• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered by Rover.com

Just another The Dog People by Rover.com Sites site

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Bonding
  • Dog Care
  • Dog-friendly places
    • London
    • Birmingham
    • Edinburgh
    • Manchester
    • Liverpool
  • Shopping
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Toys and Chews
  • Dog Names
    • The 200 Most Popular Dog Names in the UK
    • Rover’s Dog Name Generator
    • The Best 250 Girl Dog Names in the UK
    • 68 Literary Dog Names for Bookish Dog Lovers
    • 16 Perfect Batman Dog Names
    • The Most Romantic Dog Names Ever
    • Popular Irish Dog Names
  • For Cat People
  • For Dog People
  • Try Rover
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-US
    • en-CA
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

Why Do Dogs Bite at Our Ankles and Feet?

Share0Pin It0

Why Do Dogs Bite at Our Ankles and Feet?

Dog Love
By Rover Staff

Share0Tweet0Pin It0

What do all these breeds have in common? Corgi, Great Pyrenees, Aussie, Border collie, dachshund, Bernese mountain dogs, Maremma sheepdogs, heelers—all of these dogs (or mixes) were bred to do a specific job. Historically, they acted as farm security guards, tunnelled for vermin, or herded livestock.

Why Dogs Bite Ankles and Feet

Most herding dogs, like those mentioned above, will sometimes nip at a person’s feet or heels. Essentially, they’re trying to herd you, and they’re mimicking the livestock herding behaviour they were originally bred for. Anyone running around or playing vigorously is likely to be on the receiving end. It shouldn’t be shocking to anyone, for instance, to hear about a corgi nipping at the heels of their owner.

Advertisement

While these are natural behaviours for puppies, it’s important to redirect their behaviour.

Hard-Wired to Herd

Certain canine behaviour is “hard-wired.” For example, our dachshunds are hard-wired to dig holes and this is their favourite past-time! 

Training experts explain advise to redirect herding breed puppies, and remove the reward of your attention when they nip or bite.

“Teach your dog to play with a tug at your side. Redirecting the dog’s natural tendency to chase and bite at things keeps your legs safe and builds great toy drive, a valuable conditioned reinforcer for many dogs!” -ClickerTraining

With that in mind, these working dogs need a job. If they’re not herding, giving them stimulating activities and challenging problems to solve will help.  

Don’t Add Fuel to the Fire

And how are you reacting to the being herded? Are you adding fuel to the fire?

The more people react to the behaviour by running and yelling, the more your dog thinks this is a game. It’s better to correct this behaviour as soon as it starts and there are lots of techniques that work. 

Enrichment for Herding Breeds 

How should we eliminate the problem? Enrichment opportunities can come in the form of toys, playmates, food, games, and training. The goal is to give pets more control over their lives. Your working dog may simply be bored. If your dog does get bored or lonely when you’re gone and you can’t be around to provide the mental and physical enrichment your dog needs for whatever reason, you can find a loving sitter who offers dog boarding on Rover.com. 

Control the nipping: 

  • Herding dogs often enjoy rolling and chasing balls in an outdoor enclosure. Think: yoga balls or exercise balls. Herding this ball around a large green space is great enrichment.
  • To stop your puppy from nipping at your heels, keep a favourite toy in your pocket. When she does bite, stop moving, then wave the toy around to distract her until she latches onto it.
  • Hanging toys! Using a rope tie a large, durable toy to a tree. This should be supervised.

What about making an animal’s environment more interesting?

Give a friend that has farm animals an old T-shirt or stuffed animal and have them leave it near the farm until it’s super-smelly. After several days, give this to your pet as olfactory enrichment. Perhaps this stinky T-shirt can be wrapped around that tug toy!

Also, consider an enrichment schedule for your four-legged friend. Every day of the week, mark an activity for them ranging from toy to food and environmental enrichment.

Safety first, of course! Supervise any new enrichment activities to ensure they’re not a hazard to your pet. 

Training experts and co-authors of Beyond Squeaky Toys provide valuable advice for pet parents. Their recommended schedule has a ton of ways to set your dog up for success. An example plan:

  • Sensory: peppermint scent
  • Social: dog park
  • Feeding: feed meals out of puzzle toys
  • Toys: rubber toys

You just need some imagination! No one wants to go for a walk with their ankle-biting puppy or adult dog. Redirecting is easy, but you need time and patience.

Just don’t blame your dog for behaving in ways that are natural for them. Instead, find other great games.

Further reading

  • Our Top 8 Healthy Training Treats
  • The Secret to Clicker Training: How to Make it Work for You and Your Dog
  • Bell Training for Dogs: It Really Works. Here’s How.
  • Don’t Call it ‘Treat Training’: Why and How to Use Rewards in Dog Training
  • 10 Best Puzzle Toys that Actually Help Bored Dogs
  • 21 Simple Tricks to Make Your Dog Happier, Smarter, and Less Bored Every Day
  • Bored Dogs: How to Recognise Doggy Boredom (and Help!)
  • 7 Chew Toys for Puppies That’ll Save Your Shoes
  • How Long Can You Leave a Puppy Alone?

Share0Tweet0Pin It0

sidebar

Avatar photo
By Rover Staff

Share This Article

Share0Tweet0Pin It0

Popular Posts

  • How to bond with your dog
  • 6 Tips for Training Your Territorial Dog
  • Cat Diarrhoea: What Causes It and How To Make It Stop
  • My Cat Is Shy or Scared: How Do I Get My Cat To Trust Me?
  • 12 Signs Your Dog Loves You, and Why
  • 8 Reasons Why Your Cat Licks You
  • Why Do Cats’ Eyes Glow in The Dark?
  • All You Need To Know About Neutering Your Cat
  • The 20 Best Dog Breeds for Every Type of Family and Kid
  • Why Is My Cat Shaking? Find Out Why And How To Help

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Sitter Resources
  • Terms of Service
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Download the App
  • In The Press
  • Advertise With Us

Need Help?

  • Help Center
Your privacy choices
© 2023 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.
"Mmmm... cookies!"

While slightly less delicious than physical cookies, digital cookies help us enhance and personalize your ads and experience, analyze website traffic, and more.