Yes, your little one should understand that biting is not okay, but what he's doing is not considered "biting" to him. It is a sign of his affection and playfulness. If you are firm with him every time his teeth nibble gently on your skin, this could affect the bond that you two develop. It is healthy to let them nibble gently on your skin, it helps them develop a positive and confident personality! Remember, though, that if he ever nibbles too hard to let out a loud whelp so he knows he can't bite too hard. They learn this when they're still with their litter mates. Also, if he is teething and nipping you, this will eventually stop. I had a german shephard puppy and he would nip the skin on my legs every time we went for a walk. It was excruciatingly painful but he wasn't doing it to be mean, he was doing it because he wanted to play. The best thing is to completely ignore them when this happens. Just turn your back and wait until he stops, then give him the attention. Or, distract him with a toy.
Sorry this was long! Long story short, it is a greeting! Not a dominance thing. He loves you guys and wants to play, please don't discipline him for this! |