Australian Shepherd // Miniature American Shepherd

Mouthing is a typical trait for dogs, especially on herding dogs like Australian Shepherds. In most cases, this behavior is totally harmless. However, injuries can be made when your dog becomes aggressive. Owners can use several methods to discourage their pups from mouthing or biting. 

Australian shepherds are known for their active lifestyle and high energy. After all, this breed is a herding dog, willing to get rough and active during playtime and duty. Due to their herding instinct, most Aussie pups can’t help themselves and starts mouthing their owners when given a chance. 

A mouthing or a bite is usually an act of playfulness on the part of the Aussie pup. When this is the case, the dog would often have a relaxed body and less tension in its face. Jaw pressure from a playful mouthing is less painful or no pain at all. In this case, it all depends on whether the experience is unpleasant to you. 

However, some dogs can get aggressive in their mouthing. These instances are often caused by the pup getting a bit more excited. Aggressive mouthing can also happen when the dog is not appropriately trained. Signs of aggression include a stiff body and some wrinkles appearing in your dog’s muzzles. 

Aggressive mouthing can turn a simple playtime into an unintended accident. Your dog might not know that it’s hurting you because they don’t have the concept of pain receptors in human’s soft skin. There are instances wherein the dog could not leave the habit behind, which prompts the owner to seek professional vet help. 

Mouthing is a natural trait that dogs possess and develop during their younger years. They need to learn how to use their mouths to explore the world and have acquired skills that they need when they’re older. Hence, the mouthing might be caused by a trigger in the environment or situation. 

As a herding dog, Australian Shepherds are likely to nibble on your fingers, ankles, or foot. With their herding instinct, Aussie pups are one of the breeds notorious for mouthing. This characteristic is often manifested when the pup enters its “herding mode,” wherein these dogs usually take the assertive attitude.

You might be wondering why Aussies’ herding instinct prompts them to mouth. When herding, the dogs need to keep their sheep and other animals in the right decision. This is done by snapping or nipping at them to go back to the line. It is usually triggered when a group of sheep suddenly goes away or faces the wrong direction. 

Another factor to consider as to why a dog will start mouthing is its guarding instinct. A part of the Australian Shepherd’s instinct is to keep its flock safe and away from predators. If an animal which they deem dangerous gets too close to the herd, the Aussies will snap and nip at these predators to keep their herd safe.  

When your Australian Shepherd perceives someone as a threat to you or your family members, the dog will likely go to the defensive mode. It will try to bite this person as a warning. However, this behavior can be very annoying, especially if your dog is being super protective. It can be a good or bad thing, depending on the context and the current situation. 

Training is an essential part of a dog’s life. Good training and socialization skills can determine whether or not a dog can be a pain in the neck to deal with. While your Australian Shepherd is a pup, teaching it how to do basic commands can ensure that it will not be prone to mouthing incidents. 

This can also be said about its social behavior. Puppies with proper socialization training early on are less likely to nip or mouth. A pup can learn to control its nipping and biting by learning with other dogs. It will learn how to stop applying pressure if its playmate gets hurt or yelped while playing. 

When in fear or stressed, an Australian Shepherd may try to nip the person who causes it to feel that way. Mouthing is usually a warning, and the dog might get into aggressive mode from its defensive mode. If a dog nips the owner out of fear, it can be an aggressive way to ask for help or call some attention. 

Puppies and dogs are quite sensitive to pain. They will likely flinch or nip at a person if they are in pain or are suffering from illnesses. If your pup or dog suddenly started mouthing in your hand, it might be signaling that something’s quite not right in its body.  And last but not least, your dog might just be very happy and excited to play with you. The hyperactivity and added tension in your dog’s bite might mislead you that it’s getting pretty aggressive. But in reality, your dog might just be happy to spend some time with you. 

You can check if your dog’s behavior is aggressive or not by watching its body language. If it’s in a defensive stance, you might want to back away slowly. Don’t try to run away because your Australian Shepherd will just try to “herd” you by biting at you aggressively. 

There are several methods that you can use to administer training and stop your Australian Shepherd from mouthing. Use the best method that you can safely administer at your own home with your dog. Be consistent, and reward your dog every time it successfully manifests your desired behavior. 

This method has the name “leave it” because it can help your dog identify the command. First, if your dog starts nipping at you, get a treat and tease it to your dog to catch its interest. Let it sniff at the treat and say “leave it” to establish that those two words are important commands. 

When the dog starts to get disinterested or ignore you, praise it with verbal affirmation and let it get the treat. Keep practicing on this until the dog’s behavior is consistent. 

To use this method, you need to set the mood and get your pup into mouthing mode. Keep on playing with your dog until it mouths you hard enough that it really hurts. Let your puppy know that you’re hurt by letting your hand go limp and release a high-pitched yelp. 

If it works properly, your dog will start becoming gentle with its nipping or even try to stop mouthing. If it stops mouthing, you can encourage this behavior by praising your pup or giving a tasty treat.

As mentioned before, herding dogs are likely to start mouthing when their herding instincts are triggered. Spend some time with your dog, and observe its behavior. Watch out on what’s triggering your dog is going to its herd mode. Once you pinpoint the trigger, you can call for the pup’s attention every time the trigger starts. 

