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 :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is not a training issue, but I'm responding anyway. 

I don't know how much real dog experience you have, but many dogs have their mouths open most of the time. Browse the photos here on DK and see for yourself. Go look at the front page slideshow. The reason is that the only way a dog can cool his body is through his mouth, by panting. That's the main way he adjusts his body temperature. It's also true that most dogs have their mouths open when they are excited or happy. Without getting too graphic, most people open their mouths when something feels good to them, too. 

I would not do anything to try to change this, and I for sure would not hold his muzzle closed, ever. 

To be very honest with you, the part about his teeth bumping your hand when you scratch his ears doesn't make any sense to me. I couldn't tell you if any of my dogs mouths have been open or closed when I was petting them, scratching their ears, or doing anything, and I would bet the same is true of most dog owners. 

As to your friend who isn't a fan of dogs, trust me, she's going to afraid that he will bite her no matter what he does. Dogs can and do bite you whether their mouths are open beforehand or not. The friendliest looking dogs usually have their mouths open in a submissive grin. I would be a whole lot more afraid of a dog who approached me with a solemn, serious, closed mouth facial expression.

Is it possible that you are a little bit afraid of dogs yourself? I've honestly never heard of a dog's mouth being open being a concern or even noticed by any dog owner, ever, and i';ve talked to thousands of dog owners. If this is the biggest problem you have with your pup, count yourself very lucky, and by all means let it go. 

[Amy & Albee]

I shouldn't have posted, my mistake.

I understand you're trying to be helpful, and I appreciate your thought out response. Perhaps I've misrepresented what I was trying to communicate, it appears as though I have.

[BG and Gavin]

Sorry, but it does sound silly.

What is the temp like in your house?  Panting is either a response to heat or stress.  I assume that he is not under stress when being petted, so I would check the heat.  Also make sure he is getting lots of water.  If it is stress, that is a whole other thing.  Other than that I would do nothing.  He is a cutie.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

An open mouth can also indicate pleasure, too. If I scratch JD's ears or butt, or rub his belly, he always throws back his head, and opens his mouth, and the look on his face is pure ecstasy. I think that's a natural response. 

[Amy & Albee]

This is more similar to what Albee does. And I'm not asking to curb this enthusiasm, but when it means someone's hand is wet or making contact with his teeth - not a lot of people prefer this, at least the people I've encountered.

If we meet a small child during our walk - and they gently pet Albee, I would prefer for his mouth not to make contact with their hand - that is simply all I'm inquiring about.

And therefore, why I thought the training sub might be an appropriate place to ask this question.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It sounds like people are scratching, rubbing and petting Albee from the front of his head. Try doing it from behind his head, his mouth can't reach your hand that way. 

Children shouldn't be approaching him head on, standing in front of him or petting his face or head anyway. When you meet small children on a walk, have them approach him from the side and stroke his sides or back, not his head. 

[Amy & Albee]

Thanks for the tip!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Which reminds me - when people approach my guys to pet them (regardless of the size of the people) I put them into a sit first and then gently cup my hand around the person-side of the dog's mouth to keep them from trying to "taste" this new person. Yes, we're working on that, LOL.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is a good way to deal with it!

[Amy & Albee]

Good point, Jen.

I always have Albee sit too and try to tell the kids that he loves to have his sides rub. Kids aren't the best listeners sometimes, but we try! Lucky that Albee is a kind soul and the worst outcome is some licking!

[Amy & Albee]

Gavin,

I know it's silly. I appreciate your light-hearted response. I must have communicated my question wrong.

If I could relate his action to something common, I would correlate it to an excited dog jumping on people.

Our dog does not pant often or appear stressful. He only does this when he's excited and getting attention.

His mouth is wide open and sometimes he'll rest part of his teeth, tongue or half of his mouth on our hand.

Even though I haven't spoken with thousands of dog owners, we have had a couple of guests who have noticed this. Not everyone wants a slobbered hand from a gentle rub.

I fully know it is a non-issue problem, and I probably gave the wrong impression initially. Maybe it is considered mouthing?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's a natural state for many dogs, especially when they're hot or excited or stressed.  As Karen said, I would not try to correct this behavior.