training suggestions?

[Doc]

Hi all!

I'm new here- just put my introduction on the site today.  I have a few questions I hope experienced people  here can help me with.

problem # 1:

My little dude is, unfortunately, crated all day while I work. When I get home, he is so excited to see me that after I open the crate, he spends several minutes jumping on me.  I've trying like the dickens to stop this jumping behavior.  I turn my back on him on him maybe a week or so but he just keeps jumping on my back.  I've tried  pushing him off while saying "off" but that isn't working.  I've tried being at his level so he doesn't jump, but he just puts his paws on my shoulders and nips at my face.  I thought this was only because I was gone all day at work, but today I was gone for only 2 hrs and he did the same thing.

I know have to choose one method and stick with it for consistency.  What is the best way to eliminate this?  What am I doing wrong?  

problem # 2: 

Sarge is biting his leg.  Almost all the hair is off from ankle to mid hip on his one leg. At the groomer's suggestion, I switched him to a different, protein diet.   I also took  him to the petsmart vet (I have a wellness package there).  She said it didn't look like anything in particular, but she ran a few hundred dollars in tests.....    I'll get the results next week.  In the meantime, it was suggested to give him a certain amt of benedryl.  Since daddy is gone for a two more weeks and he will remain crated during the day for those 2 weeks, I guess the benedryl will help while I can't monitor him.  Perhaps it just became a habit and med will help him get over the habit?  Opinions?

Thanks, in advance, for any advice and opinions.  It's been over a decade for me to be a mom of a puppy...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would not let him out of the crate until he's calm.  You walk in....don't say a word...go to open the crate and if he shows excitement close it right back up and wait...then start again.  If he seems calm and you let him out but right away he starts jumping I'd put him right back in for a few minutes.  Don't say a word...just put him back.  Eventually he'll learn the "rules" about coming out of the crate...it will take time and consistency.  Remember that it's very hard for him to be crated all day...do you have a dog walker or someone who lets him out to potty? I guess it's difficult to give any advice on the "leg biting" until you get the test results back....I'm not sure what tests were run.  Some of that may be frustration at being crated for so long.  I'm also surprised that the Vet recommended Benedryl.  My Vet feels that Claritin is more effective, but it might be to try to calm him and make him sleepy while he's crated.  Good luck...let us know what the test results show.

[Doc]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I will try that Monday.   I should have said that he started biting his leg while daddy was here and he was not crated at all during the day.  He just hasn't stopped.  

Is benedryl bad for him???  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

No, in the proper dosage Benedryl is fine....it just has the side effect of making them a little sleepy.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Benadryl is an antihistamine which might help a bit if there is any histaminic reaction to what he has or what he's doing. The problem is that it is sedating but sometimes this side effect is a positive. There is no real downside to trying it but I don't know that it will help. Having someone stop by during the day would be good. You could also try a spray for itching with some hydrocortisone in it. Good luck.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I would do the crate excitement a little differently.  Roo had the same problem and I taught him to go and find a certain toy in his case it was zogoflex bone that we play fetch with.  Roo loves to play fetch.  At first I had to snap his leash on while he was in his crate and have the bone near all the while saying "get bone and using the leash to keep him directed.  Then we would immediately go outside and play fetch to work off some energy.

I also worked on "get bone" at odd times not connected to the crate so he would understand what I meant.

This was easy to transition to other times he got excited -  people at the door etc and kept his mouth occupied. 

Roo is now 7 and Tigger 6. Tigger learned to get bone from watching Roo and both go and get a bone when they are excited.  We do have about 8-10 zogoflex bones strewn all over!!