Why Does My Dog Nibble On My Other Dog?

If you’re lucky enough to have multiple dogs in your household, good for you! There is an endless amount of entertainment to be had watching two pooches playing and frolicking together.

The way dogs behave with one another can be pretty different from how they behave towards us two-legged hoo-mans. One of the quirky things they do to other dogs is nibbling on them, a behavior that is not often duplicated with an unsuspecting human.

why does my dog nibble on my other dog — Why does my dog nibble on my other dog?

If you own two or more dogs and are wondering why your dog nibbles on your other one, fret not. The vast majority of the time it is because of good intentions and not an aggressive act at all. In this blog post, we’ll look at all things nibbly and see what this generally harmless behavior means.

Reasons Why Your Dog Nibble Your Other Dogs

Firstly, let’s be clear. Nibbling another dog with their incisors (front teeth) isn’t the same as chomping on the other dog with their jaws all agape like a Tyrannosaurus incarnate. That’s usually mouthing, which also is usually a harmless, playful act.

If you suspect aggression in any way, look for other signs of body language such as a stiff posture, erect tail, warning growls, and raised hackles.

Here are a bunch of reasons why your dog may have the nibbles!

1. They’re Showing Affection

One of the most obvious reasons for your dog’s nibbling is to show affection. Mother dogs usually show their affection by nibbling on their puppies, and it turns out that they might be transferring their puppy experience to adulthood.

two Peruvian hairless — Two Peruvian hairless dogs, one is licking the other.

This is probably because some behaviorists believe that nibbling will make your dogs closer and have a stronger bond with each other. Think of this in the same way that your friends are slapping your shoulders or playfully pushing you to show affection.

Like your dogs often jump on each other or paw at each other, this might indicate a deep bond which is shown by nibbling.

If it’s all done in a positive, playful way, you’re in the clear. On the other hand, if they are doing it to an unknown dog, you might want to watch them more closely for signs of stress or anxiety.

2. They’re Grooming Each Other

You might think that cats are the only pets out there who are incessant groomers, but turns out that so are dogs! Check out if the nibble is also accompanied by some occasional licks, especially around the eyes and face.

While some dog parents will definitely disagree, most dogs are pretty clean creatures and will not only groom themselves but will groom others in their pack as well. They’ll use their incisors to take out any dirt or burrs that might be stuck, then lick the area clean. You might also want to check the area to see if there is a wound or bite that might need attention.

If you have cats in the household, you might even catch some inter-species grooming as part of their bonding routine. If you do, that means that your dogs already see your cats as part of their pack, and the nibbling and grooming are just their way of taking care of their family members.

3. They Want to Play

Another reason your dog is nibbling on your other dogs is they want your other dogs to play with them. This behavior usually happens with hyperactive dogs that get bored easily and want to expend their energy.

French Bulldogs playing — Two French Bulldogs running and playing.

If they don’t have anyone to play with, they’ll need to get some attention. And since you’re probably pretty good at ignoring a pesky dog’s begging for attention, they may turn to other dogs by nipping at their feet or ankles.

If your other dog responds in kind, a game of “tag” or some kind of play session might ensue, but keep an eye out if your other dog is older or shows signs of disinterest. Some dogs that are constantly hounded for attention can get distressed or anxious, especially if they are tired or not in the mood.

If you have two dogs with vastly different energy levels, this can happen a fair bit, and you’ll need to tire out your hyperactive dog before the other one can have some peace and quiet.

This also can happen often when you have a puppy, so watch your other dog carefully for signs of stress or annoyance.

4. They’re Curious

The nibbly dog might be intrigued by your other dog, especially if they were separated before. Both dogs will be smelling different, and they could be just checking out all the new exciting scents that they each have.

cavapoo two dogs — Cavapoo dogs thrive in the company of humans but can also adapt to other dogs, cats, and smaller children

An inviting scent like another animal’s poo or unknown food can trigger curiosity, and dogs may try to get more information from other dogs by nibbling on them. Other signs that it’s because of curiosity are their movements such as putting their paw on the other dog, nudging them gently and smelling every part of your other dog’s body to find out where the smell is coming from.

As long as there are no conflicts between the dogs, you can let them be. Think about it as them checking out how each other’s day went without using any words!

5. They’re Anxious

This one isn’t good. Just like nervous people bite their nails or tap their feet incessantly, anxious dogs also exhibit compulsive behaviors like chewing, barking, and digging. Obsessively nibbling another dog is rarer but is still possible, especially if there is an obvious reason for the source of stress such as a trip to the vet or you relocating.

two labradoodles in the dog park — Two Labradoodles sniff each other out at a dog park.

Observe your dog for other signs of anxiety which includes panting and pacing, obsessive barking, destructive chewing, and fear biting.

Demanding more attention than normal is another indication that your dog may be stressed out. If so, look for the source of stress and try to avoid it, or go to a canine professional for help if you feel that it might get out of hand.

6. They’re Being Submissive

Some dogs nibble and groom others to show submission. They may also lick the other dog as part of their grooming routine.

French Bulldog and English Bulldog — French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs have different ears position.

If another dog is posturing and signaling dominance, some dogs will start nibbling and grooming to lessen the tension and diffuse the situation.

7. They’re Repeating A Learned Behavior

You might inadvertently be encouraging the behavior if you have, at any time, acknowledged the behavior or unknowingly rewarded them for it. Think about the last time your dog nibbled on your other one. What did you do?

two Maltese dogs — Two Maltese dogs standing beside each other.

Did you try to distract the nibbly dog with toys, food, or affection? Or did you laugh at the sheer adorableness of it all and gave both of them a hug? If so, your dog will interpret this reward to mean that they did something good, so they will continue to nibble on your other dogs.

If you want to stop the behavior, show no attention at all and simply ignore the behavior.

8. They’re Exercising Their Jaw

Dogs use their jaws to do numerous different things like eat, defend, attack, drag stuff around, and chew on things that are hopefully their own toys and not your cushion.

Chihuahua open mouth — Chihuahua mouth wide opened.

They don’t have hands, so their jaws and mouth are an important part of how they experience the world. Dogs need to exercise their jaws to improve their strength and improve their bone and oral health.

They might be nibbling on another dog or themselves to work those chompers of theirs, especially if they don’t have any chew toys or bones. If so, you might want to stop by the pet store and remedy this situation!

Should You Stop Them From Nibbling, And How?

Generally speaking, you don’t have to stop them as it is a pretty normal behavior and a cool way for your dogs to bond. If the nibbling attention is a sign of affection, you can let them enjoy the mutual grooming experience.

The lovely pet licks and nibbles another dog!

By stopping them, you might be introducing a barrier between them and showing them that affection towards each other isn’t welcome, which is not something you want to do!

Try to monitor their behavior together with other signs and body language. If the nibbling is a result of anxiousness, learned behavior, or exercising their jaw, THEN you can try to do something about it.

First, figure out the reason why they are nibbling. If they are doing it because of anxiety, try taking them away from a stressful environment or increasing their daily exercise. You can also try interactive toys and other mentally stimulating activities to take their mind off whatever is causing the stress if it is unavoidable.

If it is for some other reason, use verbal cues to stop their nibbling such as “stop” or “leave it”. If they take your verbal cues, don’t forget to reward them to show that it’s positive behavior. Give them treats or food when they do, so that they know it’s the right thing to do.

Final Thoughts

Most of the reasons why dogs nibble on each other are harmless, even endearing as they strengthen the bond between them as members of the pack. Just watch for other signs in their body language and behavior to make sure it isn’t another underlying issue!