NIPPERS

[STORMY]

i'm just wanting to know everyone thoughts on hounds being a nipper when they gets excited !

i just wanted know how many people experince this.

[QCKLime]

I don't see any issue with a dog that nips out of excitement or affection, in my opinion, it's no different than dogs that urinate when they get excited -- it's more of a personality trait than something you could train or socialize them out of. I have a few nippers/nibblers, one that only does it when she smells new things (she reminds me of a horse that curls their lips back in a "flehmen" expression when they smell or taste something new or interesting) but she won't actually nip at you, I have one that is a traditional "excitement biter" and will grab anything out of excitement, and I have one that nibbles at fingers when she wants attention, it's an affectionate gesture, but she'll get rougher with it the more excited she gets - you give her a firm "no" and she goes right back to nibbling. The middle example is the only one that I don't tolerate, as it's the only one that poses any issue. A lot of people misconstrue a dog's actions and end up trying to give "corrections" for things that aren't correctable, which only confuses and frustrates the animal -- much like the the conversation that was on here about dogs that guard their food, there's a fine line between what needs to be worked on and what needs to be respected.

[STORMY]

I don't see any issue with a dog that nips out of excitement or affection, in my opinion, it's no different than dogs that urinate when they get excited -- it's more of a personality trait than something you could train or socialize them out of. I have a few nippers/nibblers, one that only does it when she smells new things (she reminds me of a horse that curls their lips back in a "flehmen" expression when they smell or taste something new or interesting) but she won't actually nip at you, I have one that is a traditional "excitement biter" and will grab anything out of excitement, and I have one that nibbles at fingers when she wants attention, it's an affectionate gesture, but she'll get rougher with it the more excited she gets - you give her a firm "no" and she goes right back to nibbling. The middle example is the only one that I don't tolerate, as it's the only one that poses any issue. A lot of people misconstrue a dog's actions and end up trying to give "corrections" for things that aren't correctable, which only confuses and frustrates the animal -- much like the the conversation that was on here about dogs that guard their food, there's a fine line between what needs to be worked on and what needs to be respected.

thanks QCK for your input i feel the same way.

[Officially Retired]

My own protocol is based on how much their nipping hurts when they do it

I am normally pretty tolerant of a dog nipping my hands and my fingers, so unless they're real rough about it, I pretty much enjoy it when they playfully chew on my hands or forearms. Some of my dogs will put my whole hand in their mouths, and gnaw on it. To me, it is them trying to express their love and "petting" me back in return. We use our hands to pet and express our affection for our dogs, and our dogs use their mouths to "pet" and express their affection to us. (Unfortunately, some people are not bright enough to realize this.)

If you watch happy dogs play with each other, they affectionately "mouth" each other all the time ... and, really, that is all they're trying to do with us. The only time I smack a dog for biting me is if it's in the face. My dogs quickly learn that they can play-mouth my hands and forearms pretty much any time they want, but if they try to mouth my face they'll get a brain-jarring >WHACK< everytime, so they quickly cease this habit.

Jack

[STORMY]

My own protocol is based on how much their nipping hurts when they do it

I am normally pretty tolerant of a dog nipping my hands and my fingers, so unless they're real rough about it, I pretty much enjoy it when they playfully chew on my hands or forearms. Some of my dogs will put my whole hand in their mouths, and gnaw on it. To me, it is them trying to express their love and "petting" me back in return. We use our hands to pet and express our affection for our dogs, and our dogs use their mouths to "pet" and express their affection to us. (Unfortunately, some people are not bright enough to realize this.)

If you watch happy dogs play with each other, they affectionately "mouth" each other all the time ... and, really, that is all they're trying to do with us. The only time I smack a dog for biting me is if it's in the face. My dogs quickly learn that they can play-mouth my hands and forearms pretty much any time they want, but if they try to mouth my face they'll get a brain-jarring >WHACK< everytime, so they quickly cease this habit.

Jack

See a little clarity can go long way..
thanks jack for putting it out their in a positive way...

[Nash]

Had a pup that used to nip every now and than. It was gone when he matured.

[skipper]

As long as it doesn't hurt and become some sort of domination issue. I don't mind it at all. Noticed some dogs do this as pups and other continuing all life. As jack stated this is their way of showing affection the same way we give it to them. All they are trying to do is communicate, I'd say let them