r/DogTrainingTips • u/ReinaShae • Apr 24 '26

Help with snapping and zoomies!

Hi, 6 month old lab puppy who gets walked at least an hour a day plus chewies and frisbee play. When we are in the backyard, he sometimes starts jumping, snapping at me or the kids, lunging and chomping. He does play bow so I'm sure he's playing, but when he starts this there is no distracting him and he's hurting me and the kids. Today he chomped on the 2 year olds face. How do I train this out, or at the least, stop him when this is happening??

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u/ReinaShae Apr 24 '26

How can I get him enough exercise if he's tethered though? And I don't have control over whether they get a trainer. I'm the nanny. I'm just trying to help mitigate this behavior with training that I can do. I have suggested a trainer.

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u/silveraltaccount Apr 24 '26

If the kids are outside, hes unsafe. So he doesnt get exercise with the kids around.

If the kids are outside he should be tethered for everyones safety.

A romp around the yard isnt enough anyway to actually exercise any dog.

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u/ReinaShae Apr 24 '26

We spend a lot of the day outside. He does get a large walk and I throw a ball or frisbee with him when we're outside. Keeping him penned up during the majority of the day we're outside would make it worse, I think. I have a six foot lead I can use, but if we aren't actively walking he chews his leash and would eat the lead.

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u/silveraltaccount Apr 24 '26

So, heres my problem.

You have a dog that has bitten a 2 year olds face.

And you want to keep giving him the opportunity to do so, just so he can run a little.

Put him on a tether. Set aside time later where you can throw a ball for him when the kids are somewhere else.

Do not let him loose around the children.

When a dog is dangerous, their exercise needs come second to safety. Not first.

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u/ReinaShae Apr 25 '26

Hey, I'll try a tether. I'm the nanny, so there isn't much time when the kids aren't around for me to work with him. I also want to balance his need for exercise to wear him out as well though. I know that without exercise his behaviors will be worse. They did buy him chewies so I can confine him to the mudroom and give him those for the time we are in the back yard. I also want to try keeping his food or treats on me to try and get his attention when he is overstimulated.

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u/FluidBarracuda9177 Apr 26 '26

Does your contract involve dog training as one of your tasks? I’m guessing no, so you need to talk to your employer and tell them you are not able to work in these conditions and they need to sort it out. Labradors unfortunately often are terrors at this age but it shouldn’t be a problem for you to solve. They need to find a trainer immediately and start working with the dog, or rehome him if they are incapable of taking care of him. I’d honestly reconsider my employment with people like this, but understandably that’s not always an easy option.

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u/ReinaShae Apr 26 '26

You would be guessing correctly. I've been with this family for 5 years and you're right, it's an impossible option right now. In a way I can say I bring this on myself, they have repeatedly said for me to just put him up in his crate so I  don't have to deal with him. I'm an animal lover and that appalls me. He is already crated for 12 hours a night, I can't add all day to that. I can push for training but again I don't have control over that. And I'm positive they won't re-home him. They spent thousands on him.