Older puppy and play biting other dogs

[Luckycat1]

I took my 20 week old puppy to a puppy socialisation group today. They've been lovely and stress free in the past, just her bounding about in her element playing chase with other dogs, but today she would not stop mouthing the other puppies, culminating in her near constantly putting her mouth around the other puppies legs as she realised it was the best place to grip. They all seemed to be having a great time as when I put her on the lead the others still wanted to play, and there was no yelping (and she wasn't growling). It looked very bitey though and made me paranoid that she seemed aggressive (I don't think she is aggressive, I feel as certain as I can be that it was playing as she was waggy and enthusiastic, but perhaps I'm wrong) . Would you say this is normal behaviour, or normal playing? She's half lurcher and a lurcher owner told me they play with their mouths and run at each other with mouths wide open ('bitey face') so is it maybe a breed thing? She doesn't do this with us but mostly because we divert her biting (which isn't often, but happens when playing) with toys. Any tips on discouraging it?? I don't think I can go back to the group if it carries on 😬

Bitey face and bitey legs seems to be many puppies best game ever. So not really anything to worry about and I doubt your dog is aggressive from this situation

BUT I agree with you I would not go back to the group. Your puppy already knows how to do bitey games they do not need to practice them. Your pup needs to learn to focus on you when around other dogs and this sort of group will just encourage no focus on you and over threshold games with other dogs.

In real life your dog will not meet lots of puppies, they will meet lots of grown up dogs who will not tolerate being involved in the bitey face games.

Your dog is learning nothing so yes I would avoid and concentrate on focus on you when out and about with other dogs.

Your gut instincts are correct - stick with them

It's play. The other dogs would yelp or squeal if she was hurting them - please don't worry. You have nothing to be embarrassed about :)

I'd also say that given her breed, it's unlikely she'll ever grow out of it - my beagle is five now and he still thinks bitey face is the BEST thing ever.

Agree with @IngGenius

Thanks all! Very reassuring to know it's a normal form of play. I think I need a list of the bitey face fan breeds :)

I would feel sad for her not going again because she usually runs loads there which is not something she can do daily as she hasn't got solid recall (and she LOVES to run). But equally we're doing a lot of work on focusing on me as she is quite dog obsessed, and getting positive results, so I don't want to take unnecessary steps backwards. Very much a heart vs head decision, but as recall will equal more eventual freedom I probably know which way to go 😭

Ha ha bitey face is definitely a thing with puppies . I watch live puppy cams from an American charity that breeds service dogs and it looks quite brutal but is great fun for them .