Discussion
Following on from this thread a little while back:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I suspect this dog is an attention w
e. Everywhere we are in the house, he has to be too. He shadows anyone who is moving, no matter what they're doing. If we're sitting down on the sofa in the evening, he constantly nuzzles and nudges with his nose, hoping for a fuss. Ignoring him doesn't work - he just sidles closer and closer!
Every time we open a door, he races through it. The only way to stop him is to physically hold him back.
The worst problem though, and we can't be the only people this happens to, is 'grown up time'
Sitting together on the sofa he doesn't mind. If we hug, or kiss, he goes berserk though. It starts with whining, then quickly (like within 15 or 30 seconds) escalates to barking. He scuttles backwards, shoulders lower than hips, front paws spread, and barks. And barks. And barks. He doesn't stop until we separate again.
As stupid as it sounds, this makes sex a real PITA
If we shut him out of the room, he scratches, whines and howls at the door. If he's in the room, he whines and barks because we're together. The one time we were brave enough to let him in the bedroom, he took it in upon himself to jump on the bed, stand by our heads and whine at us from there! 
The only way to get any peace from him is to bribe him with a chew, and we then have exactly as long as it takes for him to devour that. To give you an idea, a 12" rawhide knotted bone will keep him occupied for about 15 minutes...
So.
Assuming this is attention seeking behaviour, do we just need to persevere in ignoring him and witholding the attention until his behaviour warrants it?
If it's not attention seeking, can anyone suggest another cause - and solution?
Thanks, frustratedly
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I suspect this dog is an attention w
e. Everywhere we are in the house, he has to be too. He shadows anyone who is moving, no matter what they're doing. If we're sitting down on the sofa in the evening, he constantly nuzzles and nudges with his nose, hoping for a fuss. Ignoring him doesn't work - he just sidles closer and closer!Every time we open a door, he races through it. The only way to stop him is to physically hold him back.
The worst problem though, and we can't be the only people this happens to, is 'grown up time'
Sitting together on the sofa he doesn't mind. If we hug, or kiss, he goes berserk though. It starts with whining, then quickly (like within 15 or 30 seconds) escalates to barking. He scuttles backwards, shoulders lower than hips, front paws spread, and barks. And barks. And barks. He doesn't stop until we separate again.
As stupid as it sounds, this makes sex a real PITA
If we shut him out of the room, he scratches, whines and howls at the door. If he's in the room, he whines and barks because we're together. The one time we were brave enough to let him in the bedroom, he took it in upon himself to jump on the bed, stand by our heads and whine at us from there! The only way to get any peace from him is to bribe him with a chew, and we then have exactly as long as it takes for him to devour that. To give you an idea, a 12" rawhide knotted bone will keep him occupied for about 15 minutes...
So.
Assuming this is attention seeking behaviour, do we just need to persevere in ignoring him and witholding the attention until his behaviour warrants it?
If it's not attention seeking, can anyone suggest another cause - and solution?
Thanks, frustratedly
mybrainhurts said:
Let him have a go, he might not like it...
he's been snipped, he wouldn't know what to do even if he could!Who me said:
Breed ?Not an expert on this, but the experts might be better able to help if they know the breed .
Staffy cross. Possibly part pitbull according to the OH, but looks like a Staffy to me.Edited by parapaul on Saturday 31st March 03:32
This will be one for the behaviour experts (ie not me - I know basics but I'd be wary of mis informing you) I haven't seen much of Mrs G on here much recently but she'll have some good info if she spots it.
Otherwise I'd be tempted to ask your vet if they know anyone who can help.
Somethings got to change!
Otherwise I'd be tempted to ask your vet if they know anyone who can help.
Somethings got to change!
Ignoring seems to help. In my presence, even the most boisterous dog (and this includes a three month old retriever) tends to end up lying down and staring into the middle distance. If he tries to get made a fuss of, ignore him a bit, and he'll give up. Either that or he'll piss on the carpet.
"...The only way to get any peace from him is to bribe him with a chew, and we then have exactly as long as it takes for him to devour that. To give you an idea, a 12" rawhide knotted bone will keep him occupied for about 15 minutes..."
So why waste money on 12" chews when 4" chews would do...
Sorry. Don't know the answer, but I suspect something along the lines of ignoring him then rewarding when he stops attention seeking will work. It'll take time though... both for him to give up attantion seeking and to make the connection with the reward.
So why waste money on 12" chews when 4" chews would do...
