Top 17 Mouthy Dog Breeds Of All-Time (Updated 2023)

Does your dog use their mouths around you a little too often than you’d like?

It’s normal dog behavior.

Regardless, you can observe it more from some dog breeds.

Wanna find out if you can spot your pooch on the list? 

Just…

Read on to find out:

• Why these breeds are mouthy.
• 17 mouthy dog breeds of all time.
• How to decrease your dog’s mouthiness.
• And many more…

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Top 17 mouthy dog breeds

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#1: Labrador Retrievers

Labs have been topping the most popular dog breeds list for 28 years now. That’s according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

And it’s easy to understand why with their sweet and loving nature.

However, many Labrador owners would testify that these dogs tend to be mouthy.

That’s because it’s what they were bred to do. 

Historically, they’re a working breed that often worked with fishermen. Their work includes fetching ropes, hauling nets, and retrieving fish. 

They’re also bred as hunting companions.

And hunters greatly prized them. They could retrieve without breaking or damaging what they fetched. That’s despite them having endless energy.

Now, to prevent them from mouthing too much, your Lab needs enough exercise.

A 30 to 60 minutes walk can use up their huge energy stores. 

Moreover, plenty of dog experts also agree that puppy training and obedience classes would be highly beneficial for them. 

Luckily, Labs are always eager to please. So training classes can be fun for both you and your pup. And with that, you can expect rewarding results. 

#2: American Pit Bull Terriers

Pit Bulls have had a bad rap. Many people are afraid of them because of the myth of their “locking jaws.”

But did you know? This breed is one of the least aggressive dogs out there. 

Take it from a test conducted by the American Temperament Test Society.

There, Pit Bulls had a rating of 86.4%. And their rating is higher than other popular sweet breeds. I’m talking about Golden Retrievers and Corgis.

Some people, though, experience issues with their mouthiness.

But that’s from their breeding.

At one point, they were used as farm dogs to herd cattle.

At another, they were hunting companions. 

Moreover, they were also bred for dogfighting.

Now, how can you prevent your mouthy Pit Bull from being wrongly judged?

One of the best ways is to give them tough chew toys or tugging toys. 

Give them more stimulation. You can do so by playing plenty of throw and fetch games. Those will burn off their surplus energy.

Moreover, socialization and training would also work well. They’ll have your Pit Bull understand that too much mouthing isn’t good.

#3: Golden Retriever

Before they became family dogs, Golden Retrievers were already well-known. 

That’s for their talent to retrieve game without damaging the feathers or fur of the animal.

You see, their mouths are so soft. So much that they can hold a raw egg in their mouths without cracking it. 

Goldens also mature much more slowly than other breeds. That’s why their mouthing can continue way into adulthood.

Given that, it would be better for you to train your pup to what is acceptable. Do that instead of forcing the behavior out of them.

And one way to do that is by giving them toys to sink their teeth into. 

Soft toys like plush toys or stuffed animals are often favorites of Goldens.

If they start going for your hand, redirect their attention to their toys. Say “No” or “Eh-eh” and only reward them after they stop biting. 

This will teach them that they can only get good things if they stop nipping or biting. 

#4: Poodles

Because of their luscious locks, Poodles are generally admired for their beauty. 

But behind those graceful locks is a mischievous personality. And that can manifest in mouthing.

Now, why do they do that?

Unfortunately, Poodles turn to mouthing if they don’t get enough stimulation. And you can observe this even in adult Poodles. 

But let me tell you…

Poodles are very intelligent dogs. 

In fact, they rank as the second most intelligent dog breed. That’s according to Stanley Coren, a renowned canine psychologist.

That’s why training them to stop mouthing or biting will be easy. 

So provide them with plenty of dog games and train them early on to bite softly in play.

#5: Bernese Mountain Dog

The Berner was originally bred for farm life. 

They drove cattle, pulled carts, and protected the family. 

That’s why they’re often recognized as good-mannered. But they’re also one of the most known mouthy dogs out there. 

As they grow older, this behavior can decrease. But it might remain for some. 

So to discourage nipping or biting, some owners would take their Berners on a time-out. 

To do this, stop your interaction with your dog when they start biting. You can also take them to their cage.

Another way you can do this is by taking all their toys. Then, walk out of the room. 

Eventually, your Berner will learn that there’ll be no fun if they keep biting.

#6: German Shepherd

German Shepherds always snag a spot in the top 10 of the most popular dogs. That’s from AKC’s yearly list.

However, they’re also known as mouthy pooches.

It’s because it’s in their heritage. 

Historically, they were herding dogs for sheep.

They used their mouths as an extension of their body to keep the sheep in line. 

But that doesn’t mean you should allow the behavior. 

As they grow older and bigger, their nips and bites can turn more painful.

According to AKC, you should train them from an early age. Teach them to not bite your hand or chew on furniture.

Moreover, redirect these instincts of theirs to other things. Giving them toys to chew or having them dedicate their energy to walks can do the trick.

#7: Chow Chow

Chow Chows were originally hunting and guarding dogs. 

Because of this, they can be very mouthy, especially in their puppy stage. 

They can be also very territorial.

And Chow Chows don’t do well with strangers or other dogs.

That’s why it’s important to address your Chow Chow’s mouthing as early as possible. 

And don’t fret much…

This breed responds really well to positive reinforcement. 

You can try walking away when they start to bite. This immediately stops the fun and tells them “No more.”

You can also yelp to signal them that they’re biting too hard. 

When doing that, don’t pull away immediately. They can bite harder. 

Wait until they let it go before rewarding them. 

Also, avoid punishment as much as possible. That’s because this can get your pup to act aggressively.

