Get your puppy's schedule

Puppy witching hour: why the biting gets worse at night

A puppy who bites harder and harder in the evening is usually overtired, not naughty. The AKC notes that a puppy who keeps biting may need to go to their pen or crate to take a nap, or may need a potty break, food or water. More play rarely fixes it. A calm break does.

Check the basics first

Before you train anything, run through the list: when did your puppy last sleep, pee and eat? Young puppies need a lot of sleep, and the evening frenzy often comes after a long stretch awake. A potty break and then a nap in the crate with a chew ends most witching hours in minutes.

Biting means game over

If your puppy bites while you play, the game stops, every time. Dog trainer Kathy Santo, quoted by the AKC, suggests turning around and tucking your hands into your armpits: "It's actually a calming signal and a minor form of attention withdrawal." Yelling backfires: it teaches the puppy that biting gets a reaction (AKC).

Give the teeth a legal target

Keep a tug toy or chew within reach in every room you use in the evening. The ASPCA recommends noncontact games like fetch and tug instead of wrestling with your hands, and redirecting to the toy the moment teeth touch skin. Don't jerk your hand away: it makes you more fun to grab. Let it go limp.

Use short time-outs

If your puppy bites hard, the ASPCA's method is a brief time-out: remove your hand and ignore your puppy for 10 to 20 seconds, or step away. Then come back and play gently again. Gentle play continues; painful play stops.

When biting is not play

Playful puppies have a relaxed body and face. The ASPCA describes a temper tantrum differently: a stiff or frozen body, lips pulled back, growling, and bites much more painful than normal mouthing. Repeated biting in frustration is not something a puppy simply grows out of, so ask a qualified professional for help.

Related

12 week old puppy potty schedule (printable timetable) · Puppy potty schedule generator (free, printable)

Questions owners ask

At what age do puppies stop biting so much?

It varies. Most mouthing fades with consistent training, and the AKC's chief veterinarian, Dr. Jerry Klein, advises consulting an experienced trainer if you haven't been able to moderate the behavior by the time your puppy is 6 months old.

Is the puppy witching hour normal?

Yes, evening zoomies and extra mouthing are common in young puppies, especially when they are overtired. Plan a potty break and a nap before the usual frenzy time.

Should I yelp when my puppy bites?

It works for some puppies and makes others more excited (AKC). If yelping winds your puppy up, switch to quietly turning away or a short time-out.

By Gustavo Rodrigues, Moxipup. Updated October 17, 2026. Sources: AKC, ASPCA, Humane World for Animals. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice. Sudden accidents, straining or blood in the urine: call your vet.