Why does my dog nip at people’s legs? Simple and Effective Tips

Why Do Dogs Chase Pant Legs And Bite Ankles?

An owner of a recently rescued Maltese once contacted me, desperately in need of help. Her newly acquired one-year-old dog was lunging and nipping at innocent passersby, terrorizing them as they went about their errands. She, therefore, started to go the avoidance route—walking on secluded streets in the early morning and late evening.

We discussed a variety of causes for such behavior and came to the conclusion that, regardless of the cause, it was evident that her yelling and repeated leash corrections were not only not working, but perhaps even making the behavior worse. I recommended that she use a harness to protect this dogs delicate trachea, which was at risk of collapsing every time he lunged and pulled against the collar in an attempt to attack and nip.

Reasons Why Dogs Like to Nip at Your Ankles and Legs

Why do some dogs appear to enjoy chasing pant legs?

Your legs are the easiest spot to reach. The ankle-biter reputation is quite popular among small dogs, obviously due to their size; the legs, after all, are the easiest place to reach!

The dog wants attention or control. When directed towards family, at times it may be the dogs way to play, get attention or control the comings and goings in the house.

The dog is afraid. When directed towards strangers, it may be fear-based. But how can it be fear-based if the dog is actually attacking!?

Youve unwittingly encouraged this behavior. Very likely, the dog learned that every time he moved towards those legs, the person instinctively moves away, which encouraged this behavior. I like to compare this behavior to a person whos terrified of cats and tries to send cats away by stomping their legs on the ground while making a loud “shhhh” sound. Because it works, this person will likely repeat this behavior in the future with cats.

The dog thinks its a fun game. Some small dogs may also attack legs out of predatory drive just because it is fun, in the same way other dogs chase balls, bikes, joggers, and squirrels! Puppies do it simply because it is an entertaining game—especially if you continue moving and he gets a grip on your pant legs. “Yeaaaahhhhh! A free game of tug of war!”

How do I stop my dog from nipping at visitors?

You can only do this by showing him. You might put him in a room or kennel when people arrive, then allow him to visit when they are calm and seated. He might then be put away again before the guests leave, so the increased activity doesn’t put him into a state of high anxiety, causing the nipping behavior to resume.

Why Does My Dog Chew His Leg?

Malibu is a four-month-old Great Pyrenees. She keeps biting peoples’ ankles. She gets bored with her toys and wants to bite everything else. How do I get her to stop? — Vanessa

This is a common problem, and it usually comes down to understimulation. Your dog probably wants to play! A bite at your ankles is most likely an attempt to get you to react and respond, which is a little more fun than her toys. To make her less likely to nip, you want to make sure that the dog is getting physical exercise, mental stimulation through training, and environmental enrichment.Â

As you’ve probably figured out, just trying to stuff a squeaky toy in there won’t do the trick. As soon as you aren’t paying attention to her, she’ll nip you to get you to turn around again. Just like with little kids, they’ll learn that attention is attention — even negative attention seems worth it. Related article

The Wildest Collective dog trainer Robert Haussmann’s pro tips for getting a hyped-up dog to chill out.

You need to make sure that her physical and mental needs are met. She should know basic commands, such as “come,” “sit,” “stay,” and “ down.” You don’t have to carve out a huge amount of time to train, but you can work it into your regular schedule and train for five minutes here and there. I usually recommend training around mealtime; the dog is really motivated by hunger, and you’re spending time with the dog anyway.

The environmental enrichment piece has to do with how the environment plays back with the dog. A lot of times we have toys scattered all over the floor, and dogs get bored with those. You want to make sure that your dog has interactive toys. They might be part of a dog’s meal; I think puppies should have a good bit of their meal be fed out of food dispensing toys, such as Kongs, lick mats, and treat balls. Some things will accept dry food and some will accept wet food. It’ll make a huge difference. Your dog is gonna spend maybe 40 minutes eating breakfast, using their mouth and mind. The likelihood of them needing to nip at you goes down considerably. Related article

Dog trainer Robert Haussmann’s pro tips for walking a pup that wants to chase everything that moves.

If they’re still nipping then, it’s fair to give them a timeout — but it’s not fair to give them a timeout if their needs aren’t being met elsewhere. You can put them in a separate space from you or remove yourself from them. Losing access to you and access to a social space is the punishment. I think this is usually an appropriate punishment: It doesn’t add fear or intimidation — it just removes something the dog wants. If you teach your dog that biting your ankles unplugs the DJ and shuts down the party, so to speak, they should start selecting against the behavior of nipping.Â

After a while, they’ll learn that it’s counterproductive to nip at you. Keep in mind that timeouts can’t be your only solution. You have to make sure their physical, mental, and environmental needs are all being met first.Â

Robert Haussman founded Dogboy NYC in 2005 to help pets navigate the urban jungle that is New York City using creative, practical, and humane training methods. Haussmann is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Canine Behavior Consultant, specializing in helping dogs overcome behavioral issues including fear, phobias, anxiety, and aggression. He advises owners on the best practices for making their dogs feel safe at home and beyond.