Sorry. Don't know the answer, but I suspect something along the lines of ignoring him then rewarding when he stops attention seeking will work. It'll take time though... both for him to give up attantion seeking and to make the connection with the reward.
parapaul said:
The worst problem though, and we can't be the only people this happens to, is 'grown up time'
Sitting together on the sofa he doesn't mind. If we hug, or kiss, he goes berserk though. It starts with whining, then quickly (like within 15 or 30 seconds) escalates to barking. He scuttles backwards, shoulders lower than hips, front paws spread, and barks. And barks. And barks. He doesn't stop until we separate again.
He's not attention seeking, Your wife is the alpha female, (as I take it she is the only "girl" in the house) and he is the Alpha male, he see's you as the challenging male. Get your self a decent trainer to help you reverse this before he decides you no longer have a place in his pack. Sitting together on the sofa he doesn't mind. If we hug, or kiss, he goes berserk though. It starts with whining, then quickly (like within 15 or 30 seconds) escalates to barking. He scuttles backwards, shoulders lower than hips, front paws spread, and barks. And barks. And barks. He doesn't stop until we separate again.
Been having a look around the t'interweb and I think the Alpha dog thing mentioned above is probably spot on.
Luckily, I have a couple of good chances over the next couple of months when the OH is away to spend some proper time with the dog to break this and hopefully encourage some better behaviour.
It's going to be fun though he's nearly 7 and has been this way all his life apparently. Accepting a new alpha male is no doubt going to be hard for him.
Luckily, I have a couple of good chances over the next couple of months when the OH is away to spend some proper time with the dog to break this and hopefully encourage some better behaviour.
It's going to be fun though
he's nearly 7 and has been this way all his life apparently. Accepting a new alpha male is no doubt going to be hard for him.
...Hey, parapaul, he says your wife smells like a doghttp://www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/
The above is a website of a fellow ph'er Nick j007. I don't know him personally and so it is just a suggestion to look at his site but he's given good advice on here in the past.
This is a paragraph on his site re: the Alpha dog approach
Owners who try to live with their dog within the principle of packs and trying to become 'Alpha' can encounter all sorts of problems as we are not living with wolves but domesticated dogs. Our modern domesticated dog is in fact now far removed from its cousin the wolf. As with all of these things, I encourage a sense of balance in how we live with our canine companions.
The above is a website of a fellow ph'er Nick j007. I don't know him personally and so it is just a suggestion to look at his site but he's given good advice on here in the past.
This is a paragraph on his site re: the Alpha dog approach
Owners who try to live with their dog within the principle of packs and trying to become 'Alpha' can encounter all sorts of problems as we are not living with wolves but domesticated dogs. Our modern domesticated dog is in fact now far removed from its cousin the wolf. As with all of these things, I encourage a sense of balance in how we live with our canine companions.
Edited by bexVN on Sunday 1st April 21:15
Dogs don't feel jealousy. We superimpose our own emotions on amimals or interpret thier action using our emotions as a basis for that interpretation. Dogs are fairly simple creatures; they are pack animals and need a pack leader. Thats needs to be you and the oh. At the moment it sounds like your dog thinks he's the pack leader and is confused because you don't act like his pack should.
Watch the Dogwhisperer. Very good programme re. dog behaviour and once you've seen a few you'll notice the common thread - you need to be the boss.
This doesn't mean shouting at him or making him sit / stay / lie down. That in itself means sod all to a dog. It's about being the boss in a way the dog understands. E.g. letting a dog through a door first gives him a signal that he's dominant over you so always enter a room or go out first and make the dog follow. Don't give him food off your plate, to him that's a big time signal he's the boss (when did you ever see wild dogs such as wolves share?).
Lot's of other stuff too. As I say, try the Dog Whisperer, use some of his ideas, always be consistant - don't send mixed messages. If that doesn't work go to a pro or give up on the "grown up stuff"
Watch the Dogwhisperer. Very good programme re. dog behaviour and once you've seen a few you'll notice the common thread - you need to be the boss.
This doesn't mean shouting at him or making him sit / stay / lie down. That in itself means sod all to a dog. It's about being the boss in a way the dog understands. E.g. letting a dog through a door first gives him a signal that he's dominant over you so always enter a room or go out first and make the dog follow. Don't give him food off your plate, to him that's a big time signal he's the boss (when did you ever see wild dogs such as wolves share?).
Lot's of other stuff too. As I say, try the Dog Whisperer, use some of his ideas, always be consistant - don't send mixed messages. If that doesn't work go to a pro or give up on the "grown up stuff"
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