My wife got a new rescue a little more than 6 months ago. He's a cute black and white mix, probably 3 years old. If he were pure he'd definitely be a papillion. I'm thinking he's got some baggage from the past as he'll sit in anyone's lap except mine. Before you pass judgement that I did something you need to know I'm a quadriplegic in a power chair.
When I'm laying in bed he has no problem jumping onto the bed to say hello nose to nose, although after this he prefer's to lay either within arm's reach or out of reach as he keeps an eye on his real master, my able-bodied wife. I've no problem playing second fiddle to her, it's the refusal to sit in my lap that gets me.
When I'm in my chair I've always been very careful to not to force him to move if possible or run him down or anything to scare him. We have another small rat terrier and she enjoys riding around on and sitting in my lap. If someone pick's him up and carries him to me he'll become frantic as they begin placing him on my lap and jump immediately off my lap if they do place him on my lap.
He enjoy's women the most, something we share. He'll jump up on the couch or lounge chair where a woman sits and be happy with their attention. He'll do the same with men if a woman isn't available.
He'll allow me to bend over and pet him although he's clearly shy about approaching my chair. Once after petting him he even jumped up to rest his front paws on my leg to ask for more attention. A couple months ago after inviting him to jump on my lap he did, but within a second he realized what he had done and jumped off. I've tried petting him more and I've tried feeding him treats. I've even tried ignoring him as a friend thought he'd eventually ask for my attention, wrong. The only improvement has been that in the early months he would scamper away as I in my chair approached a chair he would be sitting in. Now if I'm very slow I can approach and he'll allow me to pet him.
How can I get this dog to lose his fear of me and sit on my lap?
When I'm laying in bed he has no problem jumping onto the bed to say hello nose to nose, although after this he prefer's to lay either within arm's reach or out of reach as he keeps an eye on his real master, my able-bodied wife. I've no problem playing second fiddle to her, it's the refusal to sit in my lap that gets me.
When I'm in my chair I've always been very careful to not to force him to move if possible or run him down or anything to scare him. We have another small rat terrier and she enjoys riding around on and sitting in my lap. If someone pick's him up and carries him to me he'll become frantic as they begin placing him on my lap and jump immediately off my lap if they do place him on my lap.
He enjoy's women the most, something we share. He'll jump up on the couch or lounge chair where a woman sits and be happy with their attention. He'll do the same with men if a woman isn't available.
He'll allow me to bend over and pet him although he's clearly shy about approaching my chair. Once after petting him he even jumped up to rest his front paws on my leg to ask for more attention. A couple months ago after inviting him to jump on my lap he did, but within a second he realized what he had done and jumped off. I've tried petting him more and I've tried feeding him treats. I've even tried ignoring him as a friend thought he'd eventually ask for my attention, wrong. The only improvement has been that in the early months he would scamper away as I in my chair approached a chair he would be sitting in. Now if I'm very slow I can approach and he'll allow me to pet him.
How can I get this dog to lose his fear of me and sit on my lap?