You let him do it once, he’ll do it again. That’s the thing with dogs. It even applies to simple things like stealing food off your plate, barking at birds, or even nibbling on your toes, fingers, etc.
But, nibbling isn’t harmless, and you shouldn’t let your dog get away with it.
Sure, it may seem funny at first, but how would you react if your dog starts biting you harder? What if your dog starts nibbling other people, too? That wouldn’t be pleasant at all!
You should never encourage such behavior. Of course, you should find a reason behind it, too. Trust me… they’re pretty obvious and easy to deal with.
You just need some discipline and a firm stand.
To understand what you’re dealing with, here are the top five most common reasons why your dog is nibbling on you.
1. Your German Shepherd Is Teething
Let’s go back to the beginning…
When I first got my German Shepherd puppy, he was teething like crazy. Trust me… my dining room chairs still remember his teething period. He was a little menace, but he was in so much pain and discomfort.
I remember buying all kinds of toys to help him with the transition from puppy to adult teeth. But, no! He preferred everything else, including my own fingers.
Every time I’d sit down on the sofa, my pup would sneak up on me and start giving me little nibbles. My hands were normally his focus, but he didn’t mind my toes either.
Luckily, the teething phase somehow ended and he stopped nibbling on my everything.
2. Your GSD Wants Your Attention
Before you ask… yes, it did happen to me a couple of times.
I remember I was going through a bunch of emails one day, being super busy, and my dog just creeped up on me and started nibbling on my ankles. I shooed him a couple times, but he came back.
That was when I realized: It was way past time for our walk and I was working for three hours without a break.
My dog needed my attention. He needed his walks. And, I really needed a break.
So, when you feel your dog is nibbling on you, stop for a moment and try to remember how long it was since you showed him some love. German Shepherds may be tough, but they’re always asking for affection.
3. Your GSD Is Bored
Sometimes, going to the park will not be an option. The weather might be too bad for you two to hang out there, so you have to come up with fun things to do at home.
If you notice your GSD is still nibbling on you, that could mean you have failed and you should try harder to entertain your dog.
Boredom can be serious if not treated because it can lead to aggressive behavior.
I wouldn’t let my GSD nibble on me because he’s bored. Would you?
4. Your GSD Is Stressed Out
Oh, stress… So many triggers around your dog… So many ways of manifestation!
One of the many signs that your dog is stressed out is exactly all that nibbling.
Nibbling is a way of calming them down if they find themselves in a stressful situation. Or, if you leave your GSD alone at home for too long. Chances are, once you come back, your dog will start nibbling on you to make sure you’re really there and you’re not an illusion.
All jokes aside, stress triggers are nothing to be played with. Nibbling is not a desired behavior and you should not encourage your dog to do so.
5. Your GSD Wants To Show You Some Love
Dogs will show love to their hoomans in all kinds of ways, including nibbling. But, unlike nibbling because of boredom, nibbling to show affection is much less dangerous.
You may notice your dog gives you little nib nibs occasionally when he’s cuddling or playing with you. That’s just his way of saying I love you.
Trust me… you’ll notice the difference between these nibs and all the others because a dog that’s nibbling to show love is a happy doggo.
How Do I Stop My Dog From Nibbling Me?
A firm stand and a loud no always ends things. But, it’s far more important to find out why your dog is nibbling on you and put an end to it.
For example, if your dog is nibbling on you because he’s bored, you work on that. Start giving him fun toys, take him outside, do something fun together, etc.
Nibbling because he’s teething is probably the least dangerous reason. All puppies go through the teething and nibbling phase. You just have to wait patiently and provide lots of chewy alternatives.
I want to stress one more thing before we wrap up… stress and anxiety.
As you know, those two go hand in hand together and they’re not good for your dog at all. The best thing you can do is never allow your dog to feel anxious or stressed out. In most cases, you leaving the house is the biggest trigger.
Luckily, dogs are allowed almost everywhere these days. Don’t dwell on it! Take your dog with you. He’ll appreciate the time spent together and you minimizing the chances of him becoming too scared that you’re not there.
