Should I let my dog mouth my hand?
Sammy Stracke
2025-06-29 20:16:42
Count answers
: 7
Don't teach your dog to mouth you. If your dog learns that mouthing you makes something good start or something bad stop, he will continue doing it. Never encourage mouthing during play. Withdraw attention if he gets mouthy. If you’ve been playing with your dog, stop the game when he gets mouthy. Put him gently in his crate or a time-out area. If they mouth your hand on walks, keep your hands up by your chest and remove your attention.
Miller Wuckert
2025-06-29 19:18:19
Count answers
: 8
Sometimes confused for biting, mouthing is when your puppy or dog puts their mouth around something without actually biting down. Puppies usually mouth hands, feet, or sometimes clothing as they begin to use their teeth and naturally want to explore the world. As your puppy gets older mouthing becomes even less desirable and starts to feel more like biting, so it’s important to get them out of the habit from a young age. If your adult dog suddenly starts mouthing in response to being touched, as a reaction to strangers, or even when playing with toys they may be trying to warn you that they’re not comfortable. Your puppy will see any kind of reaction or attention from you as a reward, which will encourage them to keep mouthing. Always remember that what gets rewarded, gets repeated. A reward can simply be your attention. Instead of reacting to your puppy mouthing, try to redirect their attention somewhere else, like a favourite toy. It can be tempting to encourage them to play with your hands or clothes, but while it might be cute when they’re small, this will become a problem when your puppy gets bigger.