Close your mouth!

[Amy & Albee]

This might sound silly, but Albee's mouth is always open and it bothers us.

So, imagine you're giving an ear scratch or whatnot - and your pup's mouth is open and bumping up against your hand.

He doesn't 'mouth' but the sides of his teeth will bump your hand.

It gets on our nerves, but I'm mostly wanting to fix this behavior for when he is around others. I've never met a dog who constantly has his mouth open when he is happy! (Sounds like a lame problem to have, doesn't it?) One of our friends, who isn't a fan of dogs, feels like she might get bitten. I don't want this to be a worry to others, or small children.

Thoughts?

If we try and hold his muzzle shut, I'm concerned that he'll confuse that and think that he is biting (no bite is our command). And as expected, he'll tilt his head away, trying to get loose.

Anyone else deal with this? Should we let it go? Will he 'grow out' of it?

Thanks everyone :)

[Vivian & Mojo]

Amy I think you should let it go as you state at the end of your post but I don't think he will out grow something normal that dogs do.The truth is dogs do slobber on people and give wet messy kisses out of love. I have friends that aren't dog people and they pull their hands away in disgust when Mojo licks them. I do like the advice given about about how to deal with it and will follow it when my friends visit. The main thing is to be grateful your dog is healthy and not aggressive, he sounds very loving and sweet. I hope you wont try and hold his muzzle shut and that you both get used to it being open without it being bother.

Albee is a very adorable Doodle.