Dog Nibbling: Why Does My Dog Nibble on Me?

If you have ever had a dog, they have likely mouthed or nibbled on you at one point or another. Unfortunately, this is a widespread practice, especially in younger dogs and puppies as, like babies, they explore the world through their mouths. This is usually a playful show of affection from your best friend, but it is essential to discourage it early. If encouraged or left alone, it can lead to biting. One of the best solutions is to give your pup an alternative to nibble on while they grow out of the habit of mouthing you.

Raesons Why Does My Dog Mouth Me

There are several reasons why your dog may be mouthing you, so we want to take you through all possibilities. Of course, there may be some overlap as your dog could be mouthing you for several different reasons.

1. Playing

This is definitely the most common kind of mouthing in dogs. The playful mouthing often comes in several different everyday scenarios. These include when they meet someone for the first time when you return home, when it is time for dinner, time for walks, etc. In these situations, they usually mouth towards your clothes, hands, and wrists. You can generally tell that it is a playful mouthing as they are jumping around and wagging their tail out of excitement. You may also feel their teeth against your hand/wrist while they are mouthing you.

However, playful mouthing can get out of hand. Many dogs enjoy wrestling for toys using their mouths/jaws and have potent grips. As they become more excited, the pressure exerted with the mouthing can increase, so you definitely have to stay on top of it. Hard mouthing is often a problem in younger dogs, and puppies have even been known to cut the hands/wrists of their owners.

2. Grooming

This is much less common than playful mouthing, but it is still a possibility. Some dogs have been known to groom others by using their teeth. This could be grooming you, a toy, another dog, or something else. Also, they do it not of anger or aggression, but as an act of love and respect towards the person/thing, it is grooming. However, this kind of mouthing often comes without excitement, meaning the dog is less likely to get carried away. Therefore, you should not feel their teeth against you when they are grooming.

3. Affection or excitement

As we explained above, dogs only tend to nibble and mouth people, animals, and objects they have a relationship with. Therefore, nibbling and mouthing is almost always a positive sign of affection, which only increases when excited. However, the level of nibbling can also grow with this, and you may want to discourage the behavior if they are causing pain or discomfort.

4. Learning the world around them

This is far more common in young dogs and puppies as they are still looking to learn about the world around them. Like babies, dogs learn their surroundings through their mouths, which is why they are known to nibble and mouth things and people around them. The dogs, in these cases, are looking to nibble you because they want to know more about you and how you react to it. If you feel that they are being over the top and do not want to encourage the behavior, you should give them an alternative or discourage it altogether.

5. Helping teeth to grow or teeth problems

Dog’s teeth just like humans in their younger years. So, if you have a young dog or puppy and they seem to be nibbling and mouthing everything, it could be down to their teeth. During the teething period, gums are often a little itchy. Therefore, they may be looking to merely scratch an itch while nibbling at you. They may also do the same with other animals, toys, and objects. You may notice the difference between this and playful mouthing because the dog is not as excited, and it does not necessarily come before an exciting event like food or walks.

6. Fleas

The worst nightmare for any pet owner… the dreaded fleas! However, fleas are even worse for the dogs themselves as they can be highly uncomfortable and can even lead to severe issues such as disease and infection. During the flea period, the dog may start to nibble and mouth to scratch an itch. However, this habit may also continue after the fleas have gone, simply because the dog has become used to it. Therefore, we recommend using a flea collar to keep the nasty bugs away.

7. Stress or anxiety

Dogs have also been known to nibble and mouth out of nervousness. If your pup is stressed or feeling anxious, they may nibble against your hand, clothes, or wrist. They could also mouth other animals and/or toys. It is common for the dog to turn towards someone or something that makes them feel more secure or safe, hence why they nibble/mouth an owner the vast majority of the time. You may notice the difference between this and playful mouthing because your pup is not as excited, and it does not necessarily come before an exciting event like food or walks.

READ MORE: How to Calm Down a Dog?

How to teach my Dog to Stop Nibbling me?

Nibbling is not the best habit for a dog to have as it can be both annoying and uncomfortable to deal with, primarily if your pup gets carried away and causes real pain. Therefore, many owners seek to discourage mouthing without punishment. There are three main ways to do this:

1. An alternative – If your dog seems insistent on nibbling and mouthing, give them something else to nibble on. Divert their attention away from your body by giving them a good chew toy or bone, for example.
2. Discourage them – Disciplining your dog is an essential part of being an owner. After all, if you do not let them know that something is wrong, they will never know. Nibbling is definitely something that can become worse over time if you do not address it. Do not lash out or scream at your dog for nibbling, but be assertive and let them know that it hurts and is not acceptable. Use words like ‘ouch’ and ‘no’.
3. Listen to them – The vast majority of the time, your pet is trying to get your attention when they are nibbling or mouth at you. Next time this happens, maybe pay them some attention for a few minutes and play with them until they are satisfied.

READ MORE: Indoor Activities for Dogs

What mistakes can I make while discouraging my Dog from Nibble me?

There are also errors to watch out for when training your dog to stop mouthing/nibbling. Here are the main three to avoid:

• Moving too much – When diverting attention with a toy, be sure to move it more than you would typically move your arms/hands. Dogs become excited by things that move a lot, so you don’t want your waving arms to seem like the most exciting things.
• Ignoring good behavior – If you scold a dog for being wrong, you have to pay attention to them when they are being good. If your pet asks for attention in a friendly and polite way, reward them with a few minutes of playtime. This means they are less likely to resort to nibbling and mouthing to get your attention in the future.
• Over the top – When scolding your dog, never go over the top. That means no shouting, screaming, and definitely no hitting. Just be assertive and let them know that the nibbling hurts and is wrong.

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