"Pawing"

[Nina Vantschip]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop one of my doods from constantly "pawing" us. He just has to be in contact with one of us and insists on pawing. It's getting to be a bit annoying.

Thanks

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Zoe paws EVERYTHING! But she stopped pawing at my face because I grabbed her paw once and sternly said "no". She still paws DH, at ben, at doors to open them, and to grab things if they are not within reach or under something. I think it's because we taught her "shake" and "high five".

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Fozzie does tend to paw a little more now that I've taught him give me 5. When he does paw I stop petting/touching him and will turn away and say "eh, eh". When he stops them I'll pet him again. If I touch him in any way when he paws, even to push him away, I've just given him the attention he was demanding with the pawing.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

The "eh-eh" was going to be my suggestion as well, the most useful word in our list for Meg.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I always correct "pawing".  It's a way for them to "demand" attention, and I really don't like it.  Here's what I do...give a firm verbal correction with whatever word of sound you use....if it doesn't stop I literally walk into them (if I'm sitting I stand and walk into them)...this throws them off balance a bit and they get the message.  The thing is you have to do it EVERY time.  My Murph tries this with every new person who visits...he just tried it a few times this weekend with Karen (and she didn't allow it either).

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Thanks Jane for this advice.  Libby has been doing this lately when people come into our home and it drives me crazy.  

[Nina Vantschip]

I like to think I have been trying to correct it, but you're right it has to be EVERY time, and I"m sure me sounding frustrated isn't going to help either. I have tried everyone's suggestions at one time or another, but I am really going to have to just stick to one. He does respond to the eh-eh ( as I have been told I do this rather well..lol ). I just did this with a firm removal of the paw and ignored him. He is now in the down position at my feet. He's a big teddy bear (about 90 lbs ), and I think he`s just vying for my affection first and foremost over the other 2 doods we have. It`s just when he looks at me with his big green eyes, I tend to melt....even tho I am very proactive as the alpha pack leader, this little bad habit has just been getting worse as of late. Thanks everyone for the input. I`m glad others share this habit as well. Is it a doodle thing

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

IMO, if you touch him, even to remove his paw, he is getting attention from you, good or bad, it's attention.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My Oliver paws at me... great information, I am going to try some of these tips !!!

[Jennifer Tramell]

I would catch his paw and hold it - not harshly just gently and firmly.  Hold the paw and then set it down and give him a command "lay down", "go to the bed", "go on", whatever.  You are taking control of his game, changing the rules, and redirecting the behavior.  If you can make it no fun, he won't want to do it and you won't have to add one more "no" to all the other "nos".

Just a suggestion :-)  I've found that there are so many things to tell a dog "no" for, sometimes it loses it's effectiveness so I try to help my dogs to choose to end the behavior on their own. 

I have taught my dogs to shake hands, high five, etc, so I don't think that pawing is a result of those taught behaviors.  My dogs lay their paw on my lap, but they don't paw us (they don't like their foot held).

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Don't pay attention to her when she does it and she'll eventually figure out it's not getting her anywhere.  

For Luna even eye contact or a verbal reprimand is "attention" and she'd probably continue to do it... she's stubborn :p

[Hua]

Charlie used to do that a lot, he would pawn and constantly try to climb into my lap when I'm sitting on the floor.  When he does that, I either stand up or turn away and not pay attention to him (no talking, no eye contact, etc).  Now he still occasionally does it, but as soon as I stand up he'll know and put himself in a sit position and look at me.  I would then reach down and give him a gentle pet.  Sometimes when I sit down on the floor again, he'll still be sitting and then I'll pet my knee and say 'come on' and let him climb onto my lap for cuddle.  It's still a work in progress for me. Good luck with your little guy.