Beretta is giving me a problem I can't solve nor ignore anymore. When ever I am petting Remington she diverts my attention from him in any way she can. I ignore her and keep my attention focused On Rem and she starts biting me. Biting any body part she can get to. If she can't get to me, she starts biting him so he moves. I know he needs my time and attention and I don't want him left out of the petting, but Bereta is accomplishing her goal very affectively. It's very hard to ignore a dog who is litterally biting the hand that feeds her. What to do? Beretta is a 5mo old Lab.
Very frustrating habit i can't ignore anymore!
- Thread starter Berettas Mom
- Start date
"Leave it" and "down- stay"! She needs to understand that at no time does she use her teeth on humans and when she's being pushy, she'll be required to "work", not be pet. If you're consistent about making her perform obedience commands everytime she draws attention to herself in this manner, she should start responding to just a "leave it" when she tries to come between you and Remington. Proof those commands and she'll outgrow this quickly. Good luck!
You have to stop it. If what otch1 says doesn't help, the get up put her in a different room, or in her crate. Do not talk to her, do not make eye contact with her. Simply get up, slip your hand in her collar, and remove her. In a few minutes, as long as she is not screaming at your audacity to remove her, go get her and pet her.
Any dog here who tries to bully their way into the attention-getting gets a very firm NO. If they continue being rude, they get quietly removed to the kitchen.
Any dog here who tries to bully their way into the attention-getting gets a very firm NO. If they continue being rude, they get quietly removed to the kitchen.
I agree with the others.
Also worth pointing out that the dog isn't purposely trying to be rude or "bad" she is like a toddler trying anything that will work to get your attention. You know how kids start with "mom? Mom. MOM MOOOOOM!!!!! and eventually start doing things that they know will get your attention? Same thing really. Labs and puppies in general are soo mouthy and physical in play. She just needs to learn that being rude, pushy or mouthy never works. Mouthy= social isolation. Just make sure you give her something that DOES work. Ie catch her doing something right. Give her attention for "good behavior". Make sure she knows how she CAN get your attention. Teaching a default sit works well for that. teh biggest problem in getting a "bad" behavior to extinguish is not giving the dog an alternate behavior that works.
Also worth pointing out that the dog isn't purposely trying to be rude or "bad" she is like a toddler trying anything that will work to get your attention. You know how kids start with "mom? Mom. MOM MOOOOOM!!!!! and eventually start doing things that they know will get your attention? Same thing really. Labs and puppies in general are soo mouthy and physical in play. She just needs to learn that being rude, pushy or mouthy never works. Mouthy= social isolation. Just make sure you give her something that DOES work. Ie catch her doing something right. Give her attention for "good behavior". Make sure she knows how she CAN get your attention. Teaching a default sit works well for that. teh biggest problem in getting a "bad" behavior to extinguish is not giving the dog an alternate behavior that works.
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try the sit or down response as i don't want to put her in her crate for punishment and she'll just sit in the next room and bark or whine. i understand this is meerly an attention getter and she's still a pup, but i need to nip it in the bud now, while she's young and impressionable.
What I am talking about with crating is not a punishment, IMO. NO talking, no eye contact, just quietly lead her to her crate and shut the door. I look at it as more of a time out, time for the dog to settle down. And always, after the crating, take her out for HER attention time, removing the other dog if necessary.
To me, for something to be a punishment, there has to be a negative involved, either verbal or physical. Putting a dog quietly into her crate is not punishment unless you add other things to the action (ie. "You pushy dog! You get in that crate and don't come out 'til I tell you to!).
If she barks or whines, then deal with that separately. Tell her to knock it off, be quiet, whatever your HUSH command is. And the second she hushes, let her out for her praise.
It honestly sounds like a self control issue. I've met many young labs with self-control issues. I really would try the down/stays first, but if they don't work, she needs to be taken back to more "remedial" training, which would be go in your crate when I ask you, and be quiet.
To me, for something to be a punishment, there has to be a negative involved, either verbal or physical. Putting a dog quietly into her crate is not punishment unless you add other things to the action (ie. "You pushy dog! You get in that crate and don't come out 'til I tell you to!).
If she barks or whines, then deal with that separately. Tell her to knock it off, be quiet, whatever your HUSH command is. And the second she hushes, let her out for her praise.
It honestly sounds like a self control issue. I've met many young labs with self-control issues. I really would try the down/stays first, but if they don't work, she needs to be taken back to more "remedial" training, which would be go in your crate when I ask you, and be quiet.