Dog Ear Biting: Why Does My Dog Bite My Other Dogs Ear and How to Stop It

Okay, folks, let's dive into a little doggy drama I've been dealing with lately. My furry buddies, Max and Bailey, have always been thick as thieves, but recently, Max has developed this weird habit of biting Bailey's ears. Not hard, mind you, but enough to make Bailey yelp and me scratch my head.

Figuring Out the "Why"

First thing I did was observe them closely. When was this happening? What were they doing before, during, and after? I grabbed my notebook and started jotting down notes like a doggy detective.

• Playtime Frenzy: A lot of the ear-biting seemed to happen during their rough-and-tumble play sessions. They'd be wrestling, chasing each other, and then bam, Max would go for Bailey's ear.
• Attention-Seeking: Sometimes, Max would nip at Bailey's ear when Bailey was getting all the pets and cuddles. Jealousy, perhaps?
• Just Plain Bored?: If the ear biting wasn't happening in play. Max and Bailey would just both look bored.
• Too Much Energy: I noticed it was worse when they hadn't had a good, long walk or a solid play session in the yard. Like they were bursting with pent-up energy.

My Action Plan

Okay, so I had some clues. Now it was time to try and fix this.

Started with the basics. More exercise! I upped their walks, added in some extra fetch time, and even started doing some little training sessions in the backyard to tire them out mentally, too.

Next, I worked on interrupting the behavior. Whenever I saw Max going for Bailey's ear, I'd make a loud noise ("Ah-ah!") or clap my hands. Anything to distract him and break that focus. Then, I'd redirect them to something else – a chew toy, a quick game of tug-of-war, anything to get them engaged in something positive.

I also made sure to give them separate attention. I'd spend some one-on-one time with each dog, giving them pets, praise, and just general love. This seemed to help with any potential jealousy issues.

The Results (So Far)

It's been a work in progress, I'll admit. The ear-biting hasn't completely disappeared, but it's definitely decreased. The extra exercise has made a big difference, I think. They're both calmer and more relaxed overall.

The interruption and redirection are also working, slowly but surely. Max is starting to get the message that ear-biting isn't cool. And the separate attention seems to be keeping the peace between them.

I'm still keeping a close eye on them, of course. Dog behavior is a complex thing, and I'm no expert. But I'm learning as I go, and I'm committed to making sure my furry friends are happy and harmonious. If things don't continue to improve, I might even call in a professional dog trainer for some extra guidance. But for now, I'm feeling pretty good about the progress we've made!