Should I let my dog nibble on my hand? The Ultimate Guide

Should I Let My Dog Chew Or Bite My Hand?

Puppies and dogs should not be allowed to bite your hands or chew on them, even if it is just to play. Your dog should never be comfortable putting their teeth against your skin. This is a simple safety precaution for later in life and an essential part of “bite inhibition.”

Dogs should have a strong instinct to avoid biting us, and we can encourage this at a young age by adequately training our dogs to play with us and ask for attention in acceptable ways that never involve any kind of biting. We can also help our dogs learn bite inhibition by properly socializing them as puppies with other dogs.

Other Usual Common Reasons Dogs Bite Hands

Dogs often bite hands out of redirected aggression. This is when a dog is highly aggravated at something else, such as another dog, and their owner reaches down to touch them. It can also happen when people try to break apart dog fights. Redirected aggression is one of the most common reasons for serious dog bites, most of which happen to the hands.

Dogs who are resource guarding an item, such as their food, frequently bite hands if someone unwisely reaches down to touch the bowl.

Be aware of any problem behaviors your dog may have. Some issues, such as when dogs dig in beds and couches, are expensive, but behaviors that could lead to biting could have severe consequences.

3 Things To Do When Your Dog Nibbles on You

Your dog has better things to do than treat your cuticles like corn on the cob, but they may need your help to ditch the habit.

Yuschak recommends observing your dog to identify their particular triggers. “What does the mouth contact look like? When does the behavior occur? How often? Answering these questions can help you get to the next step: removing triggers whenever possible,” she explains. For example, if your dog tends to target a particular person, you may want to put your pet in their crate, outside, or in a closed-off area when that guest arrives. Or, you may need to keep playtime more calm and even put it on pause if your dog gets wound up.

Yuschak says it can also be helpful to learn your dogs body language signs that arousal or excitement is increasing so you can prevent the behavior with early redirection. One redirection tool is to use cues. “Teach desired behaviors incompatible with nibbling, such as go to crate, grab and hold a toy, or nose to hand,” she advises. “Then you can give your pet the proper cue to stop the behavior before it begins.” Stocking trigger areas with treats and toys so that theyre always within reach can help shift your pets attention, as well.

But redirection is more than just a preventative tool, Yuschak says. Cues, treats, and toys are also helpful for stopping the behavior after it begins. Punishment, on the other hand, is not. “Avoid saying no, pulling away, or grabbing your dogs muzzle,” she continues. “Doing so could escalate the behavior and cause your pet to become fearful.”

Why Does My Dog Nibble on Me? 3 Main Reasons Why your Dog Nibble on You Explained.

Has your dog ever nibbled on you with his front teeth? By nibble, I mean a light, gentle, and playful chewing action that mimics how we eat corn on the cob. In fact, some pet parents call this action “Corn Cobbing.” Many dog parents find it adorable — and I’m raising my hand here. Not only have my two dogs nibbled on me before, but I’ve also watched them do it to each other. Plus, I’ve caught them nibbling away on their favorite toys, our bed sheets, and even fresh laundry.

Let me start by saying this: Nibbling is a normal dog behavior. Still, this quirky action may leave you looking at your dog and wondering, “What the heck are you doing?!”