Delia has always been very mouthy and we have been working on it in a couple areas for a while including nipping when playing and innappropriate chewing. We are seeing some improvement in those areas.
What I am having a problem is trying to figure out how to overcome how she greets people sometimes. She likes to "bonk" (for lack of a better word) people on the face with her snout. She does this when people bend down to pet her or sometimes if someone is laying on the couch or in bed. This is a problem as she often does this with her mouth open and her teeth sometimes make contact. I received a pretty big cut on my face recently when she did this and grazed me with her tooth.
What I can't figure out is what to do about it, except try to avoid it.
I don't really see how to ignore it, as she is not expecting anything from it - no petting or play or treats, so I don't see what I do in regards to negative punishment. It's just a one-time greeting if she comes in the room, almost just saying hello and then going off on her merry way.
I have tried to let out a little whimper or yelp similar to what people say to do for nipping dogs, but Delia doesn't really recognize that as anything bad. Actually when she cut my face, I winced and let out a moan and she took that as a sign of play. She is not very good in discerning people's mood or emotions and we think she was poorly socialized with both humans and other dogs. Sternly saying "NO" to her would have the same effect, she would probably take it as play.
I also have sort of tried to treat her when she comes in the room and doesn't do her normal greeting. But so far she hasn't picked up on that's why she is being treated. It doesn't really seem there is a good moment to click and treat that would communicate that to her. Plus, while she does it a lot, it is not every single time that she greets someone.
The only other things I can think of start falling in the line of positive punishment, but I would definitely like to hear anyone else's suggestions first.
For the record, she is an approx. 19-20 month old GSD/chow mix whom I adopted about 7 months ago.
What I am having a problem is trying to figure out how to overcome how she greets people sometimes. She likes to "bonk" (for lack of a better word) people on the face with her snout. She does this when people bend down to pet her or sometimes if someone is laying on the couch or in bed. This is a problem as she often does this with her mouth open and her teeth sometimes make contact. I received a pretty big cut on my face recently when she did this and grazed me with her tooth.
What I can't figure out is what to do about it, except try to avoid it.
I don't really see how to ignore it, as she is not expecting anything from it - no petting or play or treats, so I don't see what I do in regards to negative punishment. It's just a one-time greeting if she comes in the room, almost just saying hello and then going off on her merry way.
I have tried to let out a little whimper or yelp similar to what people say to do for nipping dogs, but Delia doesn't really recognize that as anything bad. Actually when she cut my face, I winced and let out a moan and she took that as a sign of play. She is not very good in discerning people's mood or emotions and we think she was poorly socialized with both humans and other dogs. Sternly saying "NO" to her would have the same effect, she would probably take it as play.
I also have sort of tried to treat her when she comes in the room and doesn't do her normal greeting. But so far she hasn't picked up on that's why she is being treated. It doesn't really seem there is a good moment to click and treat that would communicate that to her. Plus, while she does it a lot, it is not every single time that she greets someone.
The only other things I can think of start falling in the line of positive punishment, but I would definitely like to hear anyone else's suggestions first.
For the record, she is an approx. 19-20 month old GSD/chow mix whom I adopted about 7 months ago.