What Does It Mean if a Dog Nips at You but Doesn't Actually Bite?

Where Are My Teeth?

• There's a saying among dog trainers and vet techs that goes something like this: "Dogs always know where their teeth are." It sounds ludicrous, since everyone knows where their teeth are. What it actually means, however, is that there really is no such thing as a a dog "trying" to bite you. Dogs know how to deliver a warning nip without biting you. They always know just where their teeth are in relation to your body part. Unless you have quick-as-lightning reflexes, if a dog wants to bite you, you can't get out of the way fast enough to avoid it. The only exceptions to this rule are the dogs in the AKC herding group; they nip deliberately.

War Games

• So you're playing tug-of-war or wrestling with your dog and you're both worked up into quite a state. Some dogs, particularly very young or highly energetic dogs, may nip during the roughhousing or right after, when you've quit. If a dog nips but doesn't actually bite in this situation, it's because he still thinks it's playtime.

Move Along, Kids

• Children are running about the yard, having a great time playing tag or football. The family dog is there too, just like one of the kids. However, if you have a purebred herding dog such as an Australian shepherd or English sheepdog, or a mixture of something else and a herding dog, your dog may nip at the children's ankles in an effort to herd them into a tight circle. It makes your dog nervous to have the kids all scattered about. It's a herding dog's nature to herd, and in the absence of the goat-variety of kids, human ones will have to do. In this scenario, the dog is nipping because he thinks it's his job.

I'm in Charge Here

• You're not the most assertive person in your circle of friends, and your dog's taken notice. Dogs need to have an alpha -- a boss, someone in charge. It makes them feel more secure knowing someone's leading the way. A dog owner may unwittingly pass this task on to her dog, making him feel as if he is in charge. If you have chastised your dog and he snaps at you, he's not trying to bite you, he's warning you. This act is usually accompanied by the body going stiff, a hard glare and a low growl. In this scenario, the dog is snapping, in an effort to put you in your place. If this is happening in your relationship with your dog, it's critical to seek professional help. Dogs don't bluff, so if you allow him to treat you as a lesser pack member, he could very well bite you next time. Don't tolerate this behavior.

The Fierce Hunter

• You're padding about your apartment in your bare feet and, suddenly, your miniature-breed dog nips at your ankles. If you had a kitten instead of a canine, the kitten would be swatting at your feet instead of nipping; but since you've got a dog, you've just witnessed the dog's respond to the prey drive. Now that little Chihuahua may not look like it, but he's a predator. In many dogs, such as terriers and hounds, movement of any kind will trigger the prey drive. The dogs respond by attacking the moving thing first and asking questions later. Most likely, it's all in play and, as long as no blood is spilled, you're good to go.

I Gotta Be Me

• Since dogs are individuals, plenty of things may cause a dog to nip. Some dogs nip in the air, snapping their teeth when they are excited. This trait is especially prevalent in Labrador retrievers. Dogs that love to give kisses may nibble a little when they show affection ... some standard poodles do that. Dogs who fear the grooming brush, especially the small breeds, may nip at the hand holding it. Just as people have their own reasons for some idiosyncratic behavior at times, so do dogs.