If you are a dog owner, chances are, you have experienced a lot of challenges.
Why is my dog nipping at visitors? Dogs nip for various reasons. Regardless, it is infuriating and humiliating, especially when we have visitors over.
No one wants a nippy dog, even if it’s just a friendly greeting. Of course, nobody wants a dog that makes unfriendly nips either.
But if the nipping is more of a pinch than a bite, you can manage it more effectively before it becomes more serious.
The trick, as with most things canine-related, involves three steps.
– Finding out the root cause
– Conduct an early intervention
– Make it consistent
Now that you are ready to solve the issue, your first logical step should be teaching your dog to be relaxed and on top of their emotion.
Ultimately, when you teach your canine pet to stay calm, the possibility of nipping in any situation would be less likely to happen.
Understanding Your Dog’s Motives
Before reaching for a solution, let us first study the root cause that motivates your dog’s behavior. Here are some of the top reasons.
Your Dog Wants to Play
Puppies and even young dogs would prefer playing and not mere cuddling all day long.
If a visitor signals to a dog he or she wants to engage in play (such as stroking the dog or when the visitor claps his or her knees), the dog would become excited and start nipping.
If the dog nips like this, it is really an invitation to play and not because it is aggressive.
Your Dog Has Not Been Socialized
If your pet dog nips at people coming over to your house, it could be an indication your dog has not been socialized properly.
If your canine pet is not exposed to many people or other pets, it can become fearful or worried about anything that is not familiar to it.
The dog’s fear and anxiety, however, are often interpreted as displays of aggression.
This situation is also apparent among dogs who have experienced abuse of traumas under their previous owners. This problem also holds true for dogs that have spent a lot of time being transferred from one temporary house to another. Once they have found their real homes or “safe havens,” dogs like these may feel they have to defend themselves against threats – real or perceived. And that includes your visitors.
Your Dog Maybe Possessive
Dogs, like humans, can be possessive but can lead to more serious problems if left unchecked.
While there are dogs who can be zealous when protecting their food or favorite toys, some can be extra possessive about people.
If your pet thinks it “owns” you, it may display undesirable acts such as nipping at anyone who they think may get in the way with its pet owner.
The Importance of Finding Out the Root Cause
Before you can solve your dog nipping’s issues, you need to find out the root cause first of the issue. While we would like to discourage any kind of nipping, different motivations why nipping happens can need other treatments.
You may consider various factors such as your dog’s age, whether the nipping only happens when you have some guests coming over, and whether your pet displays fearful or aggressive acts.
If you have a puppy, you might want to stop your pet from nipping your hands when you are playing.
Remember, dogs do respond to consistency. Whether you are playing with your pet or having a house visit, you should strive to discourage negative behaviors and foster positive ones.
Let the Dog Know Nipping is Not Appreciated
If your puppy nips, chances are either they want to play with you, or they are teething. You have to teach your pet that even though its nipping does not mean anything malicious, its teeth should not belong near human skin.
For instance, every time the dog nips, you can command “No Bite” in a firm voice and end your game. Later on, the dog would understand what is happening and realize that when nipping starts, the fun ends.
Once your pet dog understands it, you can see some improvements. You can also tell your visitors the trick so that they can also help reinforce your training.
If your pup is teething, you can buy chew toys or sticks that can satisfy our need for it to chew safely.
If your pet dog is older and still has that playful nipping habit, you can reinforce the same strategy. Just be consistent with your message, and your dog would get it sooner rather than later.
Avoid Overly Stimulating Games
If your dog is bored and wants to play, you have to look for new outlets for their unflinching energy.
You would want to avoid games that foster mouthy acts such as tug of war. You may want to stick to games that enable your pet to spend their energies without doing unwanted actions.
Your Fingers Aren’t Playthings
If your playful puppy likes to nip at your hands, keep your hands to yourself.
When initiating play, do not use your hands. Patting their face or your hands waving will give the dog the idea that your hands are playthings.
You may want to avoid removing a toy from the dog’s mouth using your hands when you are playing. Instead, you can issue a firm command such as “Drop it.”
If your pet ends up nipping at your hands while you are still playing, do not jerk your hand away. Of course, this is easier said than done as it may look like it is the most natural reaction. However, you might end up encouraging your pet to go for them again.
You might want to have your hands go limp as this may signal to the dog that they are less fun to play with.
Avoid Negative Punishment
Definitely, avoid negative punishment. Punishment is not a good corrective method. What does this mean? It means no yelling or slapping that could hurt or scare your pet.
Otherwise, not only will it make your dog afraid of you, but this might shift your pet’s playful behavior into something more aggressive.
Check Your Veterinarian
If your dog has no history of nipping until recently and is showing out-of-character acts, you might want to consult a veterinarian.
Your dog may be having a health issue, and nipping is its only way of communicating to you that something is wrong.
Calm Your Pet Down
It does sound obvious, but one effective method in dealing with the problem is calming your pet down. Teach it to be on top of its emotions.
You may also want to conduct counter-conditioning techniques. Change your pet’s negative associations with house visitors with more positive ones, such as giving out treats.
There are also calming exercises to teach your dog to remain calm and manage its natural impulses behind the unwanted nipping.
Final Thoughts
All nipping acts should be treated equally; and, thus, should be discouraged. But it would be best if you first found out the root cause of its motivation so you can look for the proper modification technique.
If your pet nips because it is scared, it may need a different treatment from a nip because it is overprotective.
In many cases, a dog nips because it wants to play rather than being aggressive. However, that does not mean we should let it pass.
The sooner your pet understands that any tooth-skin contact is not allowed, the better.
When that happens, you prevent playful nips from becoming something more dangerous. In addition, inviting visitors to come to our house would be less embarrassing.
Finding the root cause and using the right solution might be challenging, but the problem would be solved in no time with a good level of patience and consistency.
FAQs
How do I stop my dog from nipping at strangers?
Go to the root cause. First, find out why your dog is nipping at strangers. Different motivations may need different treatments. Other factors such as the age of your pet or its emotions may form part of the root cause of the problem.
Why does my dog try to bite guests?
Maybe the dog is not appropriately socialized when meeting new people in your house. Perhaps it also just wants to play with you or the new visitors. It is better to seek out why your dog is doing that in the first place.
How do I stop my dog from being aggressive towards visitors?
You can change any negative associations of your dog with visitors coming to your house by positive reinforcement techniques, such as giving it treats every time it exhibits friendly behavior and a well-mannered attitude. You can also teach your dog some calming exercises to control its nipping impulses.
Why is my dog aggressive towards visitors?
Maybe your dog is just not used to having guests in the house. Or it is merely overprotective of you. Whatever the case is, there are appropriate treatments for every root cause of the problem.
Why is my dog nipping at my child?
Your dog may be possessive of you as its owner. In addition, it may be just a sign of affection on your pet’s part. You can teach your dog against nipping at your child or other family members with some techniques. But as much as possible, avoid giving your dog punishment for its nipping behavior.
My dog is terrified of visitors. Should I seek professional assistance?
You could, especially if the dog is showing aggressive behavior towards your visitors frequently. You could seek out a veterinarian as the dog may be having some health-related concerns, and its only way of telling you that is by nipping. You can also get a dog trainer to address its aggressive behavior.
