German Shepherds Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Taking hand in mouth

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 33 Posts

Kyleigh

· Registered
Joined
·
2,016 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Kyleigh will be 18 months old tomorrow ... my how time has flown from the time I brought her home.

One of her behaviours that stands out that I haven't found on this forum is this:

When she wants something (outside, hungry, ice cube, play time) she comes up and barks at me once. I'll stand up and say "what do you want?" and she takes my hand in her mouth (VERY gently) and brings me to where she what she wants is (i.e. toy box, kitchen for ice cubes, back door to go outside, her food bowl for dinner time - just in case I forgot LOL)

She's not annoying about it ... it's not like she's demanding something every 5 minutes, and it's not every day or anything, just every now and then (like I've been "neglecting her" LOL)

Does anyone else have a dog that does this?
 
#7 ·
Years ago we had a collie that did that. He was very careful about how he held our wrists in his mouth when he led us somewhere. We never considered it annoying and it didn't happen often. It was fun to see where he would take us.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
So you see it as a negative?

As I said in my original post, it's not an every day thing, but any stretch of the imagination. It's usually when I've gotten involved in something, and time has gotten away from me. It's like a reminder ... HEY, I'm here ... and you've forgotten something.

Ky's never done any type of bite work, and she's NOT biting ... she's "holding" my hand in her mouth. Honestly, I can slide my hand out of her mouth with no resistence.

And yes, she does get her things when I give them to her, not when she "demands." This is just a behaviour that I see every now and then ... like maybe once a week ...

It's only me that she does it with, no one else ...
 
#9 ·
Jax does that. I think Kaiser did that when I visited Jamie too. lol Max at ACS does that. It doesn't bother me and I usually just grab their jaw lightly and play with them. As long as they aren't gnawing on anyone else, I don't think it will lead to anything. IMO, it's an attention getting thing.
 
#10 ·
Kyleigh said:
So you see it as a negative?

As I said in my original post, it's not an every day thing, but any stretch of the imagination. It's usually when I've gotten involved in something, and time has gotten away from me. It's like a reminder ... HEY, I'm here ... and you've forgotten something.

Ky's never done any type of bite work, and she's NOT biting ... she's "holding" my hand in her mouth. Honestly, I can slide my hand out of her mouth with no resistence.

And yes, she does get her things when I give them to her, not when she "demands." This is just a behaviour that I see every now and then ... like maybe once a week ...

It's only me that she does it with, no one else ...
Click to expand...
It's the same with me, she only does it when I'm completely distracted and she's tried everything else to get my attention (going to the door, in the kitchen, etc). I'll look at her and say "What do you think you're doing" and she'll back off but there's never a grip involved.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Jax08 said:
As long as they aren't gnawing on anyone else, I don't think it will lead to anything. IMO, it's an attention getting thing.
Click to expand...
That's how I see it ... and I know that it's an attention getting thing ... because she only does it when I'm "ignoring" her.

I was just wondering how many other GSDs or dogs, for that matter, do the same thing
 
#12 ·
Kyleigh said:
Why not?
Click to expand...
As long as you don't have any other issues with her I wouldn't mind her doing it. It is kinda cute. Lassie did it!!
As long as she doesn't use it randomly but only for good reasons, I don't see a problem. If it hurts when she does it, then I would make a u-turn and ignore her.
WD lets out a high pitch bark when he cannot reach a specific toy he was playing with. I have carefully observed it after giving him that toy but he doesn't take advantage of it; it really is only to get some help once in a while.
I won't give him a toy that I have put away but he has never asked for that either.
 
#13 ·
Kyleigh said:
That's how I see it ... and I know that it's an attention getting thing ... because she only does it when I'm "ignoring" her.

I was just wondering how many other GSDs or dogs, for that matter, do the same thing
Click to expand...
Three that I know of! lol And I've never had a Collie or Boxer do it so wonder if it's a GSD thing or a drivey dog thing.
 
#14 ·
I think it shows high intelligence. She knows that our hands are useful tools from probably observations she made.
WD also eyes the Chuck It, even though he has never touched it but he knows it is the tool that throws the balls.
 
#15 ·
Kyleigh said:
So you see it as a negative?

As I said in my original post, it's not an every day thing, but any stretch of the imagination. It's usually when I've gotten involved in something, and time has gotten away from me. It's like a reminder ... HEY, I'm here ... and you've forgotten something.

Ky's never done any type of bite work, and she's NOT biting ... she's "holding" my hand in her mouth. Honestly, I can slide my hand out of her mouth with no resistence.

And yes, she does get her things when I give them to her, not when she "demands." This is just a behaviour that I see every now and then ... like maybe once a week ...

It's only me that she does it with, no one else ...
Click to expand...
i don't let dogs use there mouth for attention getting. thats just me. others here that are very experienced think its ok, so although i am not going to change my mind on this, maybe its not the issue i perceive it to be.
 
#16 ·
Bear "holds my hand". That's what I call it, but he doesn't do it when he wants something he just does it when he is chilling and is sitting next to us.
He does this with myself and my kids. It's always gentle and never in a demanding manner.
I have never seen a problem with it. I just think it's his way of communicating in a non verbal way.
 
#17 ·
I knew a golden/lab mix that would do this. She would also take your hand if you we're petting her then stopped. Never hurt, and I always thought it was cute.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #18 ·
I was wondering about the intelligence element as well.

I have ZERO issues with Kyleigh ... absolutely none. She is a very solid dog, and training has been both a dream and a blast with her. Sure, we had our "moments" as all puppies and owners do, but nothing like I've read on here with some people and the issues they've had. (For this, I thank my lucky stars, and am VERY grateful)

I've had lots of dogs, been around lots of dogs, etc., but have never seen one display the behaviour that she's doing. Of course, I'm not around everyone's dogs 24/7

I've seen the "bark" at the toy b/c it's in a place I can't get it (Ky does that when I throw the ball and it goes under the couch. After a couple of minutes, she'll bark / yip once because she's frustrated that she can't get it LOL), and I've seen the eye contact from "toy" to "me" when a dog wants something.

HMM, maybe she was lassie in a previous life!??
 
#19 ·
We've had rescue dogs that did that type thing, and we tell adopters to discourage mouthing due to the fact if you have company over with a child and the dog was to mouth, the dog could be accused of biting.

Just be cautious about where and when this is taking place, and if you have people over especially who have kids, you may want to advise them about it.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
About this Discussion
32 Replies
14 Participants
Last post:
doggiedad
German Shepherds Forum
posts
2.6M
members
148K
Since
2002
A forum community dedicated to all German Shepherd owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bloodlines, training, breeding, service dogs, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Information Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Health Issues General Puppy Stuff General Behavior