In addition to playing tug-of-war with their favorite rope and chasing one another around the yard, dogs also like biting each other’s ears, as you may have seen.
The good news is that if your pups aren’t snarling or acting aggressively, the dog biting ears action is just dog play.
It’s very uncommon for dog owners to ask why their pet’s ears keep being bitten, and what they can do to stop it.
Meaning of Dog Biting Ears Behavior
Because they’re playing or acting aggressively, dogs may bite another dog’s ear.
Play biting dog ears, it is when a dog’s mouth hovers over the ear, dousing it with saliva but seldom biting down hard enough to leave a mark.
Play ear biting may be difficult to tell apart from hostility since one dog is usually dominant over the other during play ear bites.
Snarls and growls may also be heard from the dogs during playtime.
To help you better grasp what it means when a dog bites another dog’s ear, we’ll go into dog play and aggressiveness in further depth in the following sections.
Why Do Dogs Bite Ears When Playing?
What could be more adorable than two pups playing together?
Puppy play teaches them essential skills. Like how much pressure they can apply while biting one another’s ears during play, in addition to bringing you delight.
It is common for dogs to bite one other’s ears for two main reasons:
- Using it as a toy is simple since it’s so close to the body’s surface.
- One dog employs ear-biting as a form of dominance in good dog partnerships.
Even if a little dog is pinned under a large dog, dog play is frequently about having fun, even if it’s a challenge.
Using ear biting as a form of dog bonding may also inspire canines to play with other dogs.
Keep a tight check on your dog’s conduct when he or she meets a new dog. Ear-biting may quickly develop if the dog forgets his or her puppy training and bites too hard.
Even a little bite may cause a lot of blood to gush out of your dog’s ear, making it an unnerving sight to watch.
In reality, the continual movement of the ear makes it more difficult for blood to coagulate. Which is why your dog’s ear bleeds more than a bite on another area of the body.
Indications that Your Dogs Want to Play
Keep a watch out for these obvious symptoms of dog play if you’re unsure whether your furry companion is comfortable with Fido pulling on her ears.
- Tail wagging.
- Without yelling, they were biting and clinking their teeth at each other’s mouths.
- Allowing a dog to take control of them by back-rolling.
- Pushing their head to the ground while sticking their buttocks in the air.
- A last-second dash to avoid the other dog’s snarling attack.
There are a few tell-tale indicators that you may pay attention to in order to determine whether or not two or more dogs are interested in playing together.
For example, dogs may assume a squatting position, with their bottoms up and their heads down toward the ground, in preparation for play.
In addition to this, their tails will be wagging rapidly, and they may start bouncing up and down with excitement.
Additionally, although some dogs may charge towards other dogs eager to meet each other and get to know each other. Other dogs may roll over onto their backs and surrender to the dominant dog in the pack.
It’s possible that other dogs may mouth-bite you, which means that they won’t really bite or damage you. But you still need to be aware of whether or not the other dog is okay with this behavior.
If you control your dog that is biting the ears and pull them back, and the other dog continues to come towards them to play, then it is apparent that the other dog does not mind the behavior, and it just perceives it as an invitation to play!
An alternative test is to keep your dog from biting the other dog’s ears while you hold on to his collar.
Roughhousing is fun if the dog refuses to leave or returns after he’s gone.
Aggressive Dog Biting Ears of Other Dogs
Does your dog bite on the ear of another dog? The delicate skin on your dog’s ears, which feel like they belong to a puppy, is probably well-known to you.
Therefore, a dog’s ears might be bitten off by an aggressive canine, which could result in major lacerations.
Since dogs can easily wrap their mouths around their ears, it’s little surprise they attack the ear during a fight.
Aggressive dogs, such when they play, bite their ears to display their might.
Whether you come across a stray dog on the street or your dog suddenly demonstrates aggressive ear-biting behavior against another dog, here are several possible causes.
- Pain
- Fear
- Pursuing and capturing a prey
- Strong attachment to a person, place, or object
Nipping at the ears is not often done with the intention of causing discomfort. Dogs are trained to apply the appropriate amount of pressure when they bite.
Unfortunately, some dogs might develop an aggressive disposition. At which point they may bare their fangs and actually bite down on another dog, which can result in wounds or the loss of blood.
Dogs will aggressively bite other dogs’ ears for the same reason that dogs would nip at each other’s ears. That is to establish their superiority over the other dog and to coerce them into submission.
In addition to this, it is a method for causing another dog to feel both fear and pain.
Possessiveness is another factor that might contribute to aggressive ear biting behavior.
For instance, if another dog comes by in the park and picks up your dog’s ball, they may respond by attacking and biting down on the ears as a warning. This may also happen if another dog comes by and takes up their own ball.
