Rescued dog who’s a bit nippy

Trampas

Got a rescued dog (Maltese) who’s 9 months old who’s a big nippy. He didn’t seem to have a good start from what we can tell. He’s fine apart from that. He’s fine on walks. Doesn’t bark at other dogs. Never been off the lead at all even in loads of space. But when he’s can be a little nippy at times. You might even think was that a nip or not. He doesn’t seem to like new people arriving at house at all and might take a couple of visits before trusting them. Problem is we’re at that stage where kids can be coming and going and he’s goes into his crate if friends are over or out of it when they’re upstairs when playing. We are in two minds to keep him or not as not far on everyone if it keeps doing it. Worried he’d nip a friend and that be end of him but not far to be kept putting into a crate and especially over summer. Might be just a puppy thing where our last day was chewing away at chairs when you wouldn’t be looking but no kids then it was only when he was a puppy. Would professional training help or is it a case of wrong time. Kids have been around dogs all their life as grandparents always have dogs and on the smaller size so nothing new for them as we’ve minded their dogs dozen of times. Any advice be great. Thanka

Ave Sodalis

Professional training would absolutely be the correct course, for both the nipping (which is often inappropriate play and/or overstimulation in younger dogs), and for socialising. I would look into a behaviourist if possible