First, congratulations and thank you for adopting a homeless dog! Fortunately, many shelter dogs have the benefit of an animal enrichment program. At Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, dedicated staff and volunteers are trained to work with shelter dogs to be more manageable when they are adopted. But sometimes, even with these programs in place, the excitement and unintentional positive reinforcement of undesired behaviors (when the new puppy comes home) can create a jumping/nipping nightmare.

Reprimanding or correction can lead to even more inappropriate behaviors. Positive punishment (correction) is both non-specific and situational, but requires a true understanding of the applications and consequence of positive punishment to work properly. I would suggest that you consult a qualified dog behavior consultant with knowledge of both positive reinforcement and positive punishment.

I could probably write three separate articles in response to your question, but let’s start with the “nipping” issue. If the dog is aggressively trying to correct you, consult a qualified dog behavior professional. But, if by “nipping” you mean normal mouthing behavior in a puppy (some breeds are hard wired to put everything in their mouth, such as a retriever), try this: stop all rough-housing games and all tug-of-war games. Instead, try tethering your dog to a non-movable object where the mouthing behavior occurs. As soon as your dog places its teeth on you, get up and leave the room. This technique is known as negative punishment or, more commonly, abandonment. What does your dog want more than anything? Your attention. By using this technique, they learn that you will stop giving them attention if they nip at you—something they don’t want!

Jumping on people usually results from inappropriate rewards (I jump, I get attention – it may be negative, but it’s still attention). Try this: keep control of your dog (on leash), and keep control of the people (much harder!)

Tell the kind folks coming into your house to ignore the dog until it sits. Be sure to keep your dog from making body contact, allowing no eye contact, and no talking—just be neutral.

Eventually, that dog will be bored to tears and just sit down. That’s when you can start to give the dog attention and maybe a treat. If the dog gets up, go back to the neutral state. It takes time, patience, and willing friends, but it works!

Many things, such as diet, boredom, and anxiety can contribute to the destructive chewing issue. As always with difficult behavior problems, consult your veterinarian, as it may be health related. One thing you might try: exercise! A tired dog is a good dog. A one-year-old neutered male, assuming good health, can easily handle a 2 to 4 mile walk and 1 to 2 tongue-dragging fetch games a day. Don’t forget mental exercise. Enroll in an obedience or agility class and be sure to know your instructor’s philosophies. Try interactive toys. There are many good products on the market that can help your dog use his/her mind to figure it out.

It’s not uncommon for shelter dogs to display some anxious behaviors. Imagine if you were tossed from home to home as a kid, you might be anxious too! Time and patience will help your dog adjust and learn the rules of your family.