Dogs enjoy physically interacting with their friends and family, and using their mouth to do so is one of the few options they have available to them. My German Shepherd’s favorite game is called “Teeth”, and it involves, well, teeth. I’ll get down on all fours and try to steal her nose and front paws, and she’ll furiously defend herself by mock-biting at my hands and face, tail wagging energetically all the while. Her second-favorite game is called “Murder”, which involves me lying on the ground wailing pitifully while she stands on top of me and tries to murder me by biting me in the face. She gets so excited, you’d think I was a pork sausage.

She has never hurt me, not even a little bit, but I’m sure the way we play looks insane to people who aren’t dog owners.