes it even worse.
However, this kind of behavior is actually completely normal and nothing to be worried about.
What is important though, is to understand how you can curb this behavior and teach your little fur ball to be calmer.
So, here’s how to stop puppy witching hour biting. But let’s first look at where this behavior even comes from.
Table of Contents
Why does puppy witching hour biting occur?
One of the most common frustrations that new puppy owners experience is puppy biting. Puppies are young, which means that they are still learning about how the world works.
And one of the things they need to learn is that biting is not okay!
You may find that even after you’ve trained your puppy not to bite you all the time, he still does it on occasion. If you’ve noticed that your puppy seems to be losing control of himself at certain parts of the day, you could be dealing with a witching hour.
What age does puppy witching hour stop? Well, that can depend on a few things. A lot of it has to do with what you do to prevent witching hours!
We’ll get into that a little later. First, check out these related articles:
- How to Stop a Puppy Jumping Up and Biting
- When Do Puppies Stop Biting?
- How to Stop Your Puppy’s Biting Habit for Good
Why does my puppy get aggressive in the evening?
“Aggressive” is a strong word. Lots of people mistake normal puppy behavior like biting for aggression.
Really what’s happening is that your puppy explores the world with his mouth. He just needs to learn that biting people or other animals isn’t acceptable!
That said, if your puppy really is aggressive then that’s something you’ll want to work on right away.
As for showing signs of aggression in the evening, some puppies just get a little cranky! Your puppy may not actually be aggressive. Rather, he’s just feeling a little overtired.
For more advice on this topic, make sure you check out these articles:
Why does my puppy suddenly go crazy?
Raising a puppy can be a really fun and rewarding experience.
It can also be super challenging and frustrating at times. Any puppy owner knows this!
If you have a puppy, then you may find that around the same time each day, your puppy loses complete control of himself. He starts acting crazy, and forgets all the training you’ve been working on.
This is a puppy witching hour. You may also have heard these moments called the zoomies or a puppy temper tantrum.
No matter what the name is, it can be a really frustrating experience for you.
If this happens to your puppy, it’s a good idea to keep track of when his witching hours happen. By doing this, you’ll be able to tell whether his witching hours are because he’s bored and needs something to do, or if he’s a little overtired.
How to stop puppy witching hour biting
There are lots of things your puppy might do when he’s experiencing a witching hour. He might start racing around the house, barking or crying constantly, or biting you.
Biting is not only annoying. It can hurt, too! Puppies have super sharp little razor teeth, and his bites hurt.
To stop puppy witching hour biting, you need to go to the source of the problem and stop the witching hour.
Before we get into that, make sure you check out these 5 tips to deal with puppy witching hour.
Establish a solid daily routine
The best way to deal with puppy witching hours is to prevent them from happening in the first place. And the best way to do that is to make sure that you have a daily routine in place.
Routines are super important for you and your dog. For one thing, your dog will know what to expect during his day and when. That will reduce a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. Once you implement your routine and he gets used to it, you’ll likely find him to be much calmer and more settled.
The other major benefit of routines is that it helps you ensure that your puppy is getting everything he needs during the day!
If you don’t already have a schedule in place, now is the time to start one. You may need to try new things, but once you find what works you’ll be shocked what a difference it makes.
Enforce regular naps
While you’re setting up your schedule, make sure that you’re including time slots for enforced naps. This is especially important if your puppy is not very good at regulating his own sleep!
Puppies need lots and lots of sleep. For their bodies and minds to develop properly (and for your own sanity!) you need to make sure he’s getting enough.
Puppies need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep for every 24-hour cycle.
If your puppy’s witching hour is caused by being overtired, then making sure your puppy gets enough sleep will help.
Is your puppy having trouble settling down for his naps? Check out: My Overtired Puppy Won’t Sleep—What Can I Do?
Crate train him ASAP
Crate training will be helpful for you and your puppy for a few reasons. If you haven’t crate trained your puppy yet, now is the time to start.
Getting your puppy to sleep in his crate for his daily naps and bedtimes will provide him with a nice, quiet space to get some rest.
If your puppy starts biting you during his witching hour, then the crate will help you there too. Putting your puppy in his crate for a little time out will help him settle back down and relax.
Not sure where to start with crate training? Check out how to crate train a dog easily in 13 steps.
Make sure he gets the right amount of exercise
If your puppy’s witching hour is happening because he’s not getting enough daily exercise, then it’s time to start giving him a little more.
So how much exercise should a puppy get? Well, that depends on a few things. Your puppy’s age is one big factor, as is his breed. You’ll also want to make sure you’re giving him the right kinds of exercise.
It’s important to make sure that your puppy is getting the exercise he needs during the day. This will help him stay happy, healthy, and calm.
At the same time, giving your puppy too much exercise could cause you a lot of problems. An overtired puppy tends to be a troublemaker. So make sure that you’re providing your puppy with the exercise he needs, and not too much!
Hold him still
It might seem kind of weird, but when puppies have zoomies they tend to forget about their bodies completely.
When your puppy’s having a witching hour, he doesn’t just lose control of his mind and impulses. He loses control of his body, too!
But don’t worry, you can help your dog bring some awareness back into his body. The best way to do it is to just hold his body still.
Hold him from behind with on hand holding the back of his collar and the other holding his chest. This position will help prevent your puppy from biting you while you’re holding him. You shouldn’t need to hold him for longer than about a minute or so.
Give him a time out
If your puppy is in the middle of a witching hour and he won’t stop biting you, then a time out is probably a good idea.
Your puppy’s crate will be really helpful in this instance! Calmly put your puppy in his crate and let him stay in there until he’s settled down.
When do puppies outgrow witching hour?
Puppy witching hours are really frustrating and hard to deal with. You might be wondering when your puppy is finally going to grow out of his dreaded witching hours.
Many puppies do grow out of their witching hours on their own. But lots of other puppies need a little help.
Training your puppy to stay calm and making sure he gets the right amount of exercise will help prevent witching hours. Doing this will also help your puppy grow up into a well-behaved and calm adult dog.
How to stop puppy witching hour barking
If one of the symptoms of your puppy’s witching hour is a lot of barking, you’re not alone. This is a really common problem with puppies.
Barking can be really annoying for you. It can also be annoying for your neighbors or roommates who also have to deal with it!
The best way to deal with this problem is to prevent puppy witching hours from happening by using the above tips. If you find yourself in the middle of a puppy witching hour, then putting your dog in his crate for a time out might help.
Make sure you also learn more about how to stop excessive barking.
Conclusion
You love your puppy very much, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some challenges that come along with raising him. If your puppy tends to bite a lot when he has witching hours, then just understand that you’re not alone. That’s a really common problem amongst puppy owners!
Also understand that training and prevention are the best ways to handle witching hour biting. By focusing on these things, you’ll help set your puppy up for success and you’ll get to enjoy a much calmer and less painful dog!
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, at no cost to you.