Why does your dog bite your hand when being silly?

Answer 1

Sometimes dogs will bite gently when feeling playful to try and get the person they are biting to pay attention to them and come play with them.

Another answer

Don't ever let your dog bite your hand, even if it is just a play bite. It gets to be a bad habit. It is one thing to see a cute puppy play biting at your hand but another when that same puppy has grown into a large dog and is still biting your hand. I do not allow any of my dogs to ever do play biting with me. I just say no firmly and push them away firmly. Let them bite on nylabone or other toys but no on you.

Another answer

When the dog is being silly (i.e. playing) it bites your hand because, It routinely uses its mouth to 'handle' things. The dog has no hands, so it cannot ask you to come and play. The use of the dog's mouth to 'engage' you is the only method that the dog has been given (other than barking loudly and continuously). When the mother dog wants to move her pups, she doesn't use her paws, and she doesn't just stand there and bark at them she uses her mouth to pick up the pups by the scruff. That is why the dog uses its mouth (i.e. 'bites' gently). Because it is the part of your body, closest to the dog, that it can get its mouth onto. As far as dire warnings to not ever let your dog bite your hand, even if it is just play biting, if your dog is actually trained to stop 'biting' on command, you may be able to allow this. But if you can't take the occasional skin puncture and the minor bleeding that goes with it, then don't allow your dog to do that. Again, if you take the time to train your dog to stop biting on command, and if you can withstand the occasional 'over-bite' (i.e. minor skin punctures) then proceed cautiously. Otherwise, do as the Vet said, and don't allow it ever.