Tips to Stop Australian Shepherd Biting and Herding Habits

In this Omaha dog training session, we share tips to stop 3-year-old Australian Shepherd Hazel from nipping people who move in the room, addressing common issues like Australian Shepherd biting behaviors and how to correct them.

Dogs nip for many reasons. Hazel, being a herding breed, nips at guests who move suddenly. She thinks she is in charge of keeping the house safe.

Preventing Australian Shepherd Biting and Herding Behaviors

There are many reasons why dogs feel they need to act this way. In Hazel’s case, I think it was due to not enough exercise, a lack of structure, and no clear rules.

We shared several tips for dog behavior. These include simple ways to increase her exercise. We also discussed how to add structure to petting and rewarding good behaviors. We also recommended adding some new rules.

Next, we headed inside so I could share a secret way to stop a dog from nipping people who stand up suddenly or move. This is an easy way to stop dogs from nipping at moving people. You don’t need to be a professional Australian Shepherd trainer to do it.

Why do Herding Dogs Nip or Bite?

Australian Shepherd biting is often linked to their strong herding instincts. As herding dogs, they tend to nip at the heels of livestock to guide their movement. This instinct can also appear in their behavior toward people. This is especially true when they are excited or trying to “herd” others.

This behavior is often seen in puppies. Their teething pain can cause them to bite. If not handled well, this biting can continue.

Excited Australian Shepherds may nip to communicate. This often happens when they are overstimulated. A lack of exercise or mental activity can also cause biting from boredom.

To manage biting in Australian Shepherds, it’s essential to start with early socialization. Introducing your puppy to different people and situations helps them learn good behavior. It also makes them feel comfortable in various environments.

Positive reinforcement training is an important tool. It uses treats and praise to reward good behaviors.

For example, it encourages sitting calmly instead of nipping. When biting happens, you can redirect their attention to a chew toy. This helps guide them to behave properly. By combining early socialization, positive reinforcement, and redirection, Australian Shepherd biting can be significantly reduced and replaced with more desirable habits.

Check out the free positive dog training video below for help with dogs who like to nip people who move.

The key to stopping a dog from lunging at or nipping people who move is to practice this exercise to stop dog nipping frequently.

How to Easily Stop Dog Nipping

We started by breaking the process down into small steps, gradually building Hazel’s tolerance to movement. The key is creating a positive association with actions that typically trigger her nipping, such as standing up or walking.

We used treats to reward Hazel for staying calm. We started with the person just standing up. Then, we moved on to more movement.

Over time, the goal is for Hazel to associate movement with positive rewards instead of feeling the need to nip or jump. This method can also work for other triggers, like sounds to help Hazel get used to them slowly and safely.

The main goal is to help Hazel relax. We want her to see movement and sounds as safe. We will encourage good behavior with positive reinforcement.

Hazel’s guardians can help her stop nipping and reacting to movement. They can do this by using the techniques from this session regularly. With positive reinforcement, paired with structured exercises, her guardians can help change undesirable behaviors over time.

With patience and practice, Hazel will learn that movement brings rewards. This will help her stop nipping and improve her behavior.

Remember, every dog is unique, so be sure to adapt the exercises to suit your dog’s pace and personality. Whether you have an Australian Shepherd or another herding breed, these simple tips can help you have a calm and well-behaved dog. Stay committed, and with the right approach, you’ll see lasting results.

To help the humans remember all the dog training tips we covered in this in-home dog training session, we filmed a roadmap to success video that you can watch below.