My 12 week old gsp is still mouthing a lot.  We've held her muzzle and said NO, we've inserted our thumbs and pushed down on her tongue until she rejects our hand, we've substituted toys for hands, we've done bite inhibition (she mouths, not bites), and we discourage play that leads to mouthing.  She likes to play rough, so we don't indulge her in that - is this just a function of time until she grows out of it?  Otherwise she's coming along pretty well.  Thanks

I'm sure others will chime in - personally 12 wks is still fairly young - I just kept putting the right toy in my guy's mouth and eventually he got it, to the point that now at nearly 6 when he gets excited he always puts toys in his mouth

I would just keep putting the right thing in her mouth, I'm not a bit fan of hurting them to try and get them to stop but I know others are

I don't mind mouthing if they are not biting. But lots of toys and chews for theething.

Brenda - glad to hear you say that. I personally don't mind mouthing either as long as it is careful and gentle. But I've had folks tell me they never think it's appropriate.

Our first GSP (Molly) would VERY carefully mouth all up and down your hand and forearm when you came home, it was her way of greeting us and saying she was happy to see us. We lost her about 18 months ago at age 15. At about the same time, one of the young dogs (Gretchen) picked up the habit. In the morning when I let her out for back yard time and when I get home from work, she waits patiently with her mouth open and what she wants is for me to put my fingers in there so she can kind of shake my hand. She is exceptionally gentle about it. Just her way of saying "I love you" I think. She's two now and although it sounds silly, it makes me miss the old lady less.

Jean 

Agreed - but at least for my dogs, since it's their #1 sign of affection (the ones who have done it), it's always been something they only did with their family.