Mid-Atlantic Border Collie Rescue

I do have one question about nipping/biting. When we are playing with a toy she has nipped at me several times on the knee, leg, foot, and hand. It usually happens when we are in the yard playing fetch. When she brings the ball back and drops it, sometimes she nips when I am picking up the ball or just after I have picked up the ball, or if I'm about to kick the soccer ball for her. She is always in a playful mood when it happens but it hasn't been when she is highly excited. Is this puppy behavior? What do you recommend I do to stop this? Naturally, I let out a yelp of my own because it is unexpected but also because it hurts a fair amount. I tell her "no" in a very stern voice. I don't believe we've seen any aggressive behavior. There are times when she barks adamantly with the corresponding body language. We're still trying to figure it all out.

Thanks for any insight you might be able to offer.

This is puppy behaviour, but it is bad puppy behaviour. It is totally non-aggressive, it is just bad. If you were another dog, you would whip around and lay into her and she would quit it :~))

When she nips, yelp, growl at her and quit the game for at least a couple of minutes. Turn your back to her and ignore her until she is totally calm, then resume play.

When she barks at you (during play) walk into her space until she quits. Once she quits give her space and resume play. This is a hard one to break, but she is essentially ‘yelling’ at you for something, and that is rude!

Hope that helps!

Sarah

Sarah Ruckelshaus
Executive Director
Mid-Atlantic Border Collie Rescue
slr@mabcr.org
www.mabcr.org