Reasons for Nibbling
Instinct is what makes your dog nibble on you with her front teeth, especially for puppies. As one of the most prevalent teething behaviours, it’s a gesture that she learned as a very young puppy while doing it with her mom and littermates.
When your dog is nibbling, also known as cobbing (like eating corn on the cob), on you with her front teeth, it may be because she is teething, trusts you, mouthing affection, wants to play with you, is exploring objects (like your hand) around her, because it feels good, perhaps you’ve encouraged the behaviour, she wants to tell you something, feeling excited, might be anxious about a loud sound or something similar, not feeling well, wants attention, is bored, is grooming you, is enjoying you petting or scratching her, is learning to socialize or is frustrated.
Nibbling is also known as “play-biting.”
Let’s unpack the reasons why Fido is nibbling on you with his two front teeth.
Teething
Puppies teethe to relieve the pain of their teeth pushing through their gums. If you are being treated like a teething toy, buy something for your dog to teethe on. Frozen teething toys are very effective because the cold numbs the pain while pressing their teeth into a teething toy helps to relieve the pain.
She Trusts You
If your pooch nibbles on you, it means she trusts you and is confident that you won’t consider it an aggression and bite her. She feels emotionally close to you and knows that you’ll allow her to give you an intimate nibble.
Mouthing Affection
Because pups don’t have dexterous human hands, they rely on their mouths for all sorts of activities like exploring, expressing affection, picking up objects, leading their human somewhere, grooming and lots more. Your pooch is saying he loves you with his nibbles.
Hopefully, his little incisors aren’t hurting you when he’s expressing his adoration for you. If the nibbles are like sharp little pins sinking into your flesh, just say no, gently put a chew toy in his mouth and praise him for gnawing on it in lieu of you.
Wants to Play With You
It seems like canines have many ways to say “I want to play.” Nudging, nibbling, headbutting, bringing a ball to you, putting her nose in your face and more. You know your pooch is trying to initiate play if she’s wagging her tail and her body is wiggling as she nibbles.
Exploring Objects
We study objects with our eyes and feel them with our hands. Rover’s process of examining new things is more of a sniff and taste procedure. Nibbling can play an important role in the exploration. Nibbling provides information about texture, flavour and other tactile attributes. Usually, a dog wants to know if something is edible. When nibbling on you, he might want to know if there’s food on your fingers. In addition, human skin tastes salty.
It Feels Good
We have oral fixations, why wouldn’t they? Sometimes it just feels good to chew, as we do with chewing gum. They also like the feeling of their teeth gently biting into inanimate objects (as well as your fingers).
You’ve Encouraged The Behavior
Encouragement is on many lists of why your dog does something. If you act like nibbling is adorable (because everything they do is adorable), she will be conditioned to repeat the action. If you wish to eliminate the nibbling, say “no” and offer her a toy or bone to nibble.
Wants to Tell You Something
Our poor pups can’t speak to us verbally, so they work diligently to express themselves in many other ways. A nibble can be a way to get your attention so you’ll be aware of whatever he’s trying to communicate. It could be, “My ball rolled under the couch, continue to pet me, I’d like another treat or something similar.
Excitement
When you return home from work, if a visitor is at your house, when you pull out the special treats and occasions like those are so exciting that your pooch can’t contain himself, and it becomes nibbling time. You know excitement is the reason for the nibbling if your dog is wagging, wiggling, barking and very engaged in whatever’s happening.
Feeling Anxious
Rover wants your reassurance that everything’s alright. He’s worked himself up and is very upset, so he nibbles you to see if you feel the same way or if there’s no reason to be nervous.
It’s also a stress release. When I return home from being out of the house for a while, I like to give my dog something to chew on so she can work out the loneliness and boredom she experienced while she was alone (although she was probably sleeping most of the time). Dogs look very happy and satisfied whilst chewing happily on a bone or bully stick. It actually looks therapeutic.
Not Feeling Well
Your pup doesn’t feel well and has to resort to non-verbal communication to let you know. Nibbles are one of her ways of asking for help and letting you know she’s not her usual self. If her tail is down, she’s listless, not eating, or if you notice any other abnormal behaviours, she may be ill.
Boredom/Attention-Grabbing
If your pup is bored and wants attention from you, she may give you a nibble because she’s unable to say, ‘I’m bored! Pet me!”
Grooming You
Mutual grooming is a big deal in the animal world. It’s a bonding activity in which dogs help each other reach difficult to get to body parts. It’s also about being friendly, showing affection and being part of the pack. We brush our dog’s fur. If we are very committed to their health, we might brush their teeth, too. They lick us and nibble on us in an attempt to groom us.
Enjoying A Scratch or Rub
If you’re petting your pup or giving her a little scratch, she might enjoy it so much that she’ll nibble your hand because she’s so delighted.
Learning to Socialize
Your pooch may be testing his boundaries and learning to socialize. He nibbles a bit to see how much of that is allowed. This is especially true of puppies.
Frustration
You might notice your dog nibbling on you when he wants something and you’re not giving it to him. It could be a reminder that it’s dinner time, a toy he wants you to throw, expressing his desire to be let outside or go for a walk and so on.
How to Stop the Nibbling
If your dog’s nibbling on you is becoming a problem, it’s important to take steps to stop the behaviour. Here are some tips to help you stop your dog from nibbling on you:
Redirect Their Attention
When your dog starts to nibble on you, try to redirect their attention to a toy or chew that is appropriate for their chewing behaviour. This can help to satisfy their urge to chew and redirect their focus away from nibbling on you.
Use Positive Reinforcement
When your dog stops nibbling on you and instead focuses on a toy or chew, reward them with positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise. This will reinforce the desired behaviour and encourage your dog to continue with it.
Avoid Encouraging the Behavior
When your dog nibbles on you, avoid responding in a way that might encourage the behaviour. For example, if your dog nibbles on your fingers and you playfully push them away, they may perceive it as a game and continue to nibble on you.
Set Boundaries
It’s important to set boundaries and communicate to your dog what behaviours are acceptable and what are not. If your dog is nibbling on you, firmly tell them “no” and immediately redirect their attention to a toy or chew.
Consult With Your Veterinarian
If your dog’s nibbling behaviour is persistent or excessive, it may be a sign of an underlying health or behavioural issue. In such cases, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian for a professional assessment and guidance on how to address the problem.
Conclusion
Your dog has a variety of reasons that motivate her to nibble you with her front teeth ranging from teething, demonstrating that she trusts you, showing affection, asking to play, gathering information, because it feels good, because you’ve encouraged the behaviour, to tell you something, she’s excited, she could be anxious, she doesn’t feel well, wants attention, is bored, is grooming you, is enjoying you scratching or petting her, is learning to socialize or frustration.
If those love nibbles are painful, say “no” when she attempts to nibble on you. Redirect your pup to chew something other than your hand and praise her as she does it.
