Jumpy/Mouthy
Shelter Dogs
behavior modification plans
TRAINING FOR JUMPY/MOUTHY DOGS IN SHELTERS
In many cases management of jumpy/mouthy behavior is enough to allow safe movement and handling of shelter dogs. For example, many dogs who exhibit jumpy/mouthy behavior in a shelter setting do not in a foster home. However, training decreases the need for constant management & can make the dog more attractive to adopters.
Behavior modification plans for jumpy/mouthy dogs involve:
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Training the dog to do something you like better;
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Making sure jumping and/or mouthing don’t pay off (see Timeouts and Jumpy/Mouthy Shelter Management).
Always follow a written training plan. The plan should have consistent rules for determining when to move ahead and when to make it easier for the dog.
LOOSE LEASH WALKING
Teach the dog to walk nicely alongside the handler instead of jumping up, mouthing, or grabbing the leash.
TROUBLESHOOTING
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What if the dog won’t pay attention to me during training? See Troubleshooting Motivation
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What should I do if the dog jumps up or mouths during training? See Managing Jumpy/Mouthy Behavior
RELATED HELPFUL PLANS
THE BASIC APPROACH IS:
step
1
Begin by teaching a strong sit-stay in a low-distraction environment.
step
2
Next, work through more difficult distractions to create a strong sit-stay. See plans below.
step
3
Finally, work on sit-stay in problem scenarios such as leashing or greeting people.