Puppy "air snapping" please help

[PaddyD]

Abby still air snaps at 2.5 years. She does it when she is frustrated because she wants something she can't have or she is trying to tell us something.
It is usually accompanied by a high-pitched "HUMPH".

[msvette2u]

Ruger air snapped last night at me when I told him to stop roughhousing with another dog. It doesn't bother me, but he doesn't do it that much.
It's a bit like a kid thumbing their nose after you discipline or stop them somehow from doing something.

[msvette2u]

**duplicate**

[Moss26]

I think I know exactly what you are talking about. My dog, Dux, is a 9 week old wgsl and he is the most headstrong/willful dog I have very encountered! I have had him for a little over a week and he started doing this action on the third day.

I would compare this "air snapping" to a child sassing a parent because of the attitude he takes on. This is a completely different scenario than a puppy getting a little too mouthy or excited, which is how some others have explained it to this point. It's like he is in a drive state - completely focused - and directing this mean unchecked aggression back towards his owner.

For us (me and my wife), these episodes seem to happen without any provocation. For example, we were all on a walk the other day and out of the blue Dux turned around, snarled, raised his hackle, and bit her ankle puncturing the skin. We were mid-walk and not playing or anything. When my wife grabbed his scruff to pull him away he released, backed up, and started chomping "air snapping" back, Cujo style! We are still trying to figure out what sets this behavior off and also how to get him to control it.

For now we immediately pick him up, end the walk, play time, etc and put him back in his pen. We are just hoping these are some growing pains, temper tantrums, hormones or something he will grow out of...soon. Or maybe it is him exerting dominance, testing his boundaries and figuring out his order in the pack - I really have no idea.

Let me know if you find any remedies...

On a happier note, the yelp noise has really helped curb the playful hand and leg nipping!

[MsMailbawx]

@moss26

Yes!! I'm glad someone is going through the same thing. Well...kind of haha. I can tell you that it does get better, the scruff thing does work, and that it helps to tell them to do something while you have them firmly by the Scruff (like sit or down) so they know that calm, submissive behavior is so much more appreciated. Also, like you mentioned, time outs help. I have also been playing with him ALOT more, and the air snapping only happens now when he was play instead of when he's just being (excuse my language) an ass. He's gotten a lot better at it I hope everything works out for you and your wife!!

[llombardo]

Mine does it when she's going to give you a kiss mostly--sometimes if she's "mouthing" something she might do it too...it has dwindled quite a bit because she scared the heck out of my son the first couple times and a harsh no has worked so far...if only that worked for the jumping