Play Biting

[moxiegrl]

Do you let your dogs "play" bite with you? If your dog is not aggressive, and just playing around??

Katie play bites with us all the time. She has a VERY gentle mouth, and never hurts us, its all in fun. Just curious about others.

 

[elegy]

yes, as long as they don't get carried away and hurt me. if they hurt me, game over, but usually they don't.

 

[ToscasMom]

I try to discourage it, although once in awhile my dog and I "slip". She has developed her soft bite, but the reason I still think it's a bad idea is she may not distinguish that others don't want her to play bite. Lots of people and kids play with her. So I figured the best thing for everybody is to not allow her to do it with me either, or keep it at a minimum, so that she doesn't get confused about whether it's ok or not.

 

[RD]

Yup, as long as they are gentle. The second they bite down, I get up and leave.

 

[Whisper]

Sure, I do when they are using a soft bite and are being gentle. Millie always has a soft bite, but when Lucy is biting too hard game's over and I get up and stop playing.

 

[Lizmo]

Yes, as long as it is play and it is not to hard!!

 

[tessa_s212]

Yes, as long as they are gentle and only do it when the time is appropriate. (ie: I pick on them and make them want to bite at my hands.)

 

[bubbatd]

It's a fine line with Goldens.... they love to hold and lead. You really have to know the breed and their intention. Though Ollie is only part Golden , he'll take my hand in bed at night and place it where he wants me to rub or scratch . When a young dog does this , teach " gentle " ... if it's rough say " OUCH" and draw away . They learn .

 

[moxiegrl]

We use the "easy" command with Katie when she starts to get too excited. Then she'll lick ya a few times ( I think she thinks "easy" and "kisses" mean the same thing lol )

Ive heard a few people on here say that play biting should not be allowed, but I've never seen a problem with it.

I have kids around as well, and when Katie plays with them she doesnt use her teeth at all. When she was around 4 months old she would bite at their clothes, which she quickly learned wasnt acceptable. (And my sister wasnt too happy when her kids went home w/ holes in their clothes. lol) Maybe teaching her not to bite their clothes, she associated any teeth with the kids isnt ok? Is that possible?

 

[Lizmo]

I use the "easy" and "its okay" command with Lizzie too!!!

I use easy, when every I want her to either slow down or go easy on some thing!!!

I use the Its Okay, when I am telling her it is okay and she has nothing to worry about!!!!

 

[Amstaffer]

if you really understand your dog and general dog behavior I see nothing wrong with it.

I have played hand wrestle (hand vs Mouth) game with every dog I have ever owned and never had a mouthy or aggressive dog. I do it in such a way that they understand its a game and I am the boss and director of the game.

They have great fun, we both get excercise and I have never had a negative behavior come of it.

 

[fastpitchchic]

I let my guys play bite only if they are gentle, they know the command "gentle" also and are pretty good at listening even when they are getting into playing. I don't let them play bite with friends though...as I know my dogs and most people who don't live with them don't get thay they are only playing around.