This behavior is getting really annoying...help!

[Laura & Chewie]

Well I think most of you know our problem with Chewie's resource guarding...have been working on that and are proud of his progress...BUT, he is being such a brat!  When he wants our attention he barks at us (like we understand doggie talk) and when that doesn't work he jumps at us and bites at our clothes.  Of course, that often results in getting a little skin in between those teeth also.  I know he isn't being aggresive at all...just going all out to get our attention.  During this behavior he gets very excited and exuberant, so giving him a command to calm him down is usually useless.  If I can grab him I can usually get him to sit and calm down, but that is easier said than done.  Any move toward him he interprets as play...yeah, let's chase Chewie...he loves it.  He is starting to do this more and more.  It doesn't matter if he has been at daycare that day or not, so not because of lack of exercise.

 

I have read Adina mentioning Roscoe's biting so much his first year...if you're reading this, was it this type of behavior or something else?

 

As usual, all comments and suggestions welcome and appreciated.

 

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

When Chewie does this type of behavior can you completly ignore him. If you get up and walk away from the situation, don't go in his direction cause your giving him exactly what he wants "Attention", he thinks it's play time! He is feeding off this as... If I do this...I get this response...wow do I have you trained! Even if you just sit there and ignore him totally (don't look at him, don't say a word to him) he will stop..he is not getting the Attention he desires. It could take you 50xs of doing this, but the more consistant you are, the better chance's he will stop. Hope this helps some

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

There is a dog in Murphy's puppy class who does the exact same thing. Our trainer told the owners to do just what Hannah said...ignore the behavior. When it stops, then you give the attention. If it gets totally obnoxious, the puppy needs to go to the crate to calm down.

[Meridith and Lola]

When Lola was about 13 - 14 months she started doing this same behavior on a regular basis (especially when I was on the phone. So one time she did it, I took a can with coins and shook it behind my back. Stopped her in her tracks and almost never does this behavior again. (she was a little mad at me but she got over it!). When I see her looking like she may start the barking, I also do do what Hannah recommended and get up and move out of the room without looking at her. Also very effective.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Same thing with Peri. I feel your pain. She loves barking for attention. I will try a whistle I think.
Taquito goes in his crate (which is teensy - you all would die laughing!) to get away from her.
And while I have 2-3 antlers lying around at any time, they both fight over the same one. If T gets it for once, Peri barks barks barks until he gives it up.
Whistle or something noisy is coming soon!

[Laura & Chewie]

I would like to just ignore him, but he is persistent...if it was just the jumping, but he then progresses to the nipping. I have put him in the bathroom for a little timeout, assuming I can grab him. Sometimes it works, other times he continues with the behavior when he comes out. I will definitely have to try some sort of loud noise to see if that startles him enough to stop. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Ginny Nightingale]

I know they can be persistent--But do try the ignoring--it does work! My trainer calls it "being a tree". Stand still, look straight ahead and don't move or look at Chewie. Don't respond in any way. Be patient! it may take 5 minutes for the dog to give up! Of course, if he is nipping at you, that is another story isn't it... If Chewie had a leash on in the house, ALL THE TIME, you wouldn't have to worry about catching him--do that! Also you can get the gentle leader that goes around the muzzle. They don't like it at first, but it gives you total control over his head and if it has a leash attached in the house, you can correct him quickly--or at least catch him.

[Kathy Spyker]

Lilly use to do this alot with me too. She would circle me and growl and get my skin behind my arm (ouch). She would just nip enough to pinch. I would get so mad and tried to ignore her but nothing worked, I just got madder. Then I started to detour her attention to something else. Like " Go get the ball", "Where's the bunny"" Lets get a cookie" and by the time she went to look for the ball, bunny, she would be over her attitude. She would try again in a day or so, but I would get her to focus on something else. She either grew out of it or forgot that she acted that way because it has been months since she behaved that way.

[Laura & Chewie]

Thanks...I totally know what you mean by the skin behind my arm (unfortunately!). I am going to try all suggestions and hope he outgrows some of this sooner rather then later...LOL.

[shelly]

Laura - tori did this too when she was younger. Our trainer told us to try the "Tree thing" - nope! Just got nipped behind the arm, ankles, torn shirts as she jumped up at us. Mostly she did this to my older son - don't really know why - he was 14 at the time....We were also told to put our knee up when she jumped to stop her, but one time my son got so "P.O.d" that I think she got the wind knocked out of her - didn't stop her later on tho' (Scared ME though). I don't know what really worked finally - time- age???? But I too tethered her all day and when she nipped and 'charged' I had her leash and really let her know how upset I was and yelled - LOUD., banged some pot covers too. (funny she really doesn't like loud noises - unless it's HER making it) She too was relentless and sometimes she still tries to test the waters, but it is MUCH easier to calm her down... good luck! I know how frustrating it can be!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca got like this when he was tired. I learned to put him in his crate or on a metal leash I attached to a doorknob. After a couple of minutes he'd settle down and take a nap. After that he'd be his usual sweet self.

[Adina P]

Rosco was as relentless but not exactly the same. Details:
-- He sometimes looked playful but other times appeared VICIOUS to me...I was scared at times. It really upset Clark once when he saw HOW bad Rosco could get.
-- His nips HURT (not pointy puppy teeth pain, but stronger than that).
---He was relatively random, sometimes while training, other times while I tried to trim roses in the yard, other times when he objected to what I wanted to do with him (brush, etc), on walks, and instances when I had no clue (boredom, hyperness?)
-- He ONLY did this to me. Not Clark or guests or friends.
-- When he did this on leash as 12-16 week old (for example) I still couldn't control him. He'd just go for my ankles or whatever he could.

We had a major power struggle at some of those times.

I don't believe ignoring would have ultimately been useful for him...I tried it a couple times but it was too scary because he got bigger and could jump pretty high. He'd bite my back if I turned around. So...inevitably I did like most people and tried 101 things. When I finally put my foot down and got serious about training it stopped. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don't think so.

[Laura & Chewie]

Thanks Adina. Since I wasn't a DK member at that time, I have often wondered what Roscoe's behavior was. Yes, Chewie's is definitely attention seeking...still not acceptable. I know what you mean about the power struggles...crazy eh? Like trying to reason with a 2 year old. Oh well, this too shall pass...LOL.