Keep doing this until your pup completely stops its mouthing behavior. Most breeds usually outgrow their mouthing or biting tendencies as they get older. The Australian Shepherd is not an exception. 

The Socialization Method

This method is effective if the dog is young and hasn’t experienced socialization with other dogs yet. For this method, you need to make sure that there are other dogs or puppies. Just let them play and get rough with each other. 

A moment will eventually appear where your puppy will hurt the other dogs due to its inexperience in controlling its jaw’s strength. Much like the bite inhibition method, your dog will likely learn to be careful about its bites. 

The Non-Contact Method

And lastly, you can use the non-contact method, which facilitates playtime without touching your puppy. Instead of playing with your puppy or dog by petting and other physical means, you can instead encourage non-contact forms of play. 

Training Your Australian Shepherd

If you haven’t trained your Australian Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your Shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.

Just like other bad behaviors in dogs, aggressive mouthing might or might not be carried into adulthood. Hence, it is quite important to avoid encouraging bad behavior. When it comes to mouthing, here are some things that you should avoid doing while your pet is mouthing. This is an important step to lessen up the chance that your dog will do it again. 

Not Giving Them Chew Toys

Dogs are curious creatures, but they use your mouth to test their curiosity. If you want to redirect their mouthing behavior, you must also redirect their attention to you. Hence, giving them something else to chew would be a great option. It will also encourage them to nip at you. 

Ignore Your Pup

Even if your puppy is getting troublesome, make it a habit never to ignore them completely. At least, don’t do so without making your pup understand the action that it needs to change or the action that causes you to ignore it. Otherwise, you’ll just let your pup get confused and sad. 

Avoid Provoking Gestures

Don’t try to trigger your dog’s biting instinct by making sudden gestures that might cause provocation. For example, if you decide to wake up your sleeping puppy unceremoniously, it will likely take the biting stance and try to bite you immediately. Don’t use exaggerated gestures as well, as it might provoke your dog and trigger its instinct to bite you. 

Don’t Avoid Play Time

Avoiding playtime with your dog will not address its aggressive mouthing problem. In fact, it doesn’t solve anything at all. Instead, you should continue interacting with your dog and use it as a chance for training.

Dogs tend to learn quickly, especially herding breeds like Australian Shepherd. Focus on the positive reinforcement of good behavior, and try other options than avoiding your dog entirely. 

Avoid Exaggerated Movements

Exaggerated movements like patting at the side of your pup’s face can signal aggression. Examples of this are waving your hand erratically to intimidate the puppy. In return, your dog will likely react aggressively as well. Make your interaction with your pup gentle and laidback. If the puppy is getting aggressive during playtime, you might have to take a break or do other activities. 

Don’t Pull Away When Your Pup Mouth.

And last but not least, don’t try to pull your hand away when the puppy is nipping on you. This can cause the pup to grab your hand or bite harder. Instead, stop moving your hand and let it limp, which makes it very uninteresting to your pup. 

FAQ

Will Your Australian Shepherd Outgrow Mouthing? 

Yes, puppies tend to overgrow their mouthing tendencies and forget this behavior. It is only a temporary phase, and that your pup will likely forget about it with proper training. The majority of the puppies will outgrow this behavior pretty early on. 

What Age Do Aussies Stop Mouthing? 

The majority of dog breeds will outgrow play-biting or mouthing in about three to five months. With proper training, this can even be shorter. Just give your pup the time it needs, and avoid punishing it for acting on its nature. 

Final Thoughts

Mouthing is a normal trait for our canine companions. It’s similar to the experience of closing and clapping your hands for the first time. Your pup will likely outgrow this behavior in a few months. 

Take note that aggressive mouthing is another story. It might be better if you ask for help from a vet or a canine behavior expert. Avoid taking actions that might encourage mouthing, and utilize chew toys to break this habit on your fur baby. 

Sources:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-puppies

https://wagwalking.com/training/train-an-australian-shepherd-to-not-bite

https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/managing-mouthing-dogs

https://jubilantpups.com/australian-shepherd-mouthing/

Australian Shepherds can make great family dogs for the right households. Here's a breakdown:

Pros: They're typically affectionate, loyal, and intelligent, making them great companions. They're often good with children and can be protective of their family.

Cons: Their energy levels might be too much for some households, requiring plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Without proper exercise, they might exhibit destructive behaviors due to boredom.

Yes, to an extent: Their medium-length double coats require regular grooming to manage shedding and prevent matting. They're also high-energy dogs needing ample exercise and mental stimulation.

Sometimes called ‘Velcro dogs’, Australian Shepherds are known for their loyalty and attachment to their families. They might exhibit clingy behavior due to their strong bonds and desire to be close to their owners. This clinginess can also stem from separation anxiety if not properly trained or socialized.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

Intelligent and trainable: They excel in obedience and various dog sports.

Versatile: Suitable for various activities like herding, agility, and therapy work.

Affectionate: They're often loving and devoted to their families.

Protective: They can be good watchdogs due to their loyalty.

Cons:

High energy: Need lots of exercise and mental stimulation.

Potential for clinginess: They may develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods.

Grooming needs: Their coat requires regular maintenance.

Herding Instincts: Might try herding family members or other pets if not trained properly.