While we humans use our hands to communicate and grab objects, a dog doesn\u2019t have that option with their paws. Instead, they often use their mouths to do what we normally do with our hands.<\/p>\n
To a dog, grabbing a person\u2019s arm with his mouth may not seem that concerning. But to the person whose arm he has in his mouth, it can be confusing and even uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
When dogs mouth or gently hold a person’s arms and hands with their mouth, it’s usually a form of communication or playful interaction, not aggression. This behavior, known as ‘mouthing,’ is common in puppies but can persist into adulthood. <\/strong><\/p>\n Common reasons include teething discomfort, playfulness, excitement upon greeting, and attention-seeking. Mouthing differs from biting; it’s less forceful and not intended to harm. It can be a concern if it becomes too hard or frequent, particularly around vulnerable individuals like children or the elderly.<\/strong><\/p>\n To discourage excessive mouthing, avoid engaging or rewarding the behavior. Instead, turn away to signal disinterest. Providing appropriate toys for teething puppies, encouraging alternative behaviors during play, and ensuring regular exercise can help manage mouthing. <\/strong><\/p>\n In cases of persistent or aggressive mouthing, consulting a professional dog trainer for guidance is advisable. Remember, understanding and patience are key in teaching dogs better ways to interact.<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a closer look at what mouthing is (and isn\u2019t), and why dogs tend to mouth and grab at our arms and hands.<\/p>\n Have you ever spent time with an infant or toddler who put everything<\/i> in their mouth? Maybe you\u2019ve hung out with a little kid who would grasp your hand or arm, pulling you over to play or show you something? Children who do this are teething, playing, or enthusiastic about connecting with you.<\/p>\n Puppies are very similar in this respect! A dog\u2019s mouth is one of their main tools for exploring and interacting with the world around them. Their mouthing is often a sign of teething or because they want attention or playtime.<\/p>\n Mouthing is something every puppy will do and is part of their socialization process. This is how they learn how to control their bite pressure, and it allows them to receive feedback from their mom, littermates, and their owners as to how hard they are gripping.<\/p>\n Mouthing may also also be the result of teething pain as their deciduous (baby) teeth are erupting and then falling out and as new adult teeth take their place.<\/p>\n Mouthing can continue into adolescence and even adulthood if the puppy is not taught an alternative behavior or if the mouthing is encouraged in some way.<\/p>\n Most people use the words \u2018biting\u2019 and \u2018nipping\u2019 when they mean mouthing, especially if they have a puppy or young adolescent. However, biting with the intent to harm and mouthing as a form of communication are two entirely different things.<\/p>\n As I discussed above, mouthing is a normal part of the learning process for puppies, and can even be seen in adolescent or adult dogs who have not yet learned proper boundaries.<\/p>\n Mouthing is generally accompanied by loose, playful body movements, playful vocalizations (including play growls and barks), occasionally grabbing and shaking, but never with enough pressure to intentionally cause harm.<\/p>\n Actual bites are when a dog uses their mouth to warn or cause harm to something or someone that is threatening them in some way.<\/p>\n Dogs with good bite inhibition (which is the ability to control the pressure they are exerting with their jaws) may grab and hold and not break skin, but the warning is still clear based on the rest of their body language.<\/p>\n Dogs with poor bite inhibition or those who intend to harm with their bite will use much more force.<\/a> These bites often result in injury, and are frequently a result of dogs who are put into situations in which they feel afraid, anxious, or feel the need to defend themselves.<\/p>\n While mouthing is generally not something a dog does to cause harm, it can<\/i> get out of hand if your puppy is not developing good bite inhibition or if you are unknowingly reinforcing the biting behavior. This type of mouthing can lead to bruising and breaking of the skin, and create additional training and behavioral issues in your pup.<\/p>\n But how do you determine whether your dog grabbing your arm is due to mouthiness or something more problematic?<\/p>\n The key is found in your dog\u2019s body language, and the situation in which the grab occurred.<\/p>\n Did you just arrive home to your excited puppy, and they are bouncing up and down and grabbing at your arms and hands? It\u2019s likely they are just mouthing due to their excitement to see you, and because they have not been taught an alternative behavior for the energetic outburst yet.<\/p>\n But if you are approaching your dog as they are eating their food, and their body stiffens and they make and maintain direct eye contact at you before grabbing onto your arm with your mouth, then it\u2019s more likely the grab is a warning signal that they do not want you near their food. This is a problematic behavior, and one that needs attention from a reputable dog trainer or behaviorist.<\/p>\n Decoding what your buddy is saying by putting his or her mouth on your arm and hand is key to keeping it under control.<\/p>\n Luckily, translating a dog\u2019s mouthiness can be as easy as recognizing a few basic factors. How old is the dog? When<\/i> is your dog grabbing your arm or hand? What happens before and after he or she mouths your limbs? How are you normally reacting to it?<\/p>\n The absolute biggest predictors of mouthing are puppyhood, playtime, and greetings. Chances are one of these is your answer. In one study<\/a>, 40% of dogs \u201cfrequently or always put their mouth on a person\u2019s body\u201d when the owner played with them or came home.<\/p>\n That means the best explanation for a pup’s mouthiness is usually just excitement or young age, but let’s look closer at the possibilities so you can get a better idea of why your pup may be grabbing parts of your body with his mouth:<\/p>\nWhat Is Mouthing?<\/h2>\n
How Is Mouthing Different From Biting?<\/h2>\n
Is It Mouthing Or Is Biting: How To Tell<\/h3>\n
What Does It Mean When My Dog Mouths My Arms And Hands?<\/h2>\n
1. Teething<\/h3>\n