10 reasons dogs snap and 20 ways to stop bad behavior

Most dogs snap at adults and children because they feel threatened by how they are approached.

So how can you, as a responsible dog owner, stop this aggressive behavior and keep it from worsening?

Start by understanding why your dog may feel threatened.

Then, develop strategies to help your dog become more confident, calm, and secure.

Understand why dogs feel threatened

• Moving quickly or erratically, .especially with raised hands
• Speaking loudly
• Loud noises
• Towering over them
• Teasing
• Startled while resting 
• Disturbed while eating
• Overprotective of food or toys
• Cornered with no escape
• Direct eye contact

Consider snapping aggressive behavior. It is unacceptable, even if done out of fear.

Overcome aggressive behavior

Once you recognize snapping is an aggressive behavior, you can work with your dog to improve its socialization skills.

Here are a few tips that will help.

• Greet guests in a cheerful, upbeat, friendly voice. You want your dog to see YOU are relaxed and your guests are welcome into your home.
• Ignore your dog. Inform your guests not to make eye contact or talk to your dog. They are to ignore your dog until it is calm and relaxed.
• Have treats handy for your guests to feed your dog only when they have stopped barking, are calm, and are submissive. Start by putting the treats on the floor, then feed them by hand. If your dog does not take treats from strangers, you may give the treats while you continue to talk to your guests.
• Let your dog sniff guests after they sit down.
• Instruct your guests to make a fist and offer the back of their hand for your dog to sniff. You may also hold your guest’s hand to allow the dog to sniff both hands together. This helps dogs make the association, “This is OK with me.”
• Calmly massage your dog under the chin.
• Tell guests to avoid petting your dog on the head—pet under the chin. Many dogs are head-shy.
• Ask guests to keep their hands low and avoid quick, erratic movements. Only let guests pet your dog if they feel nervous or fearful. Dogs sense fear and will react.
• Should your dog attempt to snap, immediately correct him with a correction sound and a quick pop on the leash, or use a scruff grip.
• Be firm enough to let your dog know that behavior is unacceptable. Do not hit your dog or yell.
• Then, massage the dog under the chin.
• PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE your dog whenever their behavior is acceptable. It will reinforce good behavior.

Help your dog with children

Dogs and children should be a natural pairing. But some dogs, especially if they haven’t spent much time with kids, can be nervous about these tiny humans.

Part of that fear is natural. Children speak in higher-pitched voices and tend to behave more erratically than adults.

Use these tips to help your dog interact with children:

• Have the child stop several feet away from your dog.
• To make your dog feel more comfortable, speak to the child in a happy, upbeat, friendly voice. You want your dog to see YOU are relaxed.
• Have the child place treats on the ground for your dog to eat.
• Instruct the child to make a fist and offer your dog the back of their hand to sniff.
• If your dog responds appropriately, instruct the child to pet your dog under the chin, not on the head.
• Do not force your dog to be pet by children. Instead, let your dog approach the child if they want more interaction.
• Do not allow your dog to feel cornered by a child.
• Should your dog snap at the child, make a firm correction immediately by using a low, serious voice. Then make your dog focus on you by following several obedience commands for at least 2-3 minutes.
• Demand your dog to pay attention to YOU!
• Slowly ease up, giving low-key praise and a calming massage while still talking to the child.
• PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE your dog whenever their behavior is acceptable. It will reinforce good behavior.

The objective is for your dog to feel comfortable, relaxed, and not threatened by a child.

Some dogs NEVER like children. If that is the case, avoid interactions with children, and make sure your dog is securely muzzled around children.

Final thoughts on why dogs snap

By correcting your dog immediately for snapping, you are showing you will not tolerate bad behavior. If there is trust and respect between you and your dog, they will want to please you.

Make sure your dog gets adequate rest and exercise. Massage your dog for a few minutes daily to help release some of the tension they feel.

Doing this will not only help relax your dog, but it will also desensitize them to touch and reinforces being touched is a good thing.

Never force your dog to be around people who make them feel uncomfortable.

Allow dogs to warm up to new people at their own pace. PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE them when they behave appropriately.

Socialize your dog as much as possible.

Be patient. Some dogs take longer than others to modify their anti-social behavior.

Unfortunately, a few never change. The fear is too embedded, and you must develop strategies to help your dog cope.

Karen A. Soukiasian owns Good Dog! — Dog Training in St. Augustine, Florida. You can follow Karen on Facebook.