Training question - Page 1

Two year old DDR male. My office is in my home and I spend a great deal of time at my desk. The dog jumps up putting his front legs onto the arms of my chair, then gets down, goes around the front of the desk and repeats the process on the other arm of my chair.

Here's the catch - he had been doing this to tell me he has to go outside to eliminate - so I kind of had to tolerate it.

Now he does it just to visit, or bring a toy to play with, or for a scratch, or to say let's go outside to play. I know this is an impoosible scenario of mixed signals, but this second type of visit I don't choose to tolerate.

Because I'm seated in a chair, I can't really knee him old school, turn, or ignore him. To push him down involves taking my palm to his face, or equally bad, his throat, because that's all that's accessible to me above the seat arms. He's a big dog so I have to be forceful, and I don't want him to interpret this as being struck by my hand.

I try to nip it in the bud when I anticipate it, but shouting "no" is only partially successful.

Was thinking about a compressed air horn blast to the nose when he jumps up, but if I interfere with his way of telling me is potty time I have whole new set of problems.

I've considered an ecollar but hate to spend the money for this one simple issue. Suggestions?

This might not work for him, but try pinching his legs or toes when he jumps on you. This has worked with some of my dogs but not with all.  Tell him OFF or STOP.  Something besides your down command,  because that means lay down.

I think the e collar is a little extreme for this situation.  Before going that far, I would put a small leather tab on a choke collar and use it for a correction when he jumps up. 
Some of this might interfere with his jumping up to let you know he needs to go out, but I think that is what started the issue in the first place,  teach him to let you know by going to the door or something.

KIM

www.justk9s.com
 

How much exercise does he get?

I have a home office too.

Give him something else to do to signal that he needs to go out as Kim suggested. 

I have stuffed animals with bells sown on and a strap to hang it from the door in my office that opens to the hallway.  If he needs a potty break, he smacks the toy causing the bells to ring.  I taught him to ring the bell by taking his paw and smacking the bells and then taking him outside.

Once he understands the bells, you can then use Kim's excellent  advice on deterring his old method. (Kim is giving me advice on how to correct his over-enthusiastic greeting to strangers at the front door).

The down side of the hanging bells is that my smart demanding monster, started ringing the bell as if it were for room service.  He will ring it because he wants more food and as we are walking to the outside door, he sits in front of the refrigerator and barks at it.  He will ring the bells hanging on the door to the outside, because he wants his water bowl cleaned (after he has washed his muddy toys in it).  The rule is, if he rings the bells, he goes out to the yard and I do not give him food or clean his bowl right then.  It would be never ending.

Michele

The toe-pinching worked great but I do hate to make him yelp. Tough love I guess. Now I'll work on an alternate method of signalling potty time. Thanks everyone. And Q Man, he gets lots of exercise.

 That is more of an "how do I manipulate my manipulative dog" question than a training question. I have had those dogs, he will probably figure out how to get you to do something in a different manner now. : )

POOF!

 

I never allow my dogs to tell me when they need to eliminate, I am not their butler!

They go when I take them outside, this has the added benefit of ensuring that they eliminate on command.

Langhaar: "I never allow my dogs to tell me when they need to eliminate, I am not their butler!"

To each his own, but in nature the pack leader doesn't schedule each pack member's bodily functions.

How did you potty train your children?

 

 

The same way, my daughter was out of nappies during the day at 10 months and during the night before 15 months.

Simple

What dogs do in the wild is of no importance to me they are domesticated and live indoors with me so have to adapt to my rules and regulations. 

 

And I never have the problems that you have posted.