Guest jupiterooos Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Both dogs greet us by knocking their heads against our midsections. But while Angler's head-knock is just a light touch, Jupiter slams his head with all his might - and believe me, a hard slam like that against a seven-months-pregnant midsection is not pleasant I was advised to turn away from him when he does this, but it doesn't help - he moves around to my front, and starts smacking me again. Verbal reprimands do nothing. Spray bottles work but don't treat the root of the behavior. And so far, that's the sum total of advice I've gotten. Does anyone have any idea how to break him of this? I am really, really tired of having to constantly protect my midsection from his over-enthusiastic greetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 When does this happen? When you come home? Whenever he sees you? At random greeting times? The key is to stop the behavior before it starts. If he's doing it when you come home, try re-directing him with a toy or treat thrown in the opposite direction. If he knows commands - like sit or down or really anything - give him the command as soon as you enter. Treat after he calmly does the command. The turning away motion is a good one, except that he goes around to the other side - so turn away into the door or a wall or a chair that he can't get around. Ignore him and don't turn back until he's calm. All of these will require consistency, patience and lots of repetition. Keep at him about this as it could become a problem when your child begins moving around the house under his/her own power. You need both your dogs to be under control so start with basic commands now. They don't have to be obedience school level, but they need to know a command that settles them down. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Rogan does this. He gets soooo excited when I come home, I guess he thought I was never coming back! I grab his collar and escort him outside immediately. By the time he runs into the yard for a quick pee and returns, he's much calmer. I tried redirecting his excitement onto a toy (that works for Cody and the pit bulls) but not Rogan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jupiterooos Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 When does this happen? When you come home? Whenever he sees you? At random greeting times? The key is to stop the behavior before it starts. If he's doing it when you come home, try re-directing him with a toy or treat thrown in the opposite direction. If he knows commands - like sit or down or really anything - give him the command as soon as you enter. Treat after he calmly does the command. The turning away motion is a good one, except that he goes around to the other side - so turn away into the door or a wall or a chair that he can't get around. Ignore him and don't turn back until he's calm. All of these will require consistency, patience and lots of repetition. Keep at him about this as it could become a problem when your child begins moving around the house under his/her own power. You need both your dogs to be under control so start with basic commands now. They don't have to be obedience school level, but they need to know a command that settles them down. He does this mostly when I come home, but will occasionally whack me out of the blue. I haven't been successful in getting him to redirect. He gets SO excited that he just goes crazy. It's almost scary, it's so intense. I grab his collar and escort him outside immediately. By the time he runs into the yard for a quick pee and returns, he's much calmer. I tried redirecting his excitement onto a toy (that works for Cody and the pit bulls) but not Rogan. We do go outside immediately, but there's still a minute or so when I have to enter, turn off the alarm, remove muzzles...all while being enthusiastically thwacked. They both know "lie down" but unfortunately, when Jupiter gets that worked up, he has a really hard time focusing. He will eventually lie down, but it requires a couple of minutes of shoving him away while he tries to smack me, until he calms down. He's a lot "sparkier" than most greys, he's really intense and energetic. And when he gets excited about something, breaking his focus is extremely difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hoolyghans Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Abba gets like this when she thinks she's going somewhere. No, she doesn't get to go until she calms down but she hasn't yet made the connection between being calm and going. We're working on it. I get what you say about turning away. It seems to make her think she needs to try harder because I'm obviously not getting it. A tip for physically blocking is try standing so he's next to you instead of infront and hover your hand flat a few inches above his shoulder blades. As he starts to jump, push him back down and say whatever command you want to associate with it (we say "no jump") You're not trying to hold him down but to push back before he gets momentum. It also puts you in a good position to calmly pet if he's exhibiting good manners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest burgerandfrey Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Our boy Zeke does something similar to us when we first come home. Both our greys get excited, but he is the only one who will jump or head butt. My wife is also seven months pregnant and tried turning her back. That didn't work so well since he just follows her around or head butts her in the back. Then we started to tell him to sit as soon as we open the door (he knows how to sit), and that has worked better. Sometimes she also grabs him by the collar and rubs his ears which seems to calm him down a little! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greyt_dog_lover Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 I cant remember, did you adopt from GO? If you did, called and asked for help, and the only response you received is what you posted here, please PM me and let me know who you spoke with. If you didn't adopt from GO, then disregard. I would bet the excitement is because they are wearing muzzles and want them off as soon as possible. I would also guess that when you come home, one of the first things you do after the alarm and such is to take the muzzles off? That is my guess as to the root of the issue. I would try two things, either put their muzzles on during the day at random times and make them wear them until they stop rubbing the walls and bumping you to release them from the torment, and or, I would physically put a barrier between you and the alarm for the house. That way when you get home, they cannot physically get to you, then you have a chance to get them to sit/stay/down, whatever command you want to give to calm them down. For the first few weeks you will probably have to have some treats handy so that they will be very interested in sitting for you. I would not advise taking the muzzles off sooner as this could only exacerbate the situation in the long run. Chad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Agreed with Chad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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