does this mean he still thinks he is the "BOSS"? - Page 1

Ok..I thought i had him under control...I thought Boss atleast realized that I was over him....

sat night the temp was suppose to get lower than its been all winter, low 20's i think...usually boss goes out in his kennel at night but seeing how cold it was getting we decided to let him stay inside...first time since he was a puppy.....

well later on that night, my hubby and i were sitting at the table talking...and...etc....lol...snuggling.....well...boss doesn't normally see this since he is usually in his kennel by then.....but he was making it impossiable to talk !! everytime my hubby leaned towards me he would jump in between us ,with his front paws over my lap and stretch his neck and head out towards/over my hubby....if we tried to stop him he would whine and try to force his way between us....we ended up having to lock him in another room...

but this isn't the first time he's done this...sometimes if i am on the computer to long, and he is trying to get my atttention, he will do the same toward the computer...lol...i thought he just wanted his chest scratched, but the way he did the same towards my hubby makes me think otherwise....

is he telling my hubby or anything else that takes my attention the HE owns me? If he is, does that mean that i really haven't established myself as pack leader in his eyes?....should i stop him from doing this? and if so, how do i stop him from doing this ?

I know I have not payed much attention to some things when they were puppies and then one day it occurs to me, "hey, he's not a puppy anymore".  Also, I've been inconsistant on some things before because I thought it was sweet.  Sort of like the dog coming to me and wanting my attention. That's very gratifying TO ME. But not a good message TO HIM because it teaches him it's up to him to demand and recieve affection on his terms not mine.

Your monster is about the same age as my monster and we are going through the same kind of stuff. Especially with a really confident dog I think it's important to call his bluff. Mine has tried the same thing with keeping my husband or the kids from sitting close to me. Sometimes it's more petting demanding and sometimes he'll try to work his furry butt between our feet on the floor. I get the impression that he isn't sure he owns me as much as he's trying to convince the other person he owns me.  Plus, if he's not been inside much he may be doing that thing of testing to see if this or that rule is still in place.

When my monster starts to show this sort of stuff I will have him do obedience, put him in a down away from us, won't pet him when he wants it and when he gives up I wait a few minutes and then call him over, put him in his crate if needed. Small ways to show I have the last say.  This works for me without any big scenes.

They're teenagers, is all. I don't believe, IMO, that the pack leader thing is a once and for all final situation that will never be tested again. I think, like teens, they will try some degree of testing the order until they are grown and more settled. So a testing doesn't mean all you have done so far is for nothing.

This is what I have found, anyway.

Dawgs

One, he is bored and does legitimately want attention. However, that being said, you are the one who decides when he receives it. So if this is unwanted behavior, then yes, it is a problem related to obedience and discipline. There are a lot of ways to deal with this behavior, including putting him in his crate. Depending on how much and how good his obedience has been to date, it sounds like he could use more.

Do not let him continue to do that   ...tell him down and platz...if he wont   put in his crate...hes too young to let wonder anyway...hes need  776 more times to learn his  nine, sitz and platz  ..hes a herder and he wants the full attention of you...start him in down stays   3 mins   5  mins etc....

thanks for the advice everyone...i do tell him to get down, but i never put him in a "down"...i will try that next time....

just wondering, if he already does this sort of thing at his age, could it eventually lead to aggression towards other people for getting to close to me.....

oh yeah..dawgs...i've noticed that my kids are the only ones he doesn't do this towards, if anything he does this towards other people getting to close to my kids or my smaller dogs....i thought he just wanted attention too, but the more he does it, it seems like he is trying to 'block' people away from me, kids, and the smaller dogs..

He is herding......start the down long stay    get treats and put him on a rug  by the fireplace or the couch....stand in front of him   reinforce the down with hand also   like put hand up to stay......keep saying the command    if you suspect he is getting up caption on it...say   free  good sitz and reward him   use the treat in the beginning to put him in place    same rug same place  different day.....  SRSPDD   LOL      iNCREASE THE TIME   AFTER HER GETS THE THREE MINUTES  DONE GOOD....GO TO 5 MINUTES FOR A WEEK OR SO....KEEP DOING IT UNTIL YOU CAN BACK UP   HAND UP TO REINFORCE  STAY     AND PLATZ  OR DOWN   WHATEVER WORD YOU USE....PRACTICE THIS IN THE AM   AND IN THE EVENING   NO INTERUPTIONS FOR A MONTH    THEN WHEN KIDS COME IN   TRY HIM     REINFORCE HIM WITH A STERN      DOWN     STAY    ONLY THING TO SAY          THEN  GOOD DOWN       FREE AND REWARD AND PRAISE HIM. 

SRSPDD

ok..thanks..