A dog muzzle punch is when your dog intentionally punches you on different areas of your body with its mouth closed. This bump can be very powerful and can cause your dog to bleed on its nose.
A dog muzzle punch often happens when your dog is in a playful mood and calls you to play with him.
Not always will it be a friendly invitation. It is wise to back off if you feel that the muzzle punch is more forceful than usual. Your dog might be ready to bite if you don’t.
If your dog muzzle punches a stranger who is a guest, then it is an indication that he/she must maintain distance from your dog. When dogs feel that someone could be a threat, they will challenge them. This muzzle punch could be a sign of challenge, and the next step might be snapping or biting.
If your dog does this often, you don’t have to worry about it much. It is not always the same with all dogs. Sometimes a dog might look playful and be angry at a guest for no reason. You need to closely track your dog’s body language to know what they are trying.
Why does my Dog Punch me?
Punching can happen on various occasions. Dogs mostly do this to seek the attention of the owner. If your dog punches you when you are away from him, it means he wants your attention.
You can easily identify this point because it will be gentle and friendly. This is not a random punch. Dogs mostly punch the back of your left hand just to remind you that you have been missing out on something.
If your dog is recently denied something that they love, then they might approach you for it. If you have been busy with work recently, then you might have noticed your dog doing this often too. This is not anything that you should be afraid of. This is just a friendly reminder from your dog to give him some attention and time.
How to stop a dog from Muzzle Punching?
As mentioned before, there can be several reasons for your dog to muzzle punch. You can stop your dog from punching if you find out the reason and rectify it. If you cannot find out the problem, you can also take your dog for some therapy or training. Before you do so, look at the reasons we have listed below. If you relate to any of it, you can try to solve the problem yourself.
Reasons for your Dog to Muzzle Punch:
Let us have a look at the reasons one by one,
- He might be defending his territory from other dogs. Dogs punch not only humans but also other dogs. When you take your dog for a walk, you might have seen your dog furiously running and barking at other dogs and urinating all the way home. This is a sign of defending his territory. Male dogs mostly do this. A punch might also be a sign of this.
- Whenever a guest or someone new comes to the house. A dog will first think that the house is in danger. He tries to protect it. It is normally an owner’s job to calm down the dog. What if you fail to do that? Then we might attack the stranger as a precaution.
- He may not want to share his toys for food. Some dogs get possessive about their toys, and a portion of food is shared with another dog. This mostly happens when you buy a new puppy. You must be careful after getting a new puppy for the first few weeks.
- If a dog is afraid, then it will choose to attack. If your dog is afraid of some sudden noises and movements, it will prepare itself for a fight. This makes a dog attack the source of the sound.
- Sometimes the dog might see strangers as a challenge. When some dogs get friendly and play with strangers, they might punch them as a sign of a challenge. This challenge is not serious, but if your dog is stone-faced, get him out of that place before he turns furious.
- If you have stopped giving your dog treats recently, he will often remind you of the trips you used to give by muzzle punching your hand. This is also a kind of attention-seeking, but in this case, not for your time but for the treats or something he used to get.
- Some dogs might also bump their noses as a sign of pain. If it is a sign of pain, your dog will not be active. Time for you to take him to the vet.
- During their mating period, some dogs do this to grab their owners’ attention. If you have two or more dogs, you might have noticed this behavior within female and male dogs.
Dog Muzzle Punches Baby? Here is What to do
This is most common in households with small babies. There might be two main reasons for it.
One is that the dog might be scared or disturbed by the sudden cries of the baby. He might also dislike the baby constantly disturbing him. Some dogs start loving their baby siblings quickly. It does not have to be the same for all dogs, but some might take time.
Another reason is that your pup might be missing all the attention he was getting. So, as a result of frustration, he might be muzzle-punching the baby.
The solution is really simple, and it completely lies in your hands. Dogs are just like babies. You just have to give them what they want. Try to make them get close and used to the baby.
To wrap up
Some dogs might require special treatment, and some do not; however, muzzle punching does not have to be a regular occurrence. If their ‘punching’ is occasional, your dog might just be attention seeking, but if it is constant, you might want to take further action and get your doggy some help.