Dogs are known for being energetic and playful, but sometimes their playfulness can get them into trouble. One common issue that dogs tend to cause is when they start chewing on each other’s ears. While this may seem like a minor issue, it can lead to some significant problems if left unchecked. In this article, we will outline how to stop dog chewing other dogs ears.
Chewing other dog’s ears is most likely to start when they are pups. Some dog breeds are more notorious for doing this than others, but it can also depend on the personalities of the dogs involved. If you have a new pup in your home and another dog, make sure they aren’t left unattended until they get used to each other’s company.
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Causes Why Dog Chew Other Dogs Ears
It is common when two dogs are playing; they chew each other’s ears. There are several reasons why pet dogs may be fascinated to nibble on parts of other pets, mostly their ear.
The first reason for this type of behavior in dogs could be their way of greeting one another. When your dog sees another, he may want to show his submission by using his mouth while gently chewing the other dog’s ear. This act should not cause any discomfort, but if your dog is hurting the other, you should stop him immediately before he causes damage to the other pooch’s ear or hurts himself.
Another reason behind your pet’s habit of nibbling another dog’s ears could be the scent coming through the ear. Dogs have a great sense of smell; they can even pick up smells that are not perceptible to humans. In addition, because dogs communicate with each other through their nose, they use their mouth to allow them to get a better feel of what they are smelling.
Another reason your pet might be chewing on other pets’ ears is that he’s bored or does not have enough activities to do, so he uses his cagemate as an annoying toy. If this happens, you should look at how to stop dog chewing things and give him more exercise so he will be too tired to bother with anything in sight that moves another animal’s ear.
A Detailed Guide on How to Stop Dog Chewing Other Dogs Ears
Step 1: Determine How to Prevent Dog Chewing
Before you can stop your pup from eating another dog’s ears, first, you have to figure out why he is doing it in the first place. It could be for various reasons, but primarily because they feel threatened or scared by another dog. This behavior usually occurs when they are on their home turf, so try taking him to new places where there are other dogs he hasn’t seen before.
Do this until you start noticing changes in his behavior. Once he gets used to meeting new pups, you’ll know that his fears about being attacked are no longer an issue and will not resort to munching on another dog’s ears anymore.
Step 2: Distracting Them
If you notice your dog chewing another dogs’ ears or are worried that he might do it next time, there are ways to distract him. This will allow them to think about something else rather than wanting to eat the other pup’s ears. You can try doing things by either calling their name, giving them a gentle tug on the leash towards you or squirting some water in his face. They’ll be taken away from the situation and start to focus on what you want them to do instead.
Step 3: Using Treats
Instead of using physical methods to stop your dog from eating another dog’s ears, you can also try using treats. The way this works is that when he does something good like not wanting to eat the other pup’s ear, reward him with a treat such as small pieces of meat or some training biscuits (check out Wag! for great deals on training biscuits).
A pup who gets rewarded after doing what is asked tends to want to keep giving you their best and will no longer resort to destructive behavior such as chewing another dog’s ears.
Step 4: Tugging On Leash or Collar
Grabbing him by his neck and pulling forward might seem like an aggressive action, but it’s an excellent way for humans to communicate dominance over all animals. It doesn’t matter if they are being pulled away from the scene or being brought towards you; the pup will associate this action as a way to calm down and listen.
You can use this method when you notice him starting to chew the other dog’s ears or if he starts acting out in general. They’ll likely begin to listen more closely to you, so they don’t get pulled again.
Step 5: Using Water
If distractions don’t work out for you or are not possible in certain situations, try spraying them with some water when chewing on another dog’s ears. This will teach them that this behavior is wrong and should be stopped as soon as it happens.
The next time they do it, respray some water to become associated with whatever action they were doing just before punishment was given out, which is, in this case, dog-ear biting. Eventually, they will get the hint and stop munching on another pup’s ears.
Step 6: Using Bitter Apple Spray
If you don’t feel like spraying your pup with water or have tried that, but it just didn’t work out for you, try using bitter apple spray, which is available at most stores where pet supplies are sold.
All you have to do is simply spray it onto his face whenever he tries to chew on another dog’s ears so that he starts learning what behaviors are okay and which ones are not allowed since it tastes terrible when coming into contact with their skin. After a while, the behavior of chewing on other dogs’ ears will slowly diminish and eventually disappear altogether.
Step 7: Training How to Properly Greet Another Dog
If it’s the first time your pup is meeting another dog, try training them on how they should properly greet another dog. How this works is that you introduce your puppy to a calm and friendly dog so that they can learn about what proper interactions look like.
By doing this, your pup will be exposed more quickly to how things are supposed to go when meeting new dogs, eliminating their fears of interacting with different species. Once they’ve seen how it’s done, he’ll start learning why munching on other dogs’ ears is wrong and won’t do it anymore.
Step 8: Removing The Opportunity
The final solution for getting rid of destructive behaviors such as chewing on another dog’s ears is to remove the opportunity. How this works is that you bring your pup with you whenever other puppies present so that he can’t just go running around and do whatever he wants without having some supervision or guidance from you available at all times.
If this doesn’t help, try bringing him somewhere where there aren’t any dogs until he learns not to chew on other canines’ ears when meeting them for the first time.
Step 9: Seeking Professional Help
If you’ve tried all of the solutions listed above and your dog still doesn’t know how to behave around other dogs properly, then it might be time for you to seek professional help. This is especially if they tend to go on aggressive rampages whenever they see another pup who’s being friendly with his owner.
By working together with a trainer, you’ll learn how to handle different situations so that your puppy won’t have the opportunity to do any more damage, such as chewing on another dog’s ears when they are not supposed to (i.e., during playtime).
There you have eight tips and tricks on how to stop dogs chewing other dogs ears. These alternatives will teach your canine friend proper social etiquette and teach them that chewing another dog’s ears is wrong and something that they should not do.
Remember always to stay patient and consistent for these tips to work out for you. Stick with one method until it becomes effective before trying any more new things. You may even try using a combination of some or all of the methods mentioned above until your pup learns exactly what he can and cannot get away with while interacting with other dogs. These steps will help in how to stop dog chewing other dogs ears.
Conclusion:
If you are experiencing this problem with your dog, there are a few things that you can do to stop the behavior. First, make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise and stimulation. Dogs who are bored or have too much energy may start to chew on other dogs’ ears to relieve boredom or stress.
Second, provide plenty of appropriate chew toys for your dog to gnaw on instead of other dogs’ ears. Finally, if all else fails, consider seeking professional help from a trainer or behaviorist who can help correct the issue. With patience and perseverance, you should understand how to stop dog chewing other dogs ears.
