Tails wagging fast but being mouthy....

[bwibwigouza]

It's been 5 days now that Mozart has been with us. In the past 2-3 days, I've notice whenever we wipe down his feet after playing outside he would get "mouthy" no growl just snaps back and forth trying to nip anyone that tries to wipe his hind paws. He would also be mouthy when he is in a very excited play state. He would be wagging his tail really hard and fast, sometimes with bark sometimes without and whenever the person that is playing with him tries to touch him, he would open his jaws in attempt to bite. Still no growl but he would snap his head left and right trying at every angle to bite. If the person playing with him didn't try to pet him, he would run around in a circle until he grab hold of his rapid wagging tail - seems to want to calm down his tail or something. What can we do to stop his mouthy behaviour? And is this a display of playfulness or aggression?

 

[Caro]

Many dogs do not like having their back paws touched - it's a very sensitive area. You need to make having his back feet touched enjoyable. Do it in increments - touch his back paw then treat and build up the touching time until you can hold his back paw. In the meantime try to distract him as you wipe his back paw. Mind you, I know a few dogs that are otherwise lovely friendly dogs but have such sensitive back paws their owners go to the vet to get those nails cut.

The nipping when people try to pat him could be a variety of things and its hard to tell without seeing it. To be on the safe side you could assume he is worried about being touched. Again I would use treats and an incremental method to teach him touch is okay. You can also give him a kong to distract him while you touch him or if he likes toys play with him and as he is playing try gentle touches. At any rate I wouldn't let anyone else pat him until he has settled down.

Grabbing the tail tends to be a neurotic behaviour. I would redirect his mouth onto a toy when he tries to grab his tail.

 

[bwibwigouza]

Thank you so much for the info. I'll be sure to try the slow approach with his back paws. In terms of the patting, because there's 2 kids in the family that loves to play with Mozart and he often gets really excited playing with them and would start the tail biting behaviour. Should I limit the patting just to whoever initiates the play or holds the leash or just 1 person in the whole family?

 

[DPSheltie]

My husband and Riley play a game called "alligator puppy" where hubby tries to touch Riley's sides, feet, legs etc (typically under a blanket) while Riley opens his mouth and "bites" at the bump under the blanket/hand. He keeps his mouth open, and never closes his mouth anywhere near hubby's hands. Riley will often grab at part of the blanket, but at a safe distance from hands. Riley will instigate it by grabbing park of the blanket or doing a play bow on the bed. He has to get my husband with his teeth, but he also has been trained to have great bite inhibition too. (Game is ONLY played with hubby, by the way.)

It's hard to tell if your pup is thinking that you are playing when patting. You said he gets really excited when he mouths, so it is most likely playing....but it could be scared/disliking touch. Riley looks happy, waggy, and very animated while playing his game, unlike a nervous scared dog with tucked ears and tense body.

If it is a game to the pup and you want it to stop, then when he starts getting nippy, all play and attention ends until he settles down more. So its no longer fun for him to nip while playing since no one will pay attention to him when he is nippy.

 

[Caro]

I think for now only let people who know him pat him, and only with treats and slowly. I would limit the number of people trying to pat him at once, one person at a time is enough - it can be a bit overwhelming to have several hands hovering around when you are a bit timid. But you can focus on teaching him to be gentle when patted with some one on one time.

 

[Craig]

You have to consider yourself too. I've had great luck with things like this where my mom has been much less than successful. I liken it to bedside manner. My mom is very grabby, squeezes a bit so they can't pull away and etc. Approaching a dog that way is sure to get a challenging response in return. Try slow movements. Run your hand down the leg in a more slow/steady fashion with lighter touch to kind of let them know you're coming in. Try to wipe gently, especially between the toes. etc.