Reply To: What does this mean??

[Leo Durocher]

Thank you Allie!!

I started digging into those two things.. And it didn’t seem to line up with what Nellie (my dog who does this) behavior.

What I did find that might be more in line was the following:

When Nellie is licking and I tell her enough, she could have anxiety cause I stopped her.. I tend to think is more inline with Excitement and lastly it could be feeling threatened cause I am telling her enough..

<Source site: https://www.hepper.com/dogs-teeth-chattering-what-to-do/ >

1. Fear and Anxiety

The chattering could also be your dog’s way of trying to tell you that he or she is upset and in some kind of distress. Your dog might start chattering in response to a stressful event, such as going to the vet, or they could be suffering from separation anxiety when you leave for work.

Depending on how severe your dog’s anxiety is, you might need to find solutions that will help alleviate any stress. For example, if your dog park is close to noisy traffic and you suspect that could be adding to their anxiety, try to find a quieter park. You can also try using a two-way camera with audio to monitor, talk to, and listen to your dog while you’re away to help manage separation anxiety episodes.

In some cases, using medication prescribed by your vet and/or finding a dog behaviorist could help ease some of your dog’s stress.

<hr>
2. Excitement

Many dogs will start chattering their teeth to show how happy and excited they are. They might chatter in anticipation, like before you throw the ball or when you’re about to give them a treat. Maybe your dog regularly chatters their teeth when you come home or while waiting for you to feed her.

Chattering as a result of excitement usually goes away once the source of the excitement is gone (for example, once your dog gets their food, the chattering would stop).

<hr>
3. When Feeling Threatened

This is similar to when a dog feels anxiety and fear, but in this case, your dog might be sending a warning signal to other dogs. This may also be accompanied by licking of the lips. Teeth chattering is a subtle way of letting other dogs know that they are feeling threatened, and may dissuade an aggressive dog from approaching them.

At other times, your dog might be threatened by a new object that’s been introduced to them. In situations like these, you may notice your dog perform actions such as yawning, scratching, or even chattering their teeth. Such an action is known as displacement behavior. Displacement behaviors are defined as normal behaviors that seem displaced and are out of context. An example of this is when a dog is afraid of an object and yet wants to approach it but will yawn or scratch herself instead. Teeth chattering is a more subtle way of letting other dogs know that she is feeling threatened, and it actually helps the threatening dog to stay calm.

hepper.com

Dog’s Teeth Chattering: 10 Vet Reviewed Reasons & What to Do

Vet approved Reviewed & Fact-Checked By Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Veterinarian) The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Learn more » Has your dog ever started chattering her teeth, and you thought maybe it … Continue reading