Okay y'all,

Rock has done this behavior forever, but I never really paid attention to it other than telling him to "stop", but now that we have had the other issue, I figured I would get some opinions.

It is like he is biting at fleas (ya know, that little rapid bite,bite, bite,bite,bite thing) only he does it to me and anyone else that says hello to him (well not lately since he is in his crate so that he cannot interact with anyone unless I allow it) NOT to himself.

What is up, and what would you guys do to correct it?

Its a grooming behavour. Roscoe does it to the cats all the time. I wouldn't consider it to be anything else.

I completely agree with Howard. Bandit has done it to the cat and the other dog for years, now he does it to Levi. Levi will actually do it to me (i have to make sure he has fabric and not skin, lol) but I think it is an endearing behavior, kinda like the monkeys pickin out the bugs, if you will. I wouldn't worry about it.

I agree with Howard, I consider it a grooming behavior as it is not a bite and not mouthiness. Most of my dogs have done this, actually, and the only issue I ever had with it was that Cajun, being an AB, had an underbite and oooo it pinched!! I had blood blisters every so often.

I notice this mutual grooming behavior in a lot of species, horses, birds, felines, canids - seems to be a "Hey there! Welcome to the pack!" essentially an acceptance and affection-based behavior, wolves tend to do this to each others necks and shoulders. It's a bonding thing so far as I have noticed.

Please know that I know it is not a bite or mouthiness. The differences between them all are vast....just want to know if I should stop it or let it continue......IMHO, I would rather not have him do it since, if he does it to the wrong person and they construe it as a "bite" then I have a liability issue.......it doesn't bother me.

I will just continue to tell him to "stop" like I have been doing.

Thanks All.

Same as with any dog that gets overly excited when first greeting someone. Try ignoring the dog till it get past the initial excitement. It should extinguish itself.

Bob, he will do it as long as you let him.....really.....

Here is another "habit" he has.....he LOVES to "suck" on plush toys, it is almost like a pacifier if we tell him to crate up or tell him to "place" on his bed. If he doesn't have a toy he will wad up the blanket or crate pad and do it......damndest thing I have ever seen.

He never chews them up, just puts his whole mouth around it and "sucks" on it.

This dog gets tons of exercise, one on one time and work, so I know it is not complete boredom, it is just....well....I have never seen a dog do that before.....

I'm honestly surprised that you haven't seen it before, Carol. Most of the dogs I've had have done it, as well as many of my client's dogs. Carbon does it occassionally, too, and I take it as a sign of a good bond. I can't see how anyone would ever take that as a bite and try to get legal on you. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're talking about. It's a kind of rapid chewy thing with the front teeth, right?

Is it possible that it's bothering you more now because of his recent "antics?" It seems to me that after something like that the little things seem to be more noticable sometimes.

At any rate, if it's annoying or excessive or you just plain don't like it...you as pack leader of course have the right to say if you want to be groomed or not!

 Quote: carol boche

Here is another "habit" he has.....he LOVES to "suck" on plush toys, it is almost like a pacifier if we tell him to crate up or tell him to "place" on his bed.

We had a Corgi pup as a foster that did this, too. And he did it to the fur on his front feet if nothing else was available. I'm friends with the guy we placed him with, and the pup is now an adult that still does it. I figure it's a self-soothing thing. It's weird, I'll grant you, but not the weirdest thing I've seen dogs do!

When Harley my Chi is in my lap and contented/happy he will suck a hickey on my wrist or on the base of my thumb.
He was raised on a bottle (didn't get enough nursing time?) so that may have something to do with it. Or he could just like to suck on people he likes.
Since Rock will suck on his blankey or his toy and nibble on his acquaintances it sounds like he is just very oral, or affectionate. You could teach him to smile instead...

 Quote: amber morgan

Is it possible that it's bothering you more now because of his recent "antics?" It seems to me that after something like that the little things seem to be more noticable sometimes.

I would not say it bothers me at all, but it bothers Doug, and I do not want him to do it to other people. And since the recent antics, he has not been allowed to interact with other people.
Plus, I am not sure everyone appreciates being nibbled on by a dog.
And your right, I never thought about posting it until he decided that he wanted to get personal with his canine teeth....

I tell him to stop and he stops (but if allowed he will do it for as long as he likes to), so it is not something I am having trouble with. It is just like he has to do it.....but if it is a sign of a good bond, I am good with it.

I guess I am concerned with liability issues because of all the crap you read in the paper about people suing over stupid stuff.....I just would rather not take a chance at it.....