Hey just a quick question. My 8 month old gsd has always done this with me and wonder is it a sign of affection. When petting her a night or laying down with her she loves to nibbles. Like to get our attention to do it more or something. Also when she is really excited and you go like "what" she turns around and chomps down like she forgot to stick her tongue out and like or somethings. Its really funny but wonder why?
Hi Joseph,
From my experience the answer to your questions comes from several variables. Dogs will repeat behavior that gets them what they want. So, if your dog is bored and nips you, and gets a funny reaction, she is definitely going to nip you again.
There is also a cleaning action that dogs do, I call it tricky biting, where they scrape quickly their front teeth together only. This is a grooming kind of action, meant to be helpful, but to humans it is painful.
So, I guess if you are more specific about the nipping I can help you better, but the main rule for me would be if I don't like it, it does not happen. I wouldn't beat up an 8-month-old in any case. Either redirect or ignore, unless it's really bad.
Its more or less when she wants attention or getting it. And its only at night time like when I am laying on the bed and she jumps half way up on it and I start petting her. She will just lay there and nibble on my arm. Maybe a sign of affection?
Heh yeah, it sounds like she's a little bored or she wants more attention for whatever reason; I don't think it's odd for a social animal. My dog REALLY likes it if I play the bite game back (big mistake, the dog always seems to win that one unless I play real dirty). I just mention that because dogs love to get a reaction out of you if they're bored, just as you might like to do it with a sibling when you get bored. So reward might be negative, like yelling or squealing or moving quickly away or making a big face about it. Any reaction to the behavior at all, basically.
If it's not hurting you I guess there's no problem and maybe it is just your affectionate ritual with your dog. But you can/could choose to reward other behaviors instead if you wanted to change this particular ritual.
Also, Connie is a god and if she says she agrees with me there is absolutely no room for debate. (jk!)
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Nipping?
#296117 - 09/12/2010 08:08 PM 
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I wouldn't beat up an 8-month-old in any case. Either redirect or ignore, unless it's really bad.
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