Mouthy with strangers

[Kim Starbuck]

Hi all,

Cisco is about 6 months now, and he has been great. The one issue I am dealing with is, when he meets new people, he gets very excited and wants to play with them, and will get mouthy. He doesn't actually bite down hard, but it kind of freaks people out because they think he is going to bite them. He often won't just let people pet him - he kind of bounces around them and does the play bow wanting to play.

The weird thing is, he never does it to me, so it is hard to correct.

Any thoughts on what to do? Thanks!!

[Shellie Brune]

Try bitter apple spray, helped my puppy.  

[Christine & Camus]

My friend's dog get very excited whenever I go to visit. He jumps, mouths, and in general acts crazy.  What I do is turn my back to him and refuse to acknowledge him until he settles down. Once he is quiet I will say hello and pet him.  Works like a charm!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

4 months have passed:  any improvement?  Christine's advice is spot on.  He shouldn't be petted until he is in a sit position and settled down.  I found it is harder to train strangers, than the dog.  :p

[Ginny Nightingale]

Didn't see this until today---Lyric does this too, Kim and people do think she is biting them--one woman actually complained about it after charging right into my yard past a barking Lyric--I am surprised she didn't get bitten--although, I am sure my guys would never bite....

Maybe this has gone away by now but it is hard to correct--just make sure that no one greets him,looks at him or pets him until you have him under control and that may take 5 minutes or more--just have your visit with him on a leash at your side until he gets used to the new person being there. 

[Kim Starbuck]

Thanks Ginny - I just saw this! Yes, good ideas... it is definitely better, but still not perfect. He is great about sitting and waiting, and then when he is petted, he will sometimes start again. But I think I just have to be consistent and keep making sure that he stays calm.

He is so great otherwise. And, I must say in the last month or two, I think he has really started mellowing out.