The inherent inclinations of certain dogs might also cause them to behave aggressively. Because dogs are descended from wolves, they have an innate urge to hunt. And because of this, they occasionally let their instincts get the best of them and attack other dogs.
You should always make it a point to stop biting before it gets to this stage. This is the most crucial thing to keep in mind.
Because of this, it is very necessary to educate them to break the habit. And you should also make it a point to seek for signals that your dog is not going to turn hostile before the unavoidable occurs.
If the dogs begin to fight, find a safe method to separate them as fast as possible by dividing them with an item so that you (and ideally a spectator) can seize their collars.
Ear injuries may be avoided if you respond quickly enough.
Dogs that bite their playmate’s ears too hard may be showing signs of aggression, such as:
- Growling and snarling
- Including the gums in the display of the teeth.
- Raised hairs on their backs
- Flattened ears
Dog Ear Bite Prevention: How Can You Help?
In the event that your dog gets carried away when playing, the following tips will help you keep them under control.
1. Distraction
A quick clap or whistle might jolt your dog out of an overly aggressive biting mood.
You want the sound to be distinct from what the dog is used to hearing in order to be most successful in your efforts.
2. The Wheelbarrow Walk
As a last resort, you may elevate the dogs’ rear legs as you would while taking a wheelbarrow stroll with children to calm them down.
One person will be needed for each dog.
3. Physical Barrier
It doesn’t matter what kind of item you use to separate your dogs: a broom or chair, or even a neighboring piece of furniture.
4. Make Use Of Water
Splash the aggressive dog(s) with a nearby hose that’s been opened to the valve.
An alternative is to use a spray bottle inside to get rid of the molds.
When Does It Hurt If Two Dogs Bite Each Other?
The majority of the time, dogs will bite each other while play fighting. During this kind of play fighting, the dogs will continue to attack each other. They will also take frequent pauses from one another to signal that they are not fighting.
In most cases, they are able to comprehend from an early age the appropriate amount of pressure to use while biting for the objective of the bite.
It is possible that you may get involved in a dog fight if the dogs that are now chewing one another’s ears do not take frequent pauses. Dog chewing ears of another dog should be stopped and be trained not to do so.
It is preferable to break up the fight, separate the dogs, and let the other dog owners know what is going on.
If the dogs start yelping at each other or if you see one of them trying to get away from the other one, it is your responsibility as the owner of one of the dogs to intervene.
But as long as there are no obvious indications of blood or anger, the dogs are merely play fighting. And you have absolutely nothing to be concerned about.
Should You Be Concerned When Dog Bites Other Ears of Dogs?
This is conditional on the following scenarios:
- Are you comfortable letting these other canines play with yours? In such a case, it is strongly recommended that you keep a close eye on what they are doing while they play.
- Is there any evidence of blood that you can see? Stop playing immediately if there is blood, and clean up the dog that is bleeding out. If there is blood, stop playing immediately.
- If the biting is starting to get more aggressive, it can be the indicator that it’s time to call a halt to the game.
- Teaching your dog what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do when playing together may help prevent injuries in the future.
Although it is common for dogs to nip at one another’s ears, it is possible for some dogs to inadvertently give their companions ear infections by inserting their tongues too deeply.
Because of this, it is essential to periodically take your dog to the veterinarian for checks and inspections.
It is important to keep in mind that if your dog does not draw blood when playing with another dog and the other dog is not yelping or cringing, then it is likely that they are simply having some fun with it.
On the other hand, if it becomes rough and any of the dogs alter their demeanor, then it has the potential to become more aggressive and has to be halted immediately.
Nipping at the ears of another dog is often done in order to invite that dog to play with them and encourage them to do so.
You only need to be able to determine whether or not the dogs are simply playing rough or whether they are in fact engaged in a fight.
Immediately deliver the dog bitten on the ear to the veterinary clinic to tend the wounds and avoid further problems.
Final Thoughts
You may have seen that certain dogs, including your own dog, will attempt to bite the ears of other dogs.
During play fighting, the majority of the time, this is done as a method of establishing control over the other dog as well as an attempt to entice the other dog to play.
Dogs have a high level of intelligence. And since they see biting as a kind of play rather than a means to an end, they do not generally apply enough pressure to their bites to inflict harm.
If, on the other hand, your dog bites at other dogs’ ears in an aggressive manner, you will need to teach them to stop doing so. If they continue to do so, they may start a real dog fight or damage the dogs of other people.
We appreciate you taking the time to read and use the information that we have given. Is there anything else that we haven’t written about this dog biting ears topic?
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