Stressmagnet

Ok. So what am I supposed to do? My point is - visitors DON'T 'ignore the behaviour'. So what do you suggest? Happy to take your lead on this, I just don't see that what I'm doing is different from the suggestions. To recap: No pats until 4 on the floor and calm behaviour. If he persists, he gets removed. Problem: Visitors ignore my request so he gets rewarded for acting like a pork chop. Solution: I remove him until he calms, then we let him try again. Visitor continues to rev him up - he ends up removed again. Where do you see I am going wrong? I'm not trying to 'regiment' him - I just want a polite dog.

No words. A disgrace to the uniform. Next they'll be spraying 4 year olds who are having tantrums just for yuks.

The problem is: I own a labrador who loves loves people and who assumes the entire world will love him back and oh my gosh there might be treats or an ear rub etc etc. I have friends who (gasp) don't like dogs. Who don't want to be pestered. So I need to train Ernie not to bother people; not to be boisterous and not to try and kiss every inch of everybody. He's a puppy - he hasn't developed the facility to tell who likes him and who doesn't. So I need to put rules in place for EVERYONE who comes over - that way, the ones who DO like dogs can fuss over him and the ones that don't can ignore him. The only way I can think of doing that is to ask my visitors to do as I ask - ignore him when he behaves like a pork chop and reward him when he's calm. Hopefully, as he ages, he'll learn to leave the ones who can't be bothered with him alone - because he'll be in a calm state already. When a visitor encourages the jumping up or the slobbery kisses -- it sets his training back. Yes, I could crate him each and every time we have someone over, but that, to me, defeats the purpose of having a dog as s family member. If he was a child; and I asked folks not to touch his face or to kiss him - they'd more than likely listen. Why am I ignored because he's s dog? (Edited typos) You don't have to justify your training methods to me, if you like them and they work for you, go for it :) I am simply stating what I do and I have raised and socialised dogs successfully with this method. My Dane also loves everyone, and because of her size it is important she is not boisterous with guests too. I do think it's a little OTT to say that putting your dog in the crate for five or ten minutes defeats the purpose of having them as a family member. What it simply does is set the dog up for success. I can't expect my young dog to behave when he or she is dizzy with excitement, which usually occurs in the initial arrival. They can be in the crate and come out when they are calm and have a better chance of succeeding. If Ernie calmed down, I'd let him out. Then he gets worked up again by people who won't listen, so I have to crate him again. So he ends up a lot in the crate if people just won't listen. I'm glad your dog doesn't behave like this. Maybe mine just needs to grow up a little

The problem is: I own a labrador who loves loves people and who assumes the entire world will love him back and oh my gosh there might be treats or an ear rub etc etc. I have friends who (gasp) don't like dogs. Who don't want to be pestered. So I need to train Ernie not to bother people; not to be boisterous and not to try and kiss every inch of everybody. He's a puppy - he hasn't developed the facility to tell who likes him and who doesn't. So I need to put rules in place for EVERYONE who comes over - that way, the ones who DO like dogs can fuss over him and the ones that don't can ignore him. The only way I can think of doing that is to ask my visitors to do as I ask - ignore him when he behaves like a pork chop and reward him when he's calm. Hopefully, as he ages, he'll learn to leave the ones who can't be bothered with him alone - because he'll be in a calm state already. When a visitor encourages the jumping up or the slobbery kisses -- it sets his training back. Yes, I could crate him each and every time we have someone over, but that, to me, defeats the purpose of having a dog as s family member. If he was a child; and I asked folks not to touch his face or to kiss him - they'd more than likely listen. Why am I ignored because he's s dog? (Edited typos)

Love it. Added to the list. Going to beat the jumping at the garden hose, for sure. My 11 year old played with Ernie using it for 15 minutes. He cried uncle and lay down in the shade. HAHAHAHAHA! Revenge is sweet.

Ernie has a FatCat Penguin, a FatCat alligator and all 3 Gruntleys stashed away. He's also got a replacement Wild Knot Bear and a grunty duck hidden away as replacements. I gave him his Bark Target early as the pure satisfaction I get from watching him try to tear my FEX's arm off is pure gold. He's also getting a Furminator which will be used with caution. I've taken off 4 grocery bags worth of hair from him this past week alone and my arm is killing me. I reckon I'll give it a go and if it wrecks his coat; I'll add it to the pile of dog crap I don't use. Oh. I bought him a Flirt Pole. He used it yesterday for the first time and ermahgawd that thing is GOLD.

I'm FB friends with Ernie's breeder. Hope she's not having second thoughts!!

Just Bought A Flirt pole. Best thing ever.

I get really really narky. They get to go home. I get to be left with 28kgs of dog who has to go back to square one. I've actually said 'if you can't treat him properly, I'll crate him and its your fault'. Yeah, I'm the crazy dog lady.

