How to stop my dog from excited nipping at hands and guests?

Question

Bruin snaps at hands and ankles... like a little nibble nothing aggressive everytime I get home because she is super excited.... I understand that but she does it to almost every guest as well and when they get nervous, it makes Bruin nervous too and she starts doing it harder to the guests.... Ove tried many things but what do you suggest to get her to stop biting/nibbing at me and my guests. Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | spayed | 1 year old | 50 lbs

Jeffrey Milner · Accepted Answer

In terms of Bruin's greeting when you walk in the door, the best way to prevent her from nipping at your hands or ankles would be to only acknowledge her on your terms. While everyone is happy and excited to see their dog when they get home, in cases such as these where there is a behavior problem, sometimes our interactions with our pets must be altered. When you walk in the house for the next few days, I would ask that you consider not playing into her excitement. Instead, do not pet her or give her attention until she has calmed and settled down. Once settled, you should reward her with love and attention. If she still nibbles or bites, cease giving attention and walk away. Alternatively, you can have a toy in another hand and give her the toy to play with. If she takes it, reward her profusely with praise and/or treats. Since she is a Border Collie, she will likely pick up on things quite quickly. Training her to not become excited and/or nervous around guests will be a more difficult task. At least for the near future, I would recommend keeping her on leash when guests first enter the house and for the first several minutes they are present. Once off leash, instruct your guests not to acknowledge her if she is overly pushy or nibbling. If she settles down, your guest should reward her similarly as you were. It is all about repetition and consistency with behavior. I hope you and Bruin figure things out.

How to stop my dog from excited nipping at hands and guests?

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