Are you wondering why your dog nibbles your ear? Dogs tend to put everything in their mouths, and if they’re looking for your hands, arms, or ears, they’re exploring what they can do with you. When nibbling is playful and gentle, nibbling should not be considered dangerous.
As a dog owner, you have certainly experienced that your dog asks “Why?” asked.
Such actions can be sleeping on the floor despite having a perfectly soft bed next to them, or coming up to you and nibbling your ears!
If you find your dog playfully nibbling at you, it is most likely trying to show affection or to get you to play with it.
However, this behavior can lead to aggressive biting as your dog gets older.
Reasons your dog may bite your ears
Some causes may be because your dog is simply a playful dog. Maybe your dog is trying to show you affection. Your dog may also be trying to clean you, or he may be so comfortable with you that he will show it by gently nibbling your ears.
There are many reasons for this development. It could also be a combination of something.
When trying to figure out the cause of this behavior, there are so many possibilities to consider, but also many things to do about it. In this article, you’ll learn why dogs do this and what you can do to make it stop.
It would be best if you considered the below things to better figure out the main reason your dog nibbles.
RELATED: Dog Rubbing Their Nose Raw? Kennel Nose Causes And Treatments
1. You have a young puppy
If you’re holding a puppy, he’s most likely having teething troubles, and biting down on something will help him alleviate this during the teething phase. The best thing to do is practice counteracting this behavior in a positive way.
2. Your dog is generally very playful
Let’s say you have a relatively playful pup in general. If they do, then this behavior is most likely due to their active characteristics, but if you don’t want them to nibble or bite all the time, you should teach them to prevent it.
3. Your dog is just overzealous
Your dog can do this when he is excited. When you come home and your dog jumps at you, or when you want to take him for a walk, this could be the reason for the biting. In that case, you could try waiting for him to calm down before giving him what he wants.
4. Your dog may need something from you
Maybe your dog is telling you he needs something. It is possible that they will bite your ears to signal that they want to eat or that they need to go to the bathroom.
5. You have a dominant or aggressive dog
They may do it for dominance reasons. This behavior can lead to bullying. The dog would eventually try to get you to move with him, showing signs of aggression in the process.
6. Your dog doesn’t have the proper training it needs
If you don’t train your dog properly, he won’t know how to behave properly. The best way to be sure your dog is properly trained is to attend an appropriate dog training school to solve this problem.
7. Biting is a sign of submission and respect
As previously mentioned, dogs bite to show submission and respect. It’s strange, but your Dog Nibbles your ear as a sign of respect.
Dogs live in packs, and when a pack member bites the alpha’s ear, it shows respect and submission. Weak dogs have been observed to nibble and lick the ears of dogs they believe to be stronger than themselves. In the canine world, one shows respect by nibbling on the alpha. Therefore, your dog may consider you his alpha animal.
8. Your dog smells an unfamiliar scent
We know that dogs have a stronger sense of smell. If your dog smells something unusual on you, he might start chewing on you. So if you use a cream or perfume, he could smell the scent from your face and ears.
Also, your dog might like the smell of your earwax, or it might take pleasure in licking it.
9. Your dog wants to play
Chewing is more common in puppies than in adult dogs. They are more energetic and playful; sometimes they want to explore the capacity of their mouths by nibbling and licking. Similarly, during the teething phase, they experience pain in their teeth and try to bite or nibble on things for comfort.
If you have an older dog, you need to discourage them from this behavior as the bite can go from soft to hard.
RELATED: My Dog’s Dry Nose: Is It Something Serious And Should I Be Worried About It?
Is It OK if My Dog Nibbles My Ear?
Biting means your dog bites you gently without applying pressure. Is it okay to let the dog nibble? In general, nibbling is not harmful; however, it is not recommended for the following reasons
- Excessive biting can lead to dog bites
- Your dog cannot control his impulses and will hurt children and older family members.
- If your dog can’t handle the biting, there will be serious consequences in the long run
- Your dog could accidentally hurt you
- With this in mind, this behavior should not be encouraged, rather the puppies should be discouraged from biting in infancy.
- Positive reinforcement should be applied as follows
- Redirect your dog’s behavior; for example, if he bites your ear, give him a toy or bone to chew on.
- Dog Nibbles their ears when they want something. So if your dog is nibbling, give him food or whatever he wants and he will stop.
- Dogs also chew because of stress. Find out the reason and the unwanted behavior will stop.
What Is the Difference Between Nibbling & Mouthing?
There’s a slight difference between nibbling and mouthing. Mouthless mauling, like gripping and chewing, is done through the mouth, not with the teeth. Chewing is done with the teeth, but it’s a gentle, playful bite without applying pressure.
How to stop the dog from nibbling your ear?
As previously mentioned, munching is harmful in the long run. That is why dogs must be discouraged from licking their owners’ ears. To train your dog properly, you should never physically attack them as this can lead to hostile behavior.
The following tips can help train dogs not to nibble.
