Why Do Dogs Bite Each Other’s Ears?
There’s more than one reason that dogs bite each other’s ears. One is playing, and one is aggressive. This is an important distinction, as ear biting can escalate quickly if it’s done out of aggression.
Most of the time, dogs bite each other’s ears using little more than mouth pressure. Dogs use this type of “mouthing” play all the time as a way to exert dominance over one another, but it isn’t really biting as much as a message to tell the other dog who’s boss.
Dogs Chewing Ears During Play
There’s nothing to worry about if your dog is biting another dog’s ear (or getting their ear bitten) during a play session. Dogs learn bite inhibition during play as young puppies. The ears are natural bite targets because they are:
- An easily accessible target
- Dogs can easily bite the ears to show dominance over the other dog
Even during play, it’s easy for dogs to get carried away. Keep a close eye on ear biting during play sessions to make sure the dogs aren’t getting out of hand and biting too hard.
Ear injuries often look much worse than they actually are. A small nick can bleed a lot, as the ears are full of blood vessels that are very close to the skin’s surface. If a dog shakes their head, it makes matters worse as a small trickle of blood can be sprayed everywhere.
A quick cleanup will allow you to determine where the blood is coming from. Most often, it’s a tiny puncture that heals up on its own. Blood clotting sometimes takes longer with ears than in other parts of the body, so don’t panic if the ear leaks for longer than you might expect.
If your dog is playing and there isn’t any blood, yelps, or snarls, it’s probably safe to leave them alone. You can usually assume it is a mutually beneficial play session between the two animals. There are other behaviours that can indicate the biting is done out of play:
- “Play bowing” that looks similar to a downward dog yoga pose
- Rolling onto their back in a submissive gesture
- Running towards each other and then past each other
- Mouth biting without breaking skin or causing pain
If you think that ear biting is getting out of hand, the only thing you need to do is restrain the dominant dog doing most of the biting. If the “victim” approaches the biter, you probably don’t have anything to worry about.
Dogs Biting Ears Out of Aggression
When dog-to-dog interactions go off the rails, it can seriously injure one or both dogs. While different dog breeds have different levels of bite force, canine teeth can tear ears to pieces, causing irreparable damage.
Ears are a common target during a dog fight because they are easy to get to and a quick way to assert dominance over another dog.
Ear biting and aggression can result from:
- Fear
- Pain
- Protectiveness
- Excitedness
- High prey drive
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your dog doesn’t become aggressive or stop the interaction with another dog before it’s out of control. Play can easily turn to aggression under the right circumstances, so it’s essential to carefully monitor encounters with other dogs.
Warning signs that things are about to take a turn for the worse include:
- Deep growling and snarling
- Gums and teeth being displayed
- Yelps of pain
- Raised hackles
- Staring with flattened ears
If you notice that signs of aggression are developing, separating the two dogs is best.
How Do I Stop My Dog From Biting Other Dog’s Ears?
Here are some tips to get your dog to stop biting the ears of other dogs:
Distraction
The best way to stop ear biting is to use loud noises to gain the attention of the dogs involved. It could be a whistle or hand clapping, but it should be a noise your dog isn’t accustomed to hearing daily. Avoid yelling, as this escalates feelings of fear and aggression.
Wheelbarrow Technique
This technique requires two people to act out successfully. It involves grabbing a dog’s back legs and lifting them off the ground. You will need to do it with both dogs, but it forces the dogs to balance on their front legs, limiting their movement until they calm down.
Set up A Barrier
If you are in a confined space, putting a barrier between aggressive dogs can stop the fight from escalating. Tables and chairs work well for this purpose. Some trainers recommend throwing a blanket over dogs so they can no longer see the other one.
Water
If you have a hose or spray bottle handy, spraying dogs down can do wonders to stop a fight from breaking out. This should only be a last resort, however, and should only be used if the likelihood of injury to either dog is high and you don’t feel like it’s safe to get too close.
What Not to Do When Splitting up Fighting Dogs
Never attempt the following actions when trying to stop a dog fight, as you can be seriously injured.
- Put yourself or your hands between fighting dogs
- Put your face between dogs
- Grab a dog’s tail or collar to remove them
As disturbing as it can be, distracting a dog’s attention away from the other dog is the safest way to stop a dog fight.
Conclusion
Dogs chew each other’s ears out of play or out of aggression. It only very rarely escalates into a serious encounter. Pups who have been taught bite inhibition when they are young use “mouthing” during play. It’s important to monitor play encounters carefully so you can intervene before they turn into fights.
