Dog Tip: Jumping, Mouthing, Snapping

Jumping, Mouthing, and Snapping -- Discouraging Problem Behaviors

The following tips for discouraging jumping, mouthing and snapping are presented with the permission of trainer Sarah Wilson. The tips are based on an article in her newsletter, "Good Owners, Great Pets." For more information about Ms. Wilson's newsletters, see www.GreatPets.com.

Jumping

Teach the dog to sit:

For attention.

At the doorway with you coming in and out.

While you move around excitedly.

For food or toys.

Reward each tiny improvement. Do not wait for the dog to make a mistake, but help him to be successful. Teach the dog that good things come when he sits. Try starting with sitting approach before moving to any more corrective approach.

Mouthing

Teach the dog to get a toy when someone is at the door. If his mouth is full, he will be getting something nonfleshy to mouth and his mouth will be full, preventing any other mouthing.

Snapping at Children

It's important to take snapping seriously. Here are a few rules about dogs and young children:

Do not let a young child pursue a retreating dog.
Supervise young children 100% of the time around dog.
If the child cannot be supervised 100% of the time, the dog should be crated or behind a gate.
Take the dog's warnings seriously and remove the child. Warnings include head lowering, ears going back, growling, moving away and freezing in place.
Encourage and reward the dog for moving away when stressed.
Prevent the child from pursuing.
Young children don't have fine motor skills yet and cannot be gentle all the time. Assume that and protect your dog accordingly.

Even a tolerant dog can reach the end of his rope. So never allow a child to do to a dog what you would not allow the child to do to another child. That rules out carrying, lying on, sitting on, hitting, pulling, chasing after, waking up when sleeping, annoying when eating, screaming at, etc.

If a dog is snapping at children or other people, an assessment by a trainer is a good idea.

A note about dogs snapping from elevated positions: Many dogs, when perched in an elevated position, such as on a sofa or bed, or being carried or held on a person's lap, are prone to snapping or other displays of aggression from the elevated position.

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