Lincoln was too rough at play outside again

[Diane Denney]

Hi Folks,

My dog Lincoln has had extreme mouthing issues since we've had him. I have worked diligently on this by using all the suggested advice that man kind could give me. Mostly putting him in his crate when he doesn't play well has been the best, but I haven't really gone outside in the backyard with him as that is where he just goes out of control grabbing our clothes and tugging and biting. This is not aggressive behavior, but he just doesn't get it. He sees me as a big chew play toy. This morning I decided to step outside with him and he was like whoa wait a minute and off he went trying to pull on my coat sleeves etc... I ended up with a tooth in my thumb and a blood blister while trying to wrestle him to a posturing position. I was so angry!!! I don't want to be but his behavior is making me mad. I thought by now that he would have come around from this as he'll be a year old in two weeks. I have stopped him from doing this in the house. Every now and again he tries to push the envelope, but the inside rough play has wiened down to almost nil except that he still is not leaving my older dog alone, and so that is stressful. I'm working on that too, and I think he's finally getting it. He has been in training since he was a puppy and plays with a Pitt Bull in class all the time. He is a sweet dog, and I just need some support because it really disappointed me this morning to have him behave that way still outside with me. I think when I go outside I need to put him on a gentle leader to let him know I'm boss outside too. I also have made a mistake lately by playing a bit of tug with him inside as he seemed to get a little better. Of course I'm really scared of this behavior, but I know he's still a puppy, but his teeth hurt!!!! I'm looking for someone who's had a similar situation to give me some tips and support.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Diane, I had a disappointing day with my doodle today too. I think the snow is slowly driving me crazy and I was so frustrated today and last night with her, that I was convinced I had the worst doodle ever. After a little retail therapy, I decided that I need to devote more time each day to her training, because I know she is a great dog! I will say that since we have had all this snow, she is starting to grab her leash when we are outside walking in the snow and jumping, etc. and she does not normally do this. We are not getting the same level of activity, so I know that is part of the problem. It always happens when we head back to the house, so maybe she is trying to get me to stay outside. I have no idea, but it is frustrating. Believe me, I feel your pain. I love the idea with the zogoflex bone.

[Diane Denney]

Sigh...Thank you so much for your support. I really needed it. I tried to calm myself down tonight and be in a very calm state of mind around him hoping to send the vibes his way!!! LOL

My husband has been jogging with Lincoln, and that really helps, but it has been so cold and snowy here that it hasn't been an option lately. My husband is a marathon runner, and he gets the magazine Runner's World and in it there was a guy who runs dogs for a living!!! My husband was thinking about doing it part time. I think you'd have to have all your T's crossed and I's dotted before you start something like that, but I think it's a great idea as long as the dog has a clean bill of health to run.

@ Maryann How do you get your dog to hold a bone (Zogoflex) in his mouth for more than a few seconds. Lincoln will fetch a webbed ball, his rope, and his wooby, and bring them to me and drop them in my lap. He's very smart, but as you say I think he is a bit slower in the growing up department. As I mentioned he was cooped up a little too long in his younger years without socialization and training, but he gets alot of that now every Saturday he goes to training and Petsmart, and meets lots of other dogs.

@ Laurie LOL "Retail Therapy". I do that sometimes too!! I spent a half hour last night with training teaching him to stay and leave it at the same time which is one of the things he has to do to pass the intermediate course. He has to wait at a door and let me go through before him, sit, down, or stand stay and leave a cookie in front of him with me away from him for at least a minute or two (I can't remember), and go to his bed from a distance and lie down, and stay for a few minutes on his bed. He did not pass the course the last time, and is currently in a redo. He could do everything, but not on the first try or for long enough. I hope he passes it this time!! I have another 7 weeks to go!! He can't do the advanced class until he's 16 months old.

Thanks again everyone. I feel better now!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My Springer gets so excited that he jumps when we come home. We have never been able to break him entirely of this but we did get him to grab a toy so we don't get mouthed. The way we did it was just to grab a toy and put it in his mouth every time we came home. Very quickly, he learned to run grab one and greet us with it in his mouth. Our doodle just picked up the same habit.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Diane, Wow! Your dog sounds like a genius to me. I am starting Petsmart classes in April with the goal of getting her in some agility training. I had hopes of therapy work, but the last time I took her where I volunteer (at an Assisted Living Facility) she jumped all over my friend, the receptionist, and stood at the window and barked. MInd you, she was a lot younger, but still not too impressive. We just keep working at it. Every dog has it's day! Take care.

[Kathy (Ellie & Oliver)]

I use a squirt bottle filled with water. I still have several strategically place around the house. When he was younger, I carried one with me. Our Oliver was extremely mouthy. He is now two and still likes to grab the sleeves of my coat. As others mentioned, continued training, using pent up energy, and consistency are also key elements in a dog's life. Be patient and keep trying. Just a thought- I believe that our vet and trainer suggested that our doodles refrain from jogging until they were 18 months old. It had some thing to do with their development and growing. Not that I would take them jogging with my bad knees but my niece had asked when the dogs were younger. Keep the faith!!!!!!! All of your hard work with Lincoln will pay off in the end!!!!!!

