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I have a four-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who has displayed this odd behavior ever since we aquired him about the age of four months. Fairly frequently he will "nibble" things. I don't say "chew" because he never damages what he's nibbling on and he uses only his front teeth--the closest analogy I can think of is if you were to insert a piece of blanket between your front teeth and just tap on it repeatedly.

He seems to do this most when in an agitated mood (even if there's no apparent reason to be agitated) but may also do it if he's frustrated--wanting to play without anyone paying attention, for example.

Its not a destructive habit and it doesn't bother me, save wondering why he does it in the first place. Thoughts?

>>I have a four-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who has displayed this odd behavior ever since we aquired him about the age of four months. Fairly frequently he will "nibble" things. I don't say "chew" because he never damages what he's nibbling on and he uses only his front teeth--the closest analogy I can think of is if you were to insert a piece of blanket between your front teeth and just tap on it repeatedly.
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>>He seems to do this most when in an agitated mood (even if there's no apparent reason to be agitated) but may also do it if he's frustrated--wanting to play without anyone paying attention, for example.
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>>Its not a destructive habit and it doesn't bother me, save wondering why he does it in the first place. Thoughts?>>>>

Four months may have been when he started to change from baby teeth to permanent teeth. The mouth just screams out at the dog to chew, chew, chew during this time, and some odd textures and odd movements seem to make it feel better. One of mine loved fabric she could "pluck" with her front teeth. Your pup may have started the habit at this time. Terriers are prone to "obsessive" behaviors, and that could be why it has persisted.

I'd be careful not to praise him for it or laugh at it, or give any other encouragement. If you don't mind him doing it, just ignore it. And help him learn lots of other things to enjoy doing, things that blow off energy and other things he can do to calm himself. The more variety in his life, the better chance of him avoiding becoming obsessive about any one thing. Some of the dogs who do wind up needing medication, so it's a good thing to keep in mind. One game people play with their dogs that seems to cause this problem at times is encouraging a dog to chase the beam of a laser light or flashlight. So you won't want to include that in his games! Retrieving is about the healthiest game you can play with a dog, a good one to encourage.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Hmmmmm. Interesting. I'd had someone tell me it was a nursing behavior--which I suppose might make sense since he was separated from his mother about the age of two weeks. (I didn't have him then). Even if that is what the behavior is, however, I'm still not sure what it means.

>>Hmmmmm. Interesting. I'd had someone tell me it was a nursing behavior--which I suppose might make sense since he was separated from his mother about the age of two weeks. (I didn't have him then). Even if that is what the behavior is, however, I'm still not sure what it means.

Yes, given that information of being separated from his mother at two weeks, it could be a nursing behavior. As to what it could mean, the mother dog and littermates provide very important early experiences for the puppy, and the lack of those experiences can cause serious behavior problems later. This, however, as you've said, is not a serious behavior problem.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com