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So, I have always been fascinated by mouthing behaviour in dogs and why they do it. Obviously, 'mouthing' is different from 'biting' in the sense that their intentions are completely different (though I can't tell you how many clients have panicked and messaged me saying their dog is biting and being mean, when really, it's just impulsive mouthing behaviour). Now, that being said, I also worked with a dog before that engaged in mouthing behaviour that actually turned into aggression, which is fascinating to me, but something I still don't fully understand.
Working in a shelter, I assess the dogs that come in and make notes of their behaviour. I see a ton of mouthing in shelter dogs (which makes total sense), but sometimes I feel like they mouth for different reasons, such as:
- Excitement mouthing, typically wanting attention or to play.
- Frustration mouthing- typically out of over-excitement, except the dog starts getting more intense due to frustration of not being reinforced or able to get want they want in that situation, and re-directing onto you.
- Anxious mouthing, kinda like when humans bite their nails, dogs mouth when they are anxious and don't know what to do. Sometimes they even carry a toy.
- Correction mouthing/get you to stop doing something. For example, when I'm doing a sensitivity test on a dog and they mouth my hands when I'm feeling them. Sometimes I feel like this is excitement and over-stimulation when touched, but other times, I feel like they mouth me to get me to stop touching them.
- Playful mouthing to diffuse situation. For example, I try to put a collar on a dog and he gently mouths my hands, then playfully runs away and ignores. He doesn't want to actually play or continue with play, but almost like he playfully mouthed to reduce conflict/tension. Is this a thing?
Anyways, maybe I just think too much into everything, though I truly feel like dogs mouth for numerous reasons, which can really affect the training plan for them. If a dog is mouthing you to get your attention, then walking away/removing attention would be the best solution to decrease said behaviour. BUT, in another situation, if a dog is mouthing you to get you to stop doing something, and you ignore/walk away, then you actually reward this behaviour in this situation.
Would love to hear others insight on mouthing, and if anyone has any good mouthing articles or body language articles it would be greatly appreciated!
Working in a shelter, I assess the dogs that come in and make notes of their behaviour. I see a ton of mouthing in shelter dogs (which makes total sense), but sometimes I feel like they mouth for different reasons, such as:
- Excitement mouthing, typically wanting attention or to play.
- Frustration mouthing- typically out of over-excitement, except the dog starts getting more intense due to frustration of not being reinforced or able to get want they want in that situation, and re-directing onto you.
- Anxious mouthing, kinda like when humans bite their nails, dogs mouth when they are anxious and don't know what to do. Sometimes they even carry a toy.
- Correction mouthing/get you to stop doing something. For example, when I'm doing a sensitivity test on a dog and they mouth my hands when I'm feeling them. Sometimes I feel like this is excitement and over-stimulation when touched, but other times, I feel like they mouth me to get me to stop touching them.
- Playful mouthing to diffuse situation. For example, I try to put a collar on a dog and he gently mouths my hands, then playfully runs away and ignores. He doesn't want to actually play or continue with play, but almost like he playfully mouthed to reduce conflict/tension. Is this a thing?
Anyways, maybe I just think too much into everything, though I truly feel like dogs mouth for numerous reasons, which can really affect the training plan for them. If a dog is mouthing you to get your attention, then walking away/removing attention would be the best solution to decrease said behaviour. BUT, in another situation, if a dog is mouthing you to get you to stop doing something, and you ignore/walk away, then you actually reward this behaviour in this situation.
Would love to hear others insight on mouthing, and if anyone has any good mouthing articles or body language articles it would be greatly appreciated!