Is Dog Cobbing Normal? Find Out Why Your Pup Does This!

Okay, so the other day I was hanging out with my dog, Max, and I noticed him doing this weird thing with his mouth. It looked like he was nibbling on air, almost like he had an invisible cob of corn. I'd seen him do it a few times before, but this time I was really curious, so I decided to figure out what was going on. This is what I did.

My "Cobbing" Investigation

First, I grabbed my phone and opened up Google. I typed in "dog nibbling air" and "dog biting at nothing." A bunch of stuff popped up, but the word "cobbing" kept appearing. Seemed like that was the term for what Max was doing.

Next, I started reading through some articles and forum posts. It turns out, cobbing can mean a few different things.

• Sometimes, it's just a sign of affection. Like, the dog is basically giving gentle little nibbles to show they love you.
• Other times, it can be because they're itchy. Maybe they have allergies or something irritating their skin.
• And, it can also be a sign of dental problems. Like, maybe something's stuck in their teeth or their gums are hurting.

So, after learning the cause, I examined Max. I started checking out. I looked closely at his teeth and gums. Everything looked pretty normal there – no obvious redness, swelling, or stuck food.

Then, I gave him a good once-over, checking his fur and skin. I didn't feel anything weird, no bumps or anything, but he did seem a little itchy around his neck.

Finally, I observed. I just watched. I paid attention to when he did the cobbing. It seemed like he did it most when we were cuddling on the couch, or when I was scratching his favorite spot under his chin.

Based on my thorough, super-scientific investigation (haha), I'm pretty sure Max's cobbing is just his way of showing affection. It's like his weird little love language. Of course, if it gets worse or he seems uncomfortable, I'll take him to the vet to get it checked out. But for now, I'm just going to assume he's telling me he loves me in his own quirky way. It is lovely, really.