28/08/2026
That little nibbling, chewing or almost “biting” at their own body can be so easy to overlook.
But what is actually going on?
Dogs may nibble, lick or chew because something doesn’t feel right. It could be pain, muscle soreness, joint pain, nerve discomfort, inflammation, itching, skin irritation or another physical problem.
Sometimes they are trying to soothe or change the sensation they are feeling.
Think about when we rub a sore shoulder or scratch an itch. Our dogs can do something very similar.
And this is where I think we need to stop looking at the behaviour in isolation.
If your dog is repeatedly nibbling or chewing at themselves, I want to know WHY.
Not just “they must have allergies”.
Not just “they’re cleaning themselves”.
There may be a reason they are doing it, and our job is to find that reason.
If you’re seeing this regularly, take videos and note where they are nibbling, when it happens and what else you notice around it.
Then get the right people involved.
💗 Skin or itching concerns → your vet, and potentially a veterinary dermatologist
💗 Muscle or soft tissue pain → your vet and a qualified canine rehabilitation professional / physiotherapist
💗 Joint pain or arthritis → your vet for diagnosis and pain management, alongside rehabilitation/physiotherapy where appropriate
💗 Suspected nerve or complex/chronic pain → your vet may refer you to a veterinary pain specialist or appropriate veterinary referral service
And sometimes it takes more than one professional to put the puzzle together.
That’s okay.
Pain can be complicated.
As a behaviour professional, I never want to simply train a behaviour away when there could be a physical reason behind it.
My dogs have taught me that the tiny things matter.
They can’t say “my hip hurts today” or “something feels strange here”.
But they can show me.
We just have to be willing to listen 💗🐾