What a cutie. So sorry for your loss.

Sounds like the breeder gives a dm about her pups. I'd be impressed.

To hell with it. Turn the hose on them. I'd rather risk being the scary mean woman than try to appeal to a teenagers good sense. I have two teenagers.

Excellent analogy. We do a lab get together once a fortnight and someone ALWAYS brings a ball. Ernie could care less mostly but to see other normally placid dogs have a go over s ball... Is frightening. I never take anything of Ernie's out when he'll be off lead. As far as I can tell he doesn't have issues but why would I want to find out in a situation where i might not have control? With Georgia (AmStaff), she was fine unless there was a ball involved. And I never want to be the cause of that again.

Would you mind explaining what you do during the structured time? First we do 5-10 minutes of reinforcing what he already knows. Do each command 3 times ;sit/stay/cone/place/spin/roll over) Then we do 10 minutes on a new trick. Currently we are learning to sit/stay before going for the tennis ball. If he's not getting it, we break it down into smaller steps that he CAN get. We end it with 2 goes on a trick he does well so he's happy and feels like a smart boy. I usually end with 'go to your place' so it gets him where I want him for the evening. I've a list of things to teach him when he gets this new one - I bought '101 Dog Tricks' - it's broken down by difficulty and really good for inspiration. It's really important to throw a new trick in there to wear Ernie out. He's a cocky fellow and learns quickly so I need to ensure he's akways thinking. The next trick will be 'play dead' cos it looks like a hard one.

Just wanted to add my .02 I've an 8 month old lab boy. Our regime is as follows: He gets an hour's amble in the morning. This walk is part exercise (off lead romping), walking, and some sits/stays/come etc. it's a mish mash. He hangs out doing not much - getting himself into mischief but hanging with me or on his own for a bit until the girls get home. They spend an hour or a little less playing with him. There's some commands in there for practice. He comes in for dinner. Then - very important - he gets 15 minutes of structured brain games. If we skip this - he takes much longer to settle down. It's key. While he gets 5-10 of training every time I get a chance, it's that structured 15 minutes that works his brain and gets him ready to switch off. It's the time I teach him something new. You can see his brain working. Like you, I used to think it was the physical exercise that wore them out but it's not. An hours walk tethered to a human who walks much slower than them will never tire a dog out. But couple that with making the dog think - and I reckon it's the magic combo. Plus, you end up with a really cool impressively trained (and bonded dog).

Ernie's only drive lately is food. You'd think I starved him. He's starting Rally/Obedience in January because he needs something to do besides EAT.

Since neutering, Ernie's hadn't made as many appearances. It does seem to pop when he's really happy or excitedly playing. We all just go 'eww, put away' and he looks very sadly at his offending knob.

Great to know. Because I can't afford a Mason Pearson brush for me, either -- so I'm pretty sure the dog isn't getting the first one. I use a rake and a slicker brush (mid price range) and Ernie is meh about the whole process unless copious bits of food are involved. I might check out horse stuff for Xmas. Any good online sites/brands? I'm over spending a fortune on dog shampoo as well - considering I wash my hair with the cheap litre bottles from Chemist Warehouse. :D

I'm with (cough) Bow Wow Meow. I'm happy with everything but the stupid name.

Breathe. You are taking steps to get it sorted. Many people would ignore or not have realised its severity till much later (I'm looking at YOU, ex-husband). You will have a strategy and you are already implementing a interim one. Good for you.

Yeah, he needs to be 18 months. But that won't stop me getting him on the right path and getting him ready. I think he'd love it, he just needs to mature a little and we have only been together 6 weeks so I'd like our bond to deepen. One of the ways I can think of doing that is continuing his obedience education and that will stand him in good stead when he gets to that age. Very happy to see a positive note on Velma. It's local so it will be simple to ease him in, as they run obedience courses as well. I'm so glad I found you guys.

Sorry, it's the pills. But I can get the liquid if you need... I take it daily but I always seem to have extra at the the end of the month. Since I'm on a pension; I get worrying about expenses.

Then relax. And suck up to your immediate neighbours on either side. I had this issue with my previous dog. Got blamed for the Doodle something behind. I sucked up big time (I have no shame) and in time, I was known as the woman with the GOOD dogs.

Ernie was crate trained from day one; as have all my previous dogs. Treats, a favourite toy, a covered area at the back for a den -- all my dogs loved their crates.

I'd do a letter drop to all neighbours telling them it wasn't your dogs and to direct the complaints at the neighbour who THEY ARE SURE have the noisy dogs (and don't give them any hints). Might put in a friendly 'feel free to drop by any time to meet my dogs and reassure yourselves (you gutless wonders).