My dog nips strangers when petted in public. How can I stop this?

Question

Hi my dog has a tendency to nip at some strangers when they stroke her this is making it awkward for me to take her out in public,she normally nips when they move there hand away.any help on this subject would be much appreciated. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 4 years and 10 months old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry that you're having this problem with Sadie! Without more information about her behavior, it's hard to say for sure what might be causing this - but I suspect that she may be somewhat afraid or uncomfortable around strangers, and may not want them to approach and pet her. It's important to realize the some dogs, just like some humans, don't enjoy being touched by strangers - this isn't necessarily abnormal. In that case, the problem is best addressed by simply respecting Sadie's wishes and not allowing people to approach and pet her. You could ask people who show interest in her to toss her a treat instead (carry treats with you for this purpose), or simply tell them that she doesn't like to be petted by people she doesn't know and go on with your walk. If she also has problems with barking or lunging at strangers, or if you want more information on how you might be able to encourage her to be more social, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate her in person. He/she can help you put together a detailed plan to work on her issues so that you can both enjoy your walks more :)

My dog nips strangers when petted in public. How can I stop this?

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