#8: Doberman

Dobermans usually get the stereotype that they’re vicious and aggressive. 

The truth is they’re gentle, loving guard dogs. That’s sure with the right training and upbringing.

But when they’re too excited, they can turn to nip or bite you. 

They’re also very protective. So their mouthing can turn into harmful bites if not addressed. 

How do you prevent that?

Dobermans have huge energy stores. So they need lots of exercise and mental challenges.

It’s also important to properly socialize them and train them.

#9: Maltese

Maltese have a lot of energy. 

They also love plenty of human attention. That’s why they’re prone to suffering from separation anxiety. 

These conditions can also often manifest in hyperactivity. Which can result in biting or nipping. 

And that’s why they need to be properly socialized and trained to lessen their biting. 

So take them out for long walks and play with them often. 

And you need to address their separation anxiety, too. You can do so by first letting them get used to you being away. 

Try starting by staying in another room for a minute. Then, as time goes by, extend the time you’re away. 

Practice doing this exercise before you go out. This will help reassure your pup that you’ll always come back to them. 

Lastly, try crate training them. This will train them to find comfort in your home, even when you’re not physically there.

#10: Pyrenean Shepherd

Pyrenean dogs were herding dogs in their past lives. 

Did you know? They can easily run 25 miles a day. 

That’s due to their very high energy levels. 

And if not released, this can result in chewing on things, nipping, or even biting. 

They’re also extremely intelligent and curious. 

The problem is that they can become stubborn, shy, or timid when they feel pressured. 

And that can make them easily frustrated, which can lead to lashing out. 

So when training them to stop biting or nipping, keep your training sessions short. 

#11: Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are known to be small pups with huge personalities. 

And if not trained early, they might not know their limits. Play biting or nipping at you can be a sign of this lack of training.

One way you can make them understand this limit is to play games with them. Choose those that keep hands and mouths far away from each other. 

Think of games like fetch. 

You can also redirect their attention from your hands to chew toys. In this instance, use treats to reinforce the behavior. 

Moreover, Chihuahuas are also great with puzzle toys. 

With these, they’ll use their nose and mouth on the toy rather than your hand.

#12: Beagle

A Beagle’s size might make them seem like they’re great for kids. However, that’s not always the case. 

Why?

Well, Beagles can be mouthy when they want to play. 

Separation anxiety can also cause them to nip your ankles or feet. You can notice this before you leave the house.

All in all, these behaviors can be scary to kids. 

With that, you must discourage your Beagle from these behaviors. Do so by training your Beagle. And this will lessen their mouthing behaviors. 

Beagles are also great at sniffing things out. They have one of the most powerful noses out there.

So you can also distract them with scents. 

Try hiding a treat out on your lawn and have them find it. This will keep their mind off biting and use up their high-energy stores.

#13: Akita

Let’s have a little history lesson from AKC about Akitas.

Back in feudal Japan, they were used to guard royalty and nobility. They were also used for hunting deer, wild boar, and black bears. 

They have very strong and intelligent personalities and can be very stubborn. 

One trait of theirs some people find charming is their mouthing. 

They love putting things in their mouth. And that also includes your hand. 

Why do they do this?

Most of the time, they want to head out for a walk. 

Or they might be leading you to their food bowl. 

Now, I understand…

Sometimes, this cute behavior can be annoying, too.

So to correct this, you can train them to grab other items instead. 

They’ll happily fetch you your slippers or the morning newspaper if you train them.

Be prepared for a long training period, though. The stubbornness of this breed can slow the training process. 

Also, Akitas don’t respond well to harsh training. That’s because punishment and harsh training methods can feed into their natural aggressiveness.

#14: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Spaniels have always been related to royalty. 

While they may always look prim and proper, Spaniels can also have issues with mouthiness. 

And when they’re stressed or anxious, they can be prone to biting or nipping.

They can also get mouthy when they get too carried away in play. 

But one way you can prevent this is through the yelping method I mentioned earlier. 

Moreover, Spaniels also love having something to hold.

Instead of it being your hand, offer a toy. Then praise them or give them a treat for taking it.

#15: Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dogs are also called fisherman’s dogs. 

They used to work with Portuguese fishermen on fishing boats. They also used to carry messages. 

Given that history told by AKC, these dogs are used to having something in their mouth. 

To stop this behavior, provide your pooch with a box full of toys.

Also, train them to reach for their toys instead of your hand. 

#16: Vizslas

Vizslas love attaching themselves to people, especially to their laps. 

That’s why they’re branded as velcro dogs. 

Sometimes, this can lead to separation anxiety. 

Aside from that, Vizslas can get bored easily. That’s if you don’t exercise them enough.

And both of these circumstances can lead to mouthing or destructive chewing.

But you can control this tendency by providing your Vizslas with a box of toys to dig into. 

Are you into activities like hiking or biking?

Then, that’s perfect. You can take your pup with you to blow off their high-energy stores. 

And if you want to train them, be warned. 

Why?

Vizslas aren’t the easiest breed to train because they can be easily distracted. 

But don’t let that stop you…

I assure you, a ton of patience will take you a long way.

#17: Weimaraner

Weimaraners or silver ghosts were bred to take down big game like dear, wolves, and bears. 

But they’re actually house dogs. 

They’ll follow you around the house and lie at your feet. 

Sometimes, they might even greet you at the door. Then, they’ll grab your hand by their mouth and lead you into the house. 

However charming, you still shouldn’t encourage this behavior.

With that, you have to provide your Weim with tons of exercise.

You also have to get them used to being away from you. That’s because they’re prone to separation anxiety. 

And when training them to stop mouthing, you have to be firm but gentle.