|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Mar 29, 2013 9:42:00 GMT
Every time we have a guest, or we come home from somewhere, Earl goes beserk. He jumps up and thrashes about - I'm worried he'll end up hurting himself  I've tried putting on the lead and being firm - he still lunges at people. Most people make a fuss of him... others, you can tell they're not keen on his behaviour. It makes me annoyed  Any advice on how we could solve this? Thanks, BT. |
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Mar 29, 2013 10:09:36 GMT
One method is that everyone who enters the house (family or guests) totally ignores Earl until he has calmed down.
Of course he is happy to see his pack return after their outing, that's natural behavior, you just have to decide what level of excitement is acceptable and anything above this gets totally ignored. You have to be careful not to escalate the excitement too so the person he wants to greet being totally calm will help.
I like my dogs to welcome me on my return home however mine can only wag tails, follow me about, be a little fussy and present toys, anything more is just not acceptable as they are large and bouncing dogs just would not be sensible. They do sometimes get ignored when I first come in (for a few minutes) such as when I bring shopping in etc and sometimes are chucked outside for the essentials before the proper greeting takes place (that also gives them a couple of minutes to calm down if over excited).
Hope this is one possible method that might be useful
|
|
|
|
Post by gladys on Mar 29, 2013 11:37:13 GMT
Cooper is the same and we have tried everything, even the ignore thing. But if we all do that it's doesn't matter how long we ignore him for as soon as his calm and we say hello to him he goes super crazy again. Like Caz said I like Cooper greeting me even though it's a a bit crazy but I have found the best way is to let him great me but I get him to find his favourite Cuz ball as soon as we let him out of the crate. We then have a huge game of fetch and then he is as calm as anything. I think you have to find what works for you both. If you want to ignore him then try it and and see but maybe a greeting and then a game would work better??  |
|
|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Mar 29, 2013 13:06:20 GMT
Thanks guys, we have tried the ignore thing but it gets him more wound up I also love to see Earl welcome me and pack home, but when he starts getting overly silly and dangerous to himself, that's what I don't want to allow. I'm not sure how to get the best of both worlds!? Still have him happy to see people, but not get him at silly silly level where he could easily hurt himself. W'll need to find a soloution that works best for us, that's for sure. |
|
|
|
Post by gladys on Mar 29, 2013 13:12:07 GMT
Would he respond to a game of fetch or tug or go hide and seek???
|
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Mar 29, 2013 13:17:12 GMT
Does he get separation anxiety?
|
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Mar 30, 2013 14:53:23 GMT
Anything should work with consistency.
EVERYONE needs to ignore his jumping at ALL times, not just when they come in the house. Intermittent reinforcement only further reinforces and ingrains the behaviour into the dog as he doesn't know when he will get attention and when he won't.
He can't be expected to be allowed to jump up at some times, but other times not.
Extinction should work well. This would be ignoring him fully until he sits/gets down. The frustration while you ignore may be an Extinction Burst, which is when what the dog usually does no longer works so they try something more extreme to get attention. Reinforcing the behaviour during the extinction burst then just reinforces the more 'extreme' behaviour (whining/barking/scratching) etc.
You could try teaching him an alternative behaviour. For example, to sit when he gets to someone. If he's sitting, he physically can't be jumping up.
However, if its Separation Anxiety, that's a whole different kettle of fish!
X
|
|
|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 2, 2013 9:06:48 GMT
Thanks Everybody,
Gladys; no. He dives at people and then later he hassles them with a toy of some sort which he is used to playing with me with.
Caz; no. He doesn't suffer from separation anxiety.
|
|
|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 2, 2013 9:15:24 GMT
He also gets all excited when the keys rattle, because normally that means a visitor. Even if my mum simply walks to the door he gets excited.
There's nothing wrong with him trying to guard the property and us, but it's getting silly and a bit obsessive.
He also enjoys barking his head off at the back gate.
|
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Apr 2, 2013 9:23:04 GMT
You could teach him to go and lie in a certain place while visitors come in, so teach him to stay on a blanket/spot first, then have your man or someone stand on the other side of the door then slowly start to open it, if he moves, close the door, take him back to the spot and start again. When theyre in the room release him to say hello politely.
Then when your family members can walk through the door with him on the blanket, generalise it to other people.
Eventually he should start to associate the keys or door knocking with that spot.
Dogs learn through associations and this is a bit of Premack Principle. 'If you lie quietly and patiently on the bed, you get to greet the visitor'. If all Earl wants to do is greet whoever comes through the door, may as well use it to your advantage!
|
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Apr 2, 2013 9:24:04 GMT
*mam, not man. Stupid iPhone doesn't understand northern lingo!
|
|
|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 2, 2013 9:37:01 GMT
Good idea Charlotte. Very good. My iPod Touch also has a spell checker which gets on my nerves. |
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Apr 2, 2013 9:47:08 GMT
Just a thought. May work, I'm sure Victoria Stilwell did it on one of her US shows aaaaages ago.
And I know! It changes rehome to regimes and stuff like that! I end up looking like a right plonker!
|
|
|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 2, 2013 9:54:42 GMT
Haha! I know!! Once I ended up putting: Day thy auto cucumber, Instead of: Damn this auto correction! Lol  |
|
|
|
Post by littlekitty on Apr 2, 2013 19:32:53 GMT
Mutley has seperation anxiety, he barks when we come home or when ever he hears a motorbike (OH has one) I have worked hard with him as he had no basic ytraining, We have tried the ignore but it doesn't work. Sometimes he doesn't bark when we come home so he gets a treat but I cannot stop him barking when we have visitors. He doesn't know how to play either, only rough play which isn't acceptible.
|
|
