January 02, 2026
My young Golden Retrieve will jump up and mouth me on walks and correcting him makes it worse. Any suggestions?
Full Question:
Hi Cindy,My 1 year old male Golden Retriever will once in a while jump and mouth me on our walks, and it seems to be random. Leash corrections make it worse, he does not listen to commands, even food isn't very effective. I've been using leash pressure to out him into a down, but it takes a few attempts. Any other suggestions? Not too sure what is going on.
Cindy's Answer:
What kind of leash corrections are you using when it makes it worse? Prong collar? Flat collar?
Do you see signs that he's ramping up in arousal before this happens?
Do you see signs that he's ramping up in arousal before this happens?
User Response:
Prong, yes he'll usually start nudging my left hand as we're walking. That will usually happen when I have food.
Cindy's Answer:
What you’re describing is actually pretty common in young, energetic dogs. It’s usually not aggression but a mix of excitement, frustration, and a lack of impulse control. The fact that leash corrections make it worse is a good indicator that he’s getting more aroused by the pressure and not actually understanding what you want.
For many dogs, especially enthusiastic breeds like Goldens, physical corrections during a moment of high arousal can escalate the behavior. It becomes part of the “game.”
Most dogs do this when:
They’re frustrated (wanting to get to a smell, dog, or person)
They’re overstimulated (too much energy built up)
They’re under-exercised mentally or physically
The walk is simply too exciting compared to their skill level
Even if it feels random, there’s almost always a pattern once you look closely.
Make changes BEFORE the behavior starts, if you see him starting to get amped up, bouncy or fixated, stop and switch gears.
Ask for engagement (eye contact, hand touches, simple focus work) or change direction or move him to a calmer environment if needed
Older puppies often need more structure on walks than people expect.
Use an incompatible behavior to break the cycle, start working engagement or ask for a hand touch. You could also randomly scatter a few pieces of food on the ground and say Find It. This gives the dog a mental break.
Using leash pressure to force him into a down may actually be increasing his frustration, and over time it can put a strain on your relationship. Instead, consider shortening your walks for now or even pausing them altogether while you focus on engagement and cooperative play in a low-distraction environment.
One thing I like to do on walks is practice informal on leash recalls. This serves two purposes: it builds a reflexive, reliable recall, and it gives the dog a fun mental break that reinforces a positive interaction between the two of us. I believe in Ed’s Come When Called course there’s a section where I’m working with one of my young dogs on a walk and demonstrating exactly this. This is something I do with every dog I raise and train and it's very useful.
Most importantly, try not to let him rehearse this behavior. It really sounds like he’s simply overstimulated and doesn’t yet know how to regulate those emotions. With some proactive management and foundational work, I would expect improvement.
For many dogs, especially enthusiastic breeds like Goldens, physical corrections during a moment of high arousal can escalate the behavior. It becomes part of the “game.”
Most dogs do this when:
They’re frustrated (wanting to get to a smell, dog, or person)
They’re overstimulated (too much energy built up)
They’re under-exercised mentally or physically
The walk is simply too exciting compared to their skill level
Even if it feels random, there’s almost always a pattern once you look closely.
Make changes BEFORE the behavior starts, if you see him starting to get amped up, bouncy or fixated, stop and switch gears.
Ask for engagement (eye contact, hand touches, simple focus work) or change direction or move him to a calmer environment if needed
Older puppies often need more structure on walks than people expect.
Use an incompatible behavior to break the cycle, start working engagement or ask for a hand touch. You could also randomly scatter a few pieces of food on the ground and say Find It. This gives the dog a mental break.
Using leash pressure to force him into a down may actually be increasing his frustration, and over time it can put a strain on your relationship. Instead, consider shortening your walks for now or even pausing them altogether while you focus on engagement and cooperative play in a low-distraction environment.
One thing I like to do on walks is practice informal on leash recalls. This serves two purposes: it builds a reflexive, reliable recall, and it gives the dog a fun mental break that reinforces a positive interaction between the two of us. I believe in Ed’s Come When Called course there’s a section where I’m working with one of my young dogs on a walk and demonstrating exactly this. This is something I do with every dog I raise and train and it's very useful.
Most importantly, try not to let him rehearse this behavior. It really sounds like he’s simply overstimulated and doesn’t yet know how to regulate those emotions. With some proactive management and foundational work, I would expect improvement.
User Response:
Great answer, thank you!
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