KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Professional dog trainer Denise Mazzola tackled everything from aggressive dog behavior to puppy training and hot weather pet safety during Tuesday’s edition of Ask the Trainer on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell.

The weekly segment featured Mazzola answering listener questions about common canine behavior challenges, including a case involving a young dog that repeatedly bit a child while guarding a toy and another involving a small rescue dog that nips at visitors’ heels.

Mazzola said dogs that bark or nip at guests often become overstimulated when people enter the home. Rather than correcting the behavior directly, she recommends giving the dog an “off-duty space” such as a crate, exercise pen or separate room where it can safely observe visitors while learning to relax.

She emphasized that owners should avoid rewarding barking with attention and instead wait until the dog is calm before allowing interactions with guests.

One of the show’s most serious discussions centered on a 10-month-old Skye Terrier that bit a 12-year-old multiple times after the child attempted to take a Slinky from the dog’s mouth. Mazzola identified the behavior as resource guarding and said repeated bites during a single incident should be taken very seriously.

She advised the family to focus on strict management by keeping children from taking objects away from the dog, using crates or exercise pens to separate the dog when needed, and watching for warning signs such as freezing, staring or growling before a bite occurs. She also said families facing severe aggression may need to consider whether keeping the dog is the safest option.

The program also addressed puppy mouthing, with Mazzola explaining that young dogs naturally use their mouths while learning bite inhibition. Instead of allowing puppies to continue chewing on hands or clothing, she recommended brief timeouts whenever teeth make contact with skin so puppies learn that biting immediately ends play.

Before taking listener calls, Mazzola and Mitchell also discussed the challenges of exercising dogs during extreme summer heat, drawing on her recent trip to the Phoenix area. She noted that high temperatures and hot pavement can make daytime walks unsafe and suggested early morning or evening exercise, along with indoor activities, to keep dogs active in desert climates.

The full interview, including Mazzola’s responses to listener questions, can be heard in the audio player attached to this story.

Listen to the full interview: