Hi everyone, this is a new one on me so I was wondering has anyone else had the same issue. Willow is now 14 months and after her DPO at 8 mths she is back to a normal bouncy teenager, however, over the past few months she has starting what I can only explain as jumping up to nose-butt me on the bum (which can be quite sore if she uses any force!). She does it more if she's either excited or nervous but does it A LOT when we are on the beach which drives me mad and gets me soaked into the bargain. It's not just me either - I have finally found someone who home boards dogs which is a God send but she does it to her also, but not her husband. Now this girl is a vet nurse and she hasn't ever had this before so we're both at a loss as to why and how to stop it. I have tried just stopping still when she does it to me at the beach but then I thought am I still giving her attention, should I just ignore it and keep walking? The other issue is she is turning into a complete menace with the jumping and nipping (I think maybe she missed out on this phase as a younger puppy and has decided to make up for it now she's back on all four springs/paws) especially when I am talking to another person, she goes mental trying to drag me away. Any thoughts or will she grow out of it? Shell
Re: Bum butting! Oh, how annoying and painful! I would say that she's not going to grow out of it - that is, a training solution is needed. So, generally when we get an unwanted behavior that's inherently fun for the dog the solution involves: - removing the reward or payoff the dog is getting for the behaviour (like attention) - introducing a 'negative' consequence for the behaviour (a time-out or end to play) - teaching an acceptable alternative (like sitting or lying down to get your attention instead) - removing the opportunity to perform the behaviour (eg physical separation) - identifying the precursors to the behaviour (eg getting wound up) and trying to set things on a different path by doing something incompatible with the unwanted behaviour (like doing a short training session, or a short session of quiet patting to calm things down) Ignoring the behaviour won't be enough I expect, as it's probably fun for her even if you ignore her. Out on a walk or on the beach it's hard to give a time out but that is something you can do at home (pop her in the bathroom for half a minute). I'd also be working on teaching an alternative like coming up to you and sitting or lying down for attention - teach a good 'sit' response at home and give her a treat anytime she comes to you and sits. Practise this heavily out on walks (on or off lead, call her to you frequently, ask for a sit and reward her with a treat or ball throw or whatever she likes). Try to gradually show her that there is a better way to get your attention. Also work on the 'let's stop and chill out' for a minute when you notice the excitement starting to build. Call her to you and just give her treats for doing anything calm like being still, or get her to do a trick or two - anything that requires calm or focus. Then when she's settled a bit, let her off again. I'd also avoid the environments that get her really worked up until you seem to have established the basics. And make sure she's not getting anything but a calm time out or back on lead for jumping/biting. Hope that helps a bit or gives you an idea or two Do you walk with someone else or is it just you?
Re: Bum butting! Thanks Rachael, it's just me and my older lab Jack on walks. She is really good at the sitting on command wherever we are and I'm trying to not give her a chance to do it e.g when she comes up to me I turn or hold my shoes behind me so she hits those (which she doesn't like) so maybe keep trying this and if she's getting no fun from it hopefully it will stop! I'll def give some of your suggestions a go too Shell
