Mouthing while playing? Normal, right?

Hi everyone,

I've never had a corgi before, and I think his mouthing is normal for a dog, but I thought I'd check to make sure...

Caleb is super mouthy when he plays. He has an extremely soft mouth, and is very gentle. Since he's a rescue I have no idea what his background is, but someone obviously taught him the soft mouth and he really has it perfected. I mean, basic commands are hit or miss (usually hit when we're alone and focused and miss when there's ANYTHING even slightly more interesting elsewhere), and he's a year and a half old so we're well past puppy teething time, but he has the soft mouth concept down to an art!

Do your corgis mouth you when they play and get really excited? I thought it was normal doggy behavior in general, but I was wondering if maybe corgis are particularly found of mouthing?

It doesn't phase me at all because he is so gentle and I think it reinforces the soft mouth concept when we play, but some people who aren't down and dirty roll on the floor and play sort of dog people get startled sometimes. I'd just like to tell them it's normal happy corgi playing behavior!

Tags: mouth, playing, soft

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Permalink Reply by James on August 10, 2008 at 12:01pm: My pup is getting close to 6 months old and still does this. It's something we're working on,; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Snowbaby Butterball on August 10, 2008 at 9:51pm: could someone please tell me what you are all talking about by "mouthing"? Do you mean that the dog makes a lot of sounds or do you mean that the dog is kinda of biting someone? Thanks a lot, Joy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by James on August 10, 2008 at 10:35pm: They mean the dog puts his/her mouth on you while you play. Not biting, and not nipping, they are just very "mouthy" slobbering all over you ect..; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Snowbaby Butterball on August 11, 2008 at 8:28am: Thanks, James, for the explanation. Thankfully my dog doesn't do this because I don't like to be slobbered on. Good luck to everyone else having to deal with this.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy on August 11, 2008 at 9:11pm: A lot of dogs don't mouth nicely though..and combine it with unacceptable behavior like growling or guarding. That is why the concern that maybe if it is allowed even when "soft" it should be stopped. Also it tends to upset people who fear that they will get bitten. It is a normal part of puppy play and exploration.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amanda on August 11, 2008 at 4:26pm: chloe doesnt mouth too much, usually when she gets worked up she runs off and gets a toy. but if she goes get worked up and starts getting mouthy the second she feels skin she stops and licks instead. but if you are under a blanket or have long sleeves, basically anything thing covering your skin, that whole stop thing goes right out the window so we have to watch it sometimes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lou Ann Lemaster on August 12, 2008 at 8:24am: I agree in the no mouthing rule, I don't let Duncan or Chloe mouthed me. I have a hard time convinceing my husband of that. He's never had a dog before, so, he didn't have the first idea on what is acceptable for dog play and what wasn't. He spends the evening with the dogs, and lets Duncan chase his hand under the blanket and lets him bite him through the blanket. It was when I told him that playing like that could give Duncan the wrong idea if the little grandkids come up and they happen to be under a blanket and move their feet. Duncan may think it's play time and bite the little ones legs.

So, I wouldn't encourage the mouthing, when they do mouth you, make a loud yelping sound like your hurt and stop the play. It may take a while, since you've allowed them to do it for so long.; ▶ Reply to This