[Diane Denney]

@ Kathy - I tried the squirt bottle, but he loves it!!! He actually thinks it's a game!!! I could drench him with it and he wouldn't mind.

@ Laurie - I am hoping to make Lincoln a therapy dog too eventually, but right now he'd be the complete opposite!!! LOL He is a smarty pants, but that doesn't mean he's easier to train. He's very very stubborn, and bold. He will try and outsmart us all the time, and try to lure us into chase situations, but I don't buy into it anymore. Let me know how it goes with the training!! I think Lincoln could be good at Agility, but I think he needs to listen a lot better first.

I couldn't get Lincoln to hang onto his rope or ball this evening when Craig came in. Should I just keep trying to put it in his mouth?

[Natasha]

If you get advance warning that your husband is about to enter the house, you might try sitting near the door with a big batch of Lincoln's favorite treats and put Lincoln in a down stay. Keep feeding him treats as you say "stay to greet" or "wait to greet." Literally, sit right there with him and pet him and plow treats into him while repeating your phrase over and over (the good thing about this is that it gives you the ability to grab him if you need to and if you're really concerned about him getting overly excited, I recommend putting him on a leash when you do this for the first few weeks and if he gets up, put him right back down into a down stay).

Your husband should then enter the house, ignoring Lincoln until he's put his stuff down and is ready to greet you (first) and then Lincoln. Lincoln should remain in a down stay until your husband greets him (calmly) and hands him a toy.

The goal is to get Lincoln to see your husband's arrival (or yours - you should have your husband do this as well) as a calm, positive experience.

This takes awhile, but if done consistently each night, he'll get it (assuming he's food motivated).

Oh - another trick is to set this up on a day where Lincoln has been walked and is tired and you and your husband have been around (so, like a weekend). Three times that day, have your husband go in and out of the entry door three to four times each successfully with you doing this routine. Better is if you trade off on who is doing the holding/treating and who is doing the entry. Doing a set up for a few days in a row before you do this when the person has been gone all day will really help decrease the time it takes for Lincoln to understand what you want from him vs the reward that he gets from greeting people in a crazy manner.

[Diane Denney]

Thanks!! The only problem is is that I already ruined my older dog. He greets badly!!! Very in your face, but in a good way. He love to say hi and give kisses, but it can be annoying. We tried the come in and say nothing or look at them, but it's hard to do that right now as we are always rushing them out to potty when we come in from work. I'm still a little afraid of Lincoln having accidents. He has a tendancy to pee in excitement at that time. He doesn't do that at all any other time. He did have some submissive peeing when he was younger when people greeted him. He doesn't do that anymore.

[Natasha]

If you can, give this routine a shot (with both dogs). Teaching them that greetings are calm but rewarding events (hence the treats and petting) may solve multiple issues.

[Diane Denney]

I'll give it a try!!

[pamela]

i feel your pain, when Morgan gets happy he does the same when i'm outside with him. he also does a herding thing...grabs my ankle, someone should take a picture, i freeze (particularly when my ankles are bare...lol) & Morgan freezes with his butt in the air & we both stay that way for a couple seconds...:) i adopted him in May & my vet thought he was 10 months, i've been working with him on a lot of things (ie: he would let me touch his feet, growling when i came near his food bowl, basic commands, etc) but he still put holes in some of clothes if i'm not careful...:) i'm also considering a formal class but everything i can find seems to be "puppy" classes & athough "we" need work i do think we're past the puppy stage...lol.

[Diane Denney]

:D Training is awesome!!! Lincoln has changed ALOT since he has been to training. We go to PetSmart, and the trainer there is just awesome. He has 14 or so years experience training dogs, and he is so nice. He asks every session if we are having any specific problems and then offers solutions. The other thing is he gets very well socialized there because of all the other dogs. They also have a rescue that's in there on Saturday for dog adoptions so there are alot of distractions too so he's getting alot of challenge. I would find a qualified trainer that you like and ask them where to start Morgan. Lincoln is repeating intermediate training right now because he didn't pass the first time. He could do everything, but not for long enough, and on the first try. They let us repeat the course free of charge. I will take him to advanced after he turns 16 months, and then I'm going to try for the GCC (Good Canine Citizen). I wish I would have done this with my older dog, but I'm teaching him a few things too!!! I get socialized too :D!!! I fortunately do not have any food aggression issues with Lincoln. I can put my hand in his food bowl while he's eating. I did that with my first dog too. Every time I fed him as a puppy I would swoosh my hand around in his food and feed him some by hand, and also hold his bone while he chewed on it. Have fun and good luck with Morgan!!!