Terrier Nipping

Dear Bailey,

I own a Cairn Terrier. He is 3 years old and is a very sweet guy. He has a bad habit of nipping me and I don't know how to correct him.

He has had several owners and I don't know his whole story. I have had him for about 6 months. Any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Patti Stackpole

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Bailey's Reply:

Dear Patti,

First, it's fantastic that you've rescued a dog and given him a "Forever Home"! Congratulations!

Now, to the nipping. It's difficult to say why he's nipping you, because you didn't mention in what situations he's most likely to nip. Some common reasons for nipping are:

• Hyper-arousal. Often exhibited during play, greetings, or during periods of stress. Keep play levels low, as well as creating non-eventful comings and goings. Always have an appropriate item to redirect his teeth to while playing.
• Attention. He nips, you give him attention, even when you're mad. Yep- any attention is good attention in your dog's eyes. Manage the situation so that your dog won't have an opportunity to nip you. You can prevent many nipping opportunities with good management. Rehearsed behavior is learned behavior.
• Resource Guarding. If your dog is nipping you if you are trying to remove an object from his possession, then you need help! Contact a qualified trainer in your area for assistance with resource guarding. This can be a very serious problem that requires someone with resource guarding modification experience.

Good luck to you and your new family member!

Sniff ya later!

Bailey

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