One of the best things about having a dog companion is playing with them, but if the interaction ends up with your dog biting your hair, nose, your face, or even your ear playfully then it might catch you off guard.
Of course, we’re not talking about aggressive or intense biting, but a playful nibble, but even this playful nibble can be unexpected. After all, you know your dog isn’t aggressive and doesn’t mean to harm you, but you might think to yourself why that happened?
Why did your dog bite your nose?
Just like licking, some dogs might nibble on your nose to show their affection, gain your attention, or tell you they want to play. Other dogs might gently bite your nose because they’re excited or because you’ve reinforced this behavior. While the bite might not hurt, it’s not a behavior you would want to condone.
There are more reasons why your dog might bite your nose. Let’s take a deeper dive into 7 reasons why your dog bites your nose, whether this is a behavior you need to worry about, and what you and your dog can do about it.
Why Does My Dog Bite My Nose Or Face?
It’s important to keep in mind that there is a difference between gentle nibbles and aggressive bites, in which case the latter can be quite dangerous given the strength of most dog bites.
Both actions have different reasons behind them but both have to do with how your dog is feeling in their current situation. For example, your dog might feel threatened and frustrated to the point they feel that biting is the only option. Here we’re going to discuss playful dog bites and the reason behind them, reasons that are less negative.
So let’s get more into differentiating each of the causes.
Reason 1: Your Dog Wants Attention
Your dog might be more similar to human babies than you might think! Both love to play, sleep, and spend time with you. There’s one thing that both might also really like; they both like having your attention.
So, don’t be surprised if your dog might bite your nose because they want your attention.
When your dog does something, you are most likely going to react to what they do. Your dog might want to spend more time with you and grab your attention. However, they might think that biting your nose is the best way to get your attention because it will, without a doubt, cause you to react.
Why would your dog want your attention?
With a busy schedule, it can be tough to spend a lot of time with our furry friends. You are most likely your pup’s favorite person so it would make sense that they would want to spend as much time with you as possible after a long day without you.
There are some ways in which you can incorporate time with your dog into your normal daily routine. For example, if you like to go for runs, you can take your dog, or both dogs if you have two, with you!
Reason 2: Your Dog Is Very Excited
The zoomies are an amazing event for all dog owners! They can be a source of laughter but also frustration at times.
One moment they’re laying down and the next thing you know they’re running up and down, jumping on you, covering you in slobbery kisses, and they might even bite your nose because they are feeling very excited at the moment.
Frenetic random activity periods, also known as FRAPs or the zoomies, are sudden bursts of energy. In a small amount of time, your dog might run and play with what seems to be all their energy.
While the causes may be different for each dog, some of the reasons for the zoomies include taking a refreshing bath, finishing a walk, suddenly seeing their friend, and even just spending a lazy day at home.
Your pup might snap at your face or bite your nose during one of these episodes of releasing energy. Your dog might not mean any harm but the zoomies might make them do some things they don’t normally do. In some ways, it’s similar to a kid having a sugar rush!
Take a look at this funny video of a pup having the zoomies:
Reason 3: Something Is Bothering Or Upsetting Your Dog
Have you ever been through a time in which you got frustrated trying to explain something to someone, but no matter how you word it, the other person just doesn’t get it?
Your dog might bite your nose because they are trying to tell you that something is bothering them.
Since dogs can’t use their words to tell you how they feel, they use their actions to try to get you to understand what they are feeling. Dogs will do different things to tell you what they want. Some dogs have their own signs to tell their owners that they need to go outside to potty or that they are hungry. However, sometimes we owners don’t always understand our dogs’ language.
What could be bothering your pup? There are many different things that could be bothering your dog. Whether it’s another dog in the area, a new setting, or even an upset stomach, your dog could be frustrated by anything in their current situation.
How do you know if something is bothering or upsetting your dog?
It is important to be aware of your dog’s surroundings and how they normally act. Has there been a big change recently? What is your dog like when meeting new animals or seeing new places?
If you notice that there are a few changes in behavior, there is a chance that the cause may be a health concern. Lethargy, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and other aggressive behaviors could be signs that your dog is experiencing discomfort or pain.
Reason 4: Your Puppy Is Teething
Puppies can be cute, but they can appear not so cute when they start biting things that you don’t want them to bite!
Your puppy might bite your nose because they are teething.
If you have a young puppy and noticed that they have started chewing on things a lot more, they are most likely teething. During this time, you might notice that your pup is biting more than just a few things, chewing on their toys, your furniture, and even your fingers or hands.
Teething can be uncomfortable for your puppy just like it can be for human babies. It’s considered normal behavior for them to try to find relief by biting on different objects. Unfortunately, one of those objects might happen to be your nose when you bring your face close to them!
Take a look at this video of an adorable teething puppy:
Reason 5: Your Dog Thinks You Want To Play
Many owners would say that they could watch their dogs play all day if they could and that their dogs might want to play all day as well. However, even when you don’t have time to, your pup might try to have a play date with you!
