First there was Frito feet, now there's "corn cobbing" (nibbling)

[Color_of_Light]

Does anyone else’s dog “cob” them? Gentle little nibbles mixed with licks. Actually looked this up online other day…it’s not uncommon and people say the cobbing is affection ate behavior and/or accepting behavior. My adorable, very afectionate little 9 lb, 2-3 yr old dog whom I adopted a few months ago started this a month ago when we’d hug. I’d be giving him stritches while hugging and loving on each other and he’d give me nibs at my hairline behind my ear. Now he does it on my hand, lick, cob, lick, cob cob cob for a minute, as I scritch, cuddle, snuggle, scritch scritch scritch. Then he snuggles up and drifts off to sleep.

Reminds me a bit of a horse that wants to groom you when you are scratching its crest.

At first I was taken aback, since not sure if I should discourage the behavior, if it was sign of dominance. In this case, I really don’t think so. He doesn’t bark, growl, nip, bite. He’s a lover through and through. There is not an aggressive bone in this body, unless it’s this one and I didn’t know it?

[csaper58]

Yup, I always called it chewing my fleas It is grooming/bonding behavior. He LOVES you!!!

[cowboymom]

Our GSD does this to us when we come home

[Color_of_Light]

Aw! And I love him back! He is a rescue and was very insecure and scared at the beginning. About the time he started the nibbles, I feel like that’s when his behavior changed, he knew he has a forever home and felt secure.

[yaya]

I always heard it called “flea biting”.

[Chall]

I recall my childhood dog* delicately nibbling the band-aid off my Mom’s finger.
She was helping fix my Mom’s “wound”.

Edited to add: DOH. I forgot the word"dog". I did not nibble band-aids of my Mom’s finger.

[GraceLikeRain]

For mine flea biting gets him amped up leading to more flea biting. Sometimes I can trigger it if I get a good itchy spot but it most often happens when he is wound up and super excited. I think it is just about the cutest thing ever.

[Field_of_Dreams_Mini]

My JRT does this- we call it “lovey bites”.

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;8429857]
For mine flea biting gets him amped up leading to more flea biting. Sometimes I can trigger it if I get a good itchy spot but it most often happens when he is wound up and super excited. I think it is just about the cutest thing ever.[/QUOTE]

Ok but what about corn cobbing on your bottom lip? :eek:

My puppy does this when he’s greeting me, more so when he’s SUPER excited. I have done just about everything to discourage him (it’s like being kissed by a porcupine) to no avail. I’m kind of at my wits end. I suppose he will grow out of it, at least in intensity, but sheesh–will there be no kisses until he’s 3??

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=Sswor;8433814]
Ok but what about corn cobbing on your bottom lip? :eek:

My puppy does this when he’s greeting me, more so when he’s SUPER excited. I have done just about everything to discourage him (it’s like being kissed by a porcupine) to no avail. I’m kind of at my wits end. I suppose he will grow out of it, at least in intensity, but sheesh–will there be no kisses until he’s 3??[/QUOTE]

Thats not corn cobbing…that’s Porcupining!:lol: Maybe see him coming and bite him back on the nose? Kidding! Don’t bend over and put face near him?

Since sounds like consistently happening…prepare a reaction in advance. No idea if these would work…You could try making some awful sound (with your mouth or with something else (not sure what…scary recording on phone?). How about flipping him over on his back and holding him down? If you’re standing and then bending over to pet him, you could gently flip him over/off of you with your knee. Gently squeeze his mouth with your hand so he bites his tongue and make discouraging sound?

Again, no idea if any would work.

[Sswor]

@Color of Light;8434507

Don’t bend over and put face near him?

Yeah, probably. Sigh.

He’s using it as a submissive behavior, clearly, as the intensity of his cobbing efforts get worse if I make any disapproving noises. He will try to do it on his back too, with no resistance to being held that way whatsoever, meanwhile feverishly attempting to cob me. Lol @“cob me”. He only does it when he’s amped up so I suppose I should just avoid face time during those times. Easier said then done with a Jack in your lap :lol:

[GraceLikeRain]

I have one who “cobs” more when corrected. The face would be a bit much though! What if you offered him a forearm or something else as an alternative?

[vtdobes]

My male Doberman does this all the time to my female Doberman that sometimes I get after him about it. She however would never stoop so low to do it back to him.

He does it so much that her neck on both sides is all marked up. She’s a blue so doesn’t have much hair to begin with. UGH poor girlie!!!

[Sswor]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;8434716]
I have one who “cobs” more when corrected. The face would be a bit much though! What if you offered him a forearm or something else as an alternative?[/QUOTE]

I’d even settle for necking!

[Sswor]

Just wanted to bump this back up and say I discovered a cure for lip cobbing–zerbert! A big, loud, energetic zerbert seems to be doing the trick. He’s thoroughly perplexed and then collapses into a delighted shower of flirty kisses, with tail a wagging and no pokey teeth

[csaper58]

Zerbert???

[Sswor]

A raspberry?

[AddieMarie]

Yes! My 1.5 year old yellow lab (she of the Frito feet) nibbles. First, she tries to bite my acrylic nails off. When that doesn’t work, she corn cob nibbles. So cute.