work with trading treats and when he starts to get too wound up with that crazy eye look, stop the play and put the toy away. Try to stop before he gets too aroused and out of control. I don't play fetch or tug or frisbee with Junior because he does what your dog does. It's just red flag play for Junior. He can't seem to control his mouth, so we don't play like that.

I do play a "leave it" game with Junior where we lay on the floor nose to nose about two feet apart. I put him in a down and I have a ball. I inch it towards him and grab it back and then push it towards him again. When it gets close enough to him that he knows he can take it, he will pounce on it and take it. Then he holds the ball in his mouth and pushes it towards me a little bit at a time with his nose. If I act like I'm going to reach for it, he grabs it back. He eventually lets me take it and the game starts over.

We also play "find it" where I hide a toy or treat and searches it out. I show him the toy and then say, "Go hide". He knows to go into the bathroom and wait until I say, "Okay! Find it!" He loves that game.

Easiest way to stop the behavior is to stop that type of arousing play.


I don't rescue animals because I want to feel better about myself, or morally superior to anyone. The best part of my life with animals is the humility they teach and the humanity the foster.
Jon Katz "Soul of a Dog"

Too funny! I want to save that to my computer!

Amy and Sophia

and then work on the parts of any behavior to make corrections. "SIT" is the first part. If he will sit on command, that moves his mouth away from you or most adult (tall) persons. Then you might want to teach "RELEASE" by having him hold something lightly, which is harder to do but you don't want to pull somethng away, you want him to release it on command. Try offering him something really tasty in trade, and be sure to praise, praise and more praise when he does something good.

With any teaching of a new behavior or modification, be sure you stop after 2 or 3 successes...don't tire or bore the dog by too many repeats...stop with 'success' where you both can feel good. Its better to have three 5-minute lessons than to have one 15-minute study in frustration.

if his tooth even lightly touches you. If he can't play nicely, then he can't play at all.
I'm sure others have good ideas. Maybe Lynn

Sherryl, Onslow and Buttercup