Snapping

Question
We have a one year old Pointer / Australian Sheppard mix.  SHe is very very sweet, but when she gets excited or wants to play, she snaps at us.  She does not growl and she is not being agressive.  She just seems to get so excited she cannot control herself.  She snaps at the air, our hands, our faces, whatever she is focused on at the time.  But we have a newborn and a 5 year old, so we need to find a way to get her to stop.  We tell her no and try to calm her down a bit, but she doesn't seem to understand what she is doing wrong and we are not sure how to work with her on this.  PLEASE HELP!

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Her problem appears to be arousal-over arousal. She will benefit with structure around those triggers designed to turn it off fast! Don't under estimate the value of a fast sit.

When she starts to try and control and wants to get you to play, calmly start having her exchange simple obedience for the attention she wants. If she gets snappy, walk her calmly away from you and do not engage even when she kicks it up a notch because you obviously didn't hear/see her because you aren't doing what you would normally do.

If everytime she acts up-she is removed passively and without confrontation her behavior will lessen. Especially if she is getting the attention she wants when she doesn't snap at you.

Dogs do what works. If snapping at you gets her a lot of negative attention, she will continue. If sitting for attention gets her what she wants, then that's what she will do.