Odd Border Terrier behaviour 😳

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

Our dog is now 8 months old and thankfully, other than sometimes getting a bit over excited during play, has pretty much for now grown out of the bitey puppy stage. I’ll be honest despite many of you telling it would happen I didn’t believe you, it was at one point so so bad!!!

Anyhow on Sunday I was sat on the kitchen floor clearing out a cupboard. Done it many times before and he often wanders over to have a sniff and try to run off with a packet of biscuits or the like. This time though he acted really odd - mouthing at my arm, gently at first but then more firmly and a bit painful. Whining as if distressed. Started snapping when I told him no and gently pushed him off. DD and DH both then did the same and ask and he had a sniff and wandered off.

Later I was sat on the sofa and he did the same.

I’m the primary carer of him and the ones he’s most attached to. The only reason we could think of was, I was mid period and extremely heavy (I’d flooded several times on Sunday) and maybe his super sense of smell meant he was reacting to that?

However I’m no longer on and I’ve just sat on the lounge floor to wipe skirting boards and he’s come over and done it again 😳

He’s perfectly fine and normal with me otherwise … cuddly when it suits him, eating like a hoover and playing happily. His normal slightly nuts self.

Had anyone experienced similar?

Welcome to the biters of the dog world. It’s normal. Behave like you would a small puppy and put a toy in his mouth instead. He’ll learn to bite the toy and not you eventually. They can be mouthy until they’ve gone through adolescence. Mine was until 18 months on and off. Now she’s fine (3 next week).

(Border terrier slave and trainer)

To add don’t punish or stop him. Terriers need to bite but they need to be taught what to bite. They have very low frustration tolerance and punishment or ignoring or pushing away makes things worse.

Thanks New. It’s odd how it’s just me.

DH reckons he’s trying to help keep me on the straight and narrow as I’m trying to cut down my processed sugar intake and that cupboard is the where all the Bad Stuff is 😁

Also on Sunday when he wasn’t trying to bite me he was almost guarding me - sitting on my feet or on me and snuggling. So weird

Ahh ok that’s good to know.

I wondered if it might be the last of teething too hence the sad whining

Are you pregnant OP?
or been poorly?
my ddog would sit on my feet if I was ill.

Now this did cross my mind!

As far as I’m aware, no to both! But shall definitely keep in mind 😳

It just seems to be normal for some puppies to continue being mouthy for longer. It's just being tactile. Obviously if they're hurting you it isn't desirable, but it does seem to happen with some, no matter how much you discourage it.

I'm sorry to have to tell you but our current pup is now 16 months old and still grabs at our arms and hands. Thankfully she has stopped doing this with strangers - we had a new visitor on Monday and pup made no attempt to mouth her. But she still does it with family, no matter how much we discourage or distract with toys and treats.

Our previous dogs didn't continue mouthing much after the adult teeth came through.

My girl has very strong views on correct behaviour, if you don't habitually sit on the floor may be the doggy just thought you were in the wrong place.
Mine hates dancing and yoga.

Thanks everyone I’m feeling a little less worried after reading your replies. X

Might be her adult teeth coming through. Her baby teeth coming loose might be feeling odd.

It sounds like she wants to play?

If I try and gently distract him with a toy, change position or stand up he starts growling and snapping. Looks really cross. Tonight he started jumping up and trying to bite my bum 😳 which would he hilarious if it wasn’t a bit painful.

Then 10 minutes later he comes and snuggles at my feet looking up at me adoringly 😁

He doesn’t seem to want to take chunks out of anyone else!

❤️ Any chance of a photo OP?

Really normal clumsy attempts to play. Just go with it.

He’s in prime adolescence where previously forgotten bad habits very often recur.

Yes I think your are right with clumsy play … and adolescence point too although 8 months feels early? But yes when he was little I was the one he’d reserve his Bitey Time for then.

Absolutely and actually, very rude of me not to have done earlier 😁

Tax paid

Yes well, now I can understand why doggo bites you…

.🤣🤣

Lord he’s soooo scruffy 😁

Picture not showing tellmewhen!

Think it’s up now after approval. Even MN mods are wary 😂

Haha!

Aah, he’s beautiful ❤️ super cute doggo.

Thank you!

All I can say is gorgeous dog, but I own two Border Terriers so am completely biased