Help me! What I'm doing is not working... bad behavior in my puppy.

What Snowbunny describes is an extinction burst combined with the parent training the kid to display the behaviour for a longer and longer duration (i.e. waiting for more 'Mummies!!!' before delivering the 'reward'). That's a bad thing you can do. It is really really important to wait out the extinction burst - you have to wait till the puppy (or kid!) gives up. Otherwise you are in fact training then to perform the attention-seeking behaviour for longer. Or you can remove yourself from the room, without looking at the puppy, and come back when they have settled a bit.

Another thing you can do is actively train the puppy to do something else that is not compatible with jumping up - like sitting or lying down. Teach that behaviour, reward it with treats and reward it with lots of attention. Show your puppy that there is a way to get attention (sitting or lying down) that is good for both of you.

It is also really important to give your puppy things to do to keep her brain occupied. You don't need to entertain your puppy 24/7 But you do need to make sure that enough interesting things happen throughout her day so that she doesn't feel like she has to desperately resort to demanding attention by jumping on you.

Remember, puppies and dogs just do what works and what gets them a result they like. That's all they are trying to do. They are not trying to be annoying. Your puppy is just trying to interact with you and attract your interest. If we humans don't like the solutions they come up with then we need to show them an alternative solution (like sitting quietly instead of jumping up).

 

I never ever thought of it as her being overtired or like a toddler! Ahhh that changes a lot of my perspective. I know toddlers inside and out because that's what I do for a living. Having an orphan home for infants and children. Wow. So good to think of her getting over tired or over stimulated and acting out in that way! And your analogy of dealing with kids... SUPER. I am getting it! Thank you!

"If she's that frantic, she's probably over tired and needs a sleep. Just like toddlers, who become antsy when they're tired."

 

Oh yes, they soon get over tired and overwrought.

I wanted to call Tatze 'Pepper' but my son was visiting and I was feeling kindly towards him so I let him name her!

 

I often think that pups behaviour is akin to the baby throwing toys out of the pram scenario ! You react by picking it up and handing it back , and what do they do ?

 

Whilst teaching ours not to jump up and paw my mother on the couch I told her to ignore him. She said she was. I then secretly watched and counted about 6 interactions before I intervened. We would just get up and slowly walk around the house for a few moments when he got like that then sat again. That way no bites or scratches. It took a week but he gave up. Now he frumps himself down at our feet with a protesting sigh and naps. Lol.

 

My husband never had a dog before. And I never had a puppy. Only adopted older dogs from the shelter. I keep telling him she will be a good dog one day and reminding him she is still just a baby. But he's so frustrated that nothing we are trying works. I want him to enjoy her as I enjoy her but with her behavior right now she is making it hard for me to convince him that having a dog really can be wonderful.[/QUOTE]

Hello, a bit late on the thread for posting this but I just discovered the term 'extinction burst' and realise it is the problem that I have been having to deal with, I found it by accident, did not know there was an actual term for this behaviour.
Anyway I just wanted to comment on your post about your puppy. I realise she will be quite a bit older now and may not even have this same behaviour. When my Maisy was this age we had a similar problem, everything is a game and your commands (or cues!) for negative behaviour - like NO or LEAVE - are not yet understood. I use 'leave' as a 'no don't touch it' command, but it works in lots of other ways too, but it took quite a long while to sink in. Now that she listens more - young pups don't focus on anything for long - she obeys it really well. Repetition, repetition etc.

As for your husband, that struck a cord with me. Maisy is my dog as he keeps reminding me so I am responsible for her training and obedience. Unfortunately that comes with lots of training and repetition, eg. eating dinner, Maisy jumping at table to get food, me saying 'down', Maisy laying down, getting reward, jumping up again, 'down', lays down, reward, jumps etc. During this, husband is constantly tutting - can't he eat his dinner in peace? Well now he can, because she just lays down when we are eating at the table - job done. The dog has to display unwanted behaviour for you to teach it not to do it. My hubby also gives different commands to Maisy and when I correct him, he gets huffy and says 'she knows what I mean'. So I am feeling your frustration, and we can't be the only ones. The good thing is that she will learn, and your husband will enjoy her too, mine loves her to bits now especially when she is obedient!

Keep at it and know that this forum will help you out when you need it, there are lots of helpful folk here who know their stuff!

 

Oh, you're not. You're really, really not!