nipping at heels when guests leaves

Roberta

Roberta

Forums Regular
My 7month old puppy nipped at the heels of a guest as they were leaving.

I have 3 shelties - a 13 and a 9 year old and a 7 month old puppy. When guests first come over all 3 dogs bark like crazy until everyone gets settled, then they quiet down. They don't show any aggression - they just bark. When people get up to leave all three dogs usually start barking again.

Yesterday for the first time the 7 month old puppy nipped at the heels of a guest as they were leaving. She has never done this before - the 2 older dogs have never done it.

The puppy is shy, but she was friendly to my guest while she was in the house (the dog treats probably helped). When the guest got up to leave all 3 dogs started barking (as usual) but the puppy actually nipped at her heels as the guest walked toward the door.

She has never done this before and I don't want it to become a habit. This is not acceptable behavior. Have any of you had a similar problem? I would really appreciate any suggestions for how to stop this.

Thanks! Roberta
 
She is trying to heard this well loved member of the herd back in (treats LOL). The best way to stop nipping is no reaction just stop walking. Do not turn around or anything. Worked for Sca who was big on nipping my heels as a puppy. Spitfire and Angus never did it.
 
Although Oberon has never done this, our previous dog (Mercutio, a Samoyed) did. As SheepofBlue said, it's a herding behavior - herding dogs would nip at the feet of whatever animals they're herding to get them back in line (for Shelties, obviously it's sheep. For Samoyeds it's raindeer). We would do the same as above - just stand still and show no reaction until the nipping stopped. That worked on non-family members, but not on family members, especially on our girls who were preteens when the behavior first started. They got in the habit of throwing treats into another room right before leaving, and leaving while Mercutio would eat the treats. Yep, he had them very well trained!
 
My older dog will do this to me when I forget something and have to go back into the house. The first time he did it he nipped me in the butt....now that got a reaction from Me! Sounds to me like the pup is getting worked up from the older dogs, I'd say un un in a stern voice if this happens again and praise and treat if it stops them. You want to nip this in the butt so to speak lol before it becomes a habit.
 
Teach your pup a 'sit stay' command! Your pup needs to have a place of safety (a bed or crate) and teach her to go to that place once people need to leave! Ask for the sit stay there.

Yes, nip this in the bud! No one wants a nip! Although not a big issue when small it becomes a problem once they are grown!

They need to understand this is not a behavior you will tolerate!

Good luck!
 
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Thanks for the advice. I'm pretty sure she is trying to herd the guests, but I doubt they are too keen about being mistaken for sheep!

At 7 months she is the shyest of my Shelties, so maybe that has something to do with it. I take her to obedience classes regularly and make sure she get a lot of interaction with other people and dogs. That has helped with the shyness. She knows her commands pretty well including sit - stay so I'll give that a try next time someone comes over. The other 2 dogs do get her pretty wound up with all the barking, but I have pretty much given up trying to stop the barking. If I wanted quiet dogs I would have picked a different breed - I swear one of my dogs "talks" more than I do.

I can take loud - but the nipping at heels needs to stop. She has only done this once so far. If all else fails I can always put her in her crate before people get up to leave, but I don't want to have to do than if at all possible. Wish me luck.
Happy New Year! Roberta
 
Roberta said:
If I wanted quiet dogs I would have picked a different breed
Click to expand...
It's so wise words - I get so sad when I read that people get a Sheltie
- then is uncomprehending towards that they bark

I prefer to call it pretty talkative :yes:
- and yes Minnie comment on everything I do and tell me about everything she experiences
(although I'm telling her - she absolutely does not have to) :biggrin2:

By the way, I would just take my puppy under my arm when people are on their way out
so it can see it is you who decide whether to herd or not.:wink2:
 
My friend's Sheltie nips me when I try to leave -- because (lucky me) he loves me. My friend's Collie nips me if I leave anywhere the group is. Drives. Me. Nuts.

Try leashing her when guests leave.
 
Hanne said:
prefer to call it pretty talkative :yes:
- and yes Minnie comment on everything I do and tell me about everything she experiences
(although I'm telling her - she absolutely does not have to) :biggrin2:

By the way, I would just take my puppy under my arm when people are on their way out
so it can see it is you who decide whether to herd or not.:wink2:
Click to expand...

Amazing words of wisdom as always Hanne :)
 
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