- If your dog is nibbling your ear, you should say “NO” or, like dogs, whine to warn the dog that it is hurting him and that he will eventually stop.
- If your dog has a bad taste by biting on something nasty, he’ll stop doing it, so you should get a commercially available taste inhibitor. Using the taste deterrent is not harmful to dogs.
- When your puppy is teething, he’s biting because he’s in pain. Therefore, you should bring several commercially available chew toys with you to chew on.
- If you say “NO” and your dog stops chewing, you should give him useful rewards and positive reinforcement. That way, through training, your dog will learn to stop.
RELATED: Puppy Shots: Guide to your puppy’s vaccinations and vaccination schedule.
How to stop your dog from biting his ears
It should be noted that a dog showing these tendencies needs to be careful around children or the elderly. Try waiting for your dog to calm down before giving him what he wants, or avoid giving him reasons to feel threatened.
Try to decipher what happened when your dog started biting or nibbling on the ear. Do you give your dog toys, treats, or extra attention when he’s behaving this way?
If this is the case, your dog will get used to receiving these rewards and will repeat this behavior more often to receive more rewards.
Don’t want to take your pet to dog school? We know it can be difficult and costly. So take a look at the list below of do-it-yourself ideas to effectively stop your dog from biting its ears!
So, how to stop a dog nibbling your ears?
If you try to stop your dog from biting your ears, please do not become aggressive as this can get ugly. Here are some ways to do this:
Draw his attention to the toy:
If your dog bites your ear, you should draw his attention to a toy. Chew toys are ideal for this. The dog will start looking at the toy as a target to bite rather than your ears. And he would be able to discharge the energy already accumulated.
Stop and don’t make it any funnier:
When puppies start biting their owners, they often think it’s cute. Don’t try to increase the fun for the dog.
Repeatedly pulling the ear, laughing, and moving the ear in front of the dog’s snout will encourage the dog to nibble and play. And he’ll bite harder the bigger he gets and the more excited he gets to play.
If the dog bites your ear, you have to quickly say “Ouch, that hurts!” react and immediately stop playing and walk away. The interruption is the real punishment because dogs love to play. Do not play again until the dog is calm.
Use commands to relax the dog:
Use the commands “quiet” or alternative commands like “sit”. You can use these commands to calm the dog while playing. This allows the dog to relax and not become increasingly agitated. Do not use them in response to negative behavior as they may become associated with it.
RELATED: dog ear hematoma What you do not know about hematoma
common reasons
Is it okay if a dog licks you?
Many dog owners see licking their dog as a show of affection, much like kissing. Compulsive licking can be a sign of underlying issues, such as B. Anxiety, boredom, or fear. Trick training is an effective way to redirect the problem of licking in a positive way.
dog bite prevention
Dogs give us comfort, companionship, exercise, fun, and unconditional love. However, it’s important to remember that any dog can bite, even familiar pets. Not only can dog bites hurt, but they can also become infected and transmit diseases. Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog will require medical attention. Take some time this dog bite prevention week to learn how to protect yourself and your family from dog bites.
Should You Allow Your Dog to Nibble Your Ear?
Now that you know why your dog chews, you may be wondering if you should allow this behavior.
As we have already mentioned, mouth contact can often turn into a bite. If you allow your dog to gasp, the dog might think it’s okay to do it with his teeth. Allowing this behavior can lead to a bite, which can lead to serious injury.
Nibbling is different from nibbling. Biting usually occurs with the teeth, but without exerting pressure. It is not considered as dangerous as biting or biting.
However, don’t let your dog chew on your ear. If you’re not careful, nipping can still turn into biting.
If your dog has difficulty controlling his impulses, he may not realize that his chewing is bad for you and this can have serious consequences. These consequences can be dangerous if you have small children.
Why Does My Dog Nibble My Nose?
Another strange dog behavior is nose biting. Nose nibbling can be even weirder than ear nibbling!
The reasons can be similar to your dog nipping at your ear. It’s a way for them to communicate with you, show affection, and let you know that you’re part of their family.
However, behaviors such as ear-nipping should be discouraged. In the long run, this behavior could lead to the dog biting you.
Why Do Dogs Nibble Other Dogs’ Ears?
Dogs can chew on other dogs’ ears for the same reasons they chew on humans’ ears. It could be a sign of affection or a way to communicate.
If you notice your dog nipping at other dogs’ ears, it’s best to stop this behavior. You don’t want your dog to be a nuisance to other dogs or their owners.
In some cases, nipping at other dogs’ ears can imply dominance. If you are concerned that this may be the case, it is best to contact a veterinarian or professional dog trainer. They will be able to help you.
Final thoughts
There is no single reason why your puppy might be nipping at your ears, as no two dogs are alike. If the behavior doesn’t bother you and doesn’t repeat itself, enjoy a few nice dog kisses on the ears. Most likely your dog is showing you love. If you are concerned about this behavior, try the advice above. After all, you know your dog best, and for any behavior, you want to correct, make sure you show lots of love!
