Dogs & Play Biting Their Owners 

If a dog gently bites you while playing, it is called mouthing. You may have seen dogs playing with other dogs while leaving their mouths open to bite each other. Mouthing allows dogs to play fight without actually causing harm to each other. Keep in mind that mouthing behavior only mimics a bite. However, it still applies pressure and could hurt, especially a human.

You may be wondering how dogs learned how to partake in mouthing, to begin with. Mouthing traces back to a dog’s ability to learn how to fight. Dogs practice fighting from the time they are puppies. This gave dogs skills for survival in the wild. Some breeds may be stronger than others.

When a dog initiates play biting with a human, it is doing it because it thinks it is having fun with you. It is essential to spot the difference between play biting and aggression. If your dog is play biting, it is a sign of affection. An aggressive dog will bark, snarl, and growl. Knowing the difference between aggression and playing is key to staying safe. However, not everyone wants to risk it, and therefore, they may want to stop their dog from play biting.

Teaching a dog not to partake in play biting may be difficult at times. You may need to involve a certified dog trainer to help fix the issue. The trainer can help you distinguish signs of play and aggression in your dog. You and your dog need to have a healthy relationship!

You may not enjoy play biting, but your dog loves it. The best thing you can do is find a happy medium and a way to keep your dog playing and having fun. If you discover that your dog is being too aggressive, get the help of a trainer or your veterinarian to find ways to calm them down.