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Puppy Nipping
Puppy Nipping – What You Need to Know
Puppy nipping is one of the biggest things families struggle with, and it’s something everyone forgets about because puppies look so cute. But puppy nipping is completely normal and a very important phase they go through. Nipping can look like playful growling, biting, hanging off trousers, jumping up at your face and chewing anything they can reach. Puppies only get their teeth at around six to seven weeks old, so just like babies, they want to chew everything, including us. This isn’t your puppy being naughty. This is your puppy trying to bond with you and play with you.
It often gets worse five to ten days after bringing your puppy home. That’s when your puppy starts to feel settled and more confident. It’s actually a good sign, even though it feels hard. It can be worse for people with thinner skin, older people and children because they’re closer to puppy height. Puppy nipping hurts and it can be frustrating, but it is normal. What matters is putting simple steps in place to make sure it doesn’t escalate and teaching your puppy how to behave calmly and kindly. It doesn’t stop overnight and it often gets worse before it gets better, but with time, patience and the right guidance, they do grow out of it.
We’ve put together some helpful tips on how we deal with puppy nipping at Willow’s to help make this stage easier for you and your family.
Willow’s Puppy Socialisation Guide
Helping your puppy grow into a calm, confident family dog
Bringing a puppy into the world is only half the job. The other half is making sure they feel safe in it. Socialisation is not about taking your puppy everywhere or showing them as many things as possible. It is about helping them feel calm, safe and happy in the world they will live in.
At Willow’s, we start this from birth. Our puppies hear normal household sounds, meet different people, and learn that new things are okay. But socialisation does not end when your puppy leaves us. It must carry on in your home, gently and with care.
This guide will show you how to do it the Willow way. No pressure. No forcing. Just calm, kind steps to help your puppy grow into a happy, well-balanced dog
What Socialisation Really Means
Socialisation is how your puppy learns that the world is safe.
It is not about taking your puppy everywhere or letting everyone cuddle them. It is about showing them normal life in a calm and gentle way so they grow up feeling safe, not scared.
A well-socialised puppy can:
Hear loud noises like fireworks or the hoover and stay calm
Walk into new places without freezing or shaking
Meet people and other dogs without fear or jumping all over them
Settle at home and rest, even when life is busy around them
A poorly socialised puppy might:
Bark or hide at every new sound
Be scared of visitors, dogs or children
Struggle to settle or be left alone
Grow into an anxious or reactive adult dog
Socialisation starts with us at Willow’s and must carry on with you. It is not one big day out. It is lots of small, safe experiences over time.
Happy, confident puppies are not an accident. They are gently raised that way.
But socialisation alone is not enough if the genetics are wrong. If a puppy comes from nervous parents, or a breeder who has not started any early social work, it can make life ten times harder for you. Some people think they are failing, when really it is because their puppy was never given the right start. Good genetics and good early rearing make everything easier.
Please download our Socialisation Guide. We have made it fun so the whole family can get involved and tick things off as you go. Puppies need to experience things around 10 times before it feels normal to them, so this guide helps you keep track and do your best. It is simple, it is fun and it makes sure nothing is missed.