Dog Training Tips: How to Stop Barking and Nipping at Guests

In this Omaha area dog training session, we help a 7-year-old rescue dog named Milo. We want him to help him stop barking and nipping at guests by understanding why he does it.

Milo was rescued when his guardians were doing some humanitarian work years ago. After befriending this cute street puppy, they looked out for him while they were there. When the family was getting ready to head back to the US, they decided to bring this street dog home with them.

Helping some people who rescued a dog literally off the street is so rewarding for us. Taylor and I couldn’t wait to get started.

Why is my Dog Nipping at Visitors

Dogs may nip at visitors for a few common reasons, including excitement, distress, or fear. Puppies might nip out of excitement when they want to play or explore. They can also nip if they’re feeling distressed, which might happen if they’re anxious, frustrated, bored, or in pain.

Sometimes, dogs nip because they’re afraid of strangers or crowds, or if they’re trying to assert dominance. Additionally, a dog might nip to protect their home if they feel that visitors are a threat.

To help manage this behavior, pay attention to your dog’s body language and understand dog consent. A dog that is loose and wiggly is probably feeling playful, while a stiff and cautious dog might be anxious or scared.

Dog’s have fight or flight instincts; meaning they usually want to move away from the things they don’t like first. If your dog feels trapped or is on a short leash, they cannot move away from what makes them uncomfortable. Then all they have left is fight.

We suggest that when a new person meets your dog, they should reach out their hand. They should stop about 2-3 inches from your dog’s nose. Then wait for the puppy or adult dog to lean forward and see if they nudge or lick the hand.

The dog approaching on their own is their way of giving their consent. If a dog turns to the side, pulls their ears back, or lowers their head, they want you to stop. Ignoring these waring signs will result in a dog that lunges and nips at new people.

It might also help to put your dog away again before guests leave to avoid overwhelming them. Try associating guests with positive things, like treats or playtime, to create a positive experience.

Avoid using physical punishment, as it can make your dog more fearful. Instead, focus on consistent and gentle training to help your dog feel more secure.

Stop Barking and Nipping at Guests

After Milo nipped a houseguest, his guardians had started to put him away when people came to visit. While this can stop a dog from nipping people, it’s not going to help the dog learn to not nip strangers.

We talked to the guardian without the dog for a while, then I used some tricks to make a good first impression with Milo. He responded so well I brought him out for the rest of the session and he did AMAZING. What a wonderful, playful and sweet dog. His ears reminded me of Baby Yoda from the Mandalorian.

We spent a good portion of the session sharing tips to help the humans better understand their dog and his needs. Increasing exercise for this long legged pooch will do wonders. So will introducing some rules so he can see them acting like leaders by enforcing them and practicing some self control.

To help the guardians remember all the tips to stop a dog from nipping people, I pulled out my camera so we could shoot a video.

To stop a dog from nipping at people, you need to help the dog see that visitors are a positive experience. The key is to use positive training methods.

This helps the dog connect new people with fun and rewards. When the dog learns that meeting new people can lead to good things, they will be less likely to nip. This approach helps the dog feel more comfortable and happy around visitors.

Exercising Milo before practicing this strategy to stop dog nipping will help set him up for success. There were numerous tips and tricks I shared in this in-home dog training session, so I made a roadmap to success video when we finished to help Milo’s guardians, and other pet parents, help dogs to stop barking and nipping at guests.