Why does my dog fear bite when I groom or handle him? How to stop it?

Question

I adopted my dog about a year ago, he's an American Eskimo mix and is around 2 y/o. He's aggressive whenever I try to do simple things like adjust his harness while it's on, or brush him, gently pick a leaf out of his fur, etc. He tries to nip/bite. It's getting progressively worse. I took him to the groomer recently and they said he was "fear biting" everyone and that he would have to be sedated next time. Any idea why he does this or how to help? He's super sweet otherwise. Thanks! :). Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 2 years and 8 months old | 20 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I'm so sorry you're having this problem with Brian. Unfortunately with fearful dogs, once they start the behavior of nipping during "unwanted" behavior and the person stops that behavior, it becomes a rewarding habit for Brian to nip whenever someone does something he doesn't like and they stop it. It can be reversed, but I would strongly recommend working with an experienced trainer or behaviorist. Since Brian is only 2, you have lots of time left with him, so it is certainly worth it to invest the time and money to reverse this behavior. The goal will be to slowly get him used to things that he doesn't love, but doesn't hate, and reward him for not nipping. This absolutely needs to be done with a trainer to make sure you are doing it properly and that no one is going to get hurt. Sometimes we will work with things like basket muzzles to prevent Brian from nipping, but still allowing him to take treats. I would recommend asking your vet for a recommendation for a trainer. You may also consult a behaviorist if there is one in your area (http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/). I hope that was helpful. Good luck! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Why does my dog fear bite when I groom or handle him? How to stop it?

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