Your dog might bite your nose because they want to play with you. You may also notice that when dogs want to play they bow, sniff, and growl a little bit. They might also look like they are wrestling or fighting each other as well which is why it is important to understand your dog’s normal playing behaviors to differentiate when your dog might actually be in a fight.
Unfortunately, your dog might think that you want to play as well and might bite at your nose or face in general. Dogs might gently bite each other when playing and they could do the same with you.
Every dog has their own playing style. Watch this video of two dogs play fighting:
Reason 6: You’re Encouraging The Behavior
Your dog might bite your nose because you have been encouraging them to do so.
When your dog does something, they take into consideration how you react. Providing positive reinforcement can be a great way to teach dogs something.
Positive reinforcement is when you reward your dog to encourage a specific behavior. One of the most common examples of positive reinforcement is rewarding the dog with a treat for responding to your command.
If your dog bites your nose, you are going to react. If you tend to give your dog more attention after they snap at your face, your attention is the reward.
Some people might think that giving their dog a toy or a treat after might distract them away from the behavior, but their dog may see the toy or treat as a reward and will be motivated to bite again.
Reason 7: Your Dog Might Be Afraid
Most dog owners know that there are times and situations in which dogs can be scared or frightened.
Your dog might bite your nose because they feel afraid or frightened.
Similar to the reason regarding dogs feeling uncomfortable or bothered, your dog might be in a situation in which they feel threatened. Perhaps there’s another dog nearby or a person that scares and stresses them out.
When stressed out, some dogs may resort to aggression which may include biting. This is their way of protecting themselves and attacking before possibly being attacked.
Perhaps you took your dog into your arms too suddenly and their first reaction was to bite you, or while you were playing or snuggling they heard a loud sound or a bark that made them respond by biting you. Perhaps they were already anxious or scared when you brought them close to your face, resulting in a soft bite as a form of protest.
Since each dog is different, there are different signs that could indicate if your dog is feeling afraid or anxious. Some signs include panting and shaking.
Why Does My Puppy Bite My Nose?
Puppies are so cute and small that they can get away with almost anything! Your dog might bite your nose because you let them do it.
Many people let their puppies do a bunch of things like biting or chewing on them or other things because the puppies are still not very strong. After all, a tiny baby wouldn’t seem to harm anyone. However, when puppies get older, they might not realize that they have gotten larger and stronger and that you don’t want them to play bite you anymore.
It might have been cute for a small puppy to lightly bite on your nose, but as they get older, it might become a habit. You’ve probably noticed that the bite is stronger than before!
Should You Worry About Your Dog Biting Your Nose?
Biting might seem like it’s never okay to do. However, when a dog bites, it means they’re trying to say something.
Even when your dog might harmlessly bite your nose, it can be a behavior that not everyone can be open to. It can be beneficial to you, your dog, and others to prevent your dog from making nose biting a habit.
If you suspect your dog to bite out of frustration due to an injury or health concern, it is important to contact your vet. It may happen a few times, but if it becomes consistent, it might be something you would want to bring up to a professional.
How Can You Get Your Dog To Stop Trying To Bite Your Face?
While you trust your dog to never attack or harm you, it is not strange to want to stop them from biting your nose in the future.
Why Does My Dog Try To Bite My Face?
The first step to solving the problem is to figure out what the cause is. It might be one of the reasons we gave you above or perhaps the reason is something else altogether.
Knowing the root of the problem can help you find a solution easier. You may notice that there can be multiple reasons for one action from your dog.
For example, panting can be a sign that your dog is feeling hot, thirsty, stressed, or afraid. Taking into consideration the context and observing your dog more over time can help you figure out what they are going through and what you can do next.
Reward Good Behavior With Positive Reinforcement
While positive reinforcement might be the cause of the nose-biting behavior, it can also be a solution!
If your dog seems to bite your nose because it has become a habit or because they are experiencing the zoomies, rewarding your dog every time they don’t bite your nose when they usually do can be an encouraging way to tell them, “Thank you for not biting!”
There are many different ways to reward your dog, but make sure to reward them for not biting in situations they normally would. If you feel that you’re struggling to train your dog not to bite or you don’t know where to start, contacting a professional is always beneficial.
Redirect Your Dog’s Biting To Something Else
If you have a puppy, this might be the right solution for you!
When a puppy is teething, their gums and teeth feel weird, causing them to bite whatever they can get their mouth on. However, toys of different textures could be that outlet for teething.
While rubber toys are a common solution to teething pains, there are other toys that could be used as recommended by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Providing your young pup with toys to chew on could save your face from unwanted little bites.
Final Thoughts
Dogs are smart creatures and use their body language to let us know how they feel. While we looked at why your dog bites your nose, it’s important to keep in mind that all dogs are different. These are the most common reasons why your dog might bite your nose, but your pup might be trying to tell you something else.
Generally, more gentle bites are not intentional, but rather, a form of showing that your dog wants to spend more time with you. More aggressive bites might be a cry for help. If your dog bites your nose, take into consideration the situation, environment, and others who may be around.
Most importantly, never be afraid to ask for help if you feel that you and your dog need it!
