Kingdom of Pets

Posted by jillbck1
May 18, 2010

Hi there
Nice to be back on the forum.
My 15 month old German Sheperd, had stopped jumping up at people altogether.
Used ignoring , calling him in and giving him a special toy when guests arrive. all worked like a dream.
Out of the blue he has started the folowing: we have a man who runs the gardens on the farm. He makes once/twice a week visits to my garden. The dog knows him and was fine when he was here. Then last week as soon as I came out of the hosue to chat to the guy, Migo started jumping up like a spring ball, all around the guy, yapping in high pitched way. I tried to control him, no good, used spray bottle, no good, threw a toy, fetched it and dropped it at our feet and started behaviour again.
I think he is jealous, but also knows he is in control.
I have to stop this immediately I know.
I have tried getting the guy to put in hands in his pocket and simply stand still and ignore him. Maybe he needs to do it for longer and then every time Migo starts this to turn away and do this again. Not that easy to persuade guy when the dog is jumping up at his face height and yapping.
Apologies for long explanation!! Please help!
Many thanks
Jill

Posted by kjd
May 30, 2010

Jill,

Good to hear your GSD is doing better. When he starts this obnoxious behaviour, can you remove him from the situation? Put him in a time-out and return to your visit? I love GSDs, but I wouldn't be happy with one in my face either!

kjd

Posted by jillbck1
Jun 4, 2010

[QUOTE=kjd;5411]Jill,

Good to hear your GSD is doing better. When he starts this obnoxious behaviour, can you remove him from the situation? Put him in a time-out and return to your visit? I love GSDs, but I wouldn't be happy with one in my face either!

kjd[/QUOTE]
Not sure if this is the right way to do this-
but could I ask if I was to out him in his crate, shoudl he be able to see me or not?
Jill

Posted by jillbck1
Jun 4, 2010

Trying this way as well
SHoudl I put him in his crate or kust away in the house with the lasy who is our housekeeper. his might not be time out as he loves her!
Jill

Posted by kjd
Jun 5, 2010

Jill,

You don't want to use his crate for punishment, so don't time-out him there. Preferably, use some place in the house where he is away from everyone -- putting him with the housekeeper is rewarding him!

On "Me or The Dog," they sometimes just remove the dog from the situation and hold him away from others until he calms down -- then return him. This only works if the gentleman is willing to wait while you walk your dog away for 15-30 seconds, then return, immediately having to walk away again because it takes a dog some time before he realizes exactly what behaviour is getting him removed. What you might try is a post somewhere else in the yard where you can tie him up when he starts becoming obnoxious. You aren't going to leave him there for a long time and you are only going to use it for short time-outs. So if you get in a long conversation, and the dog has quieted down wherever he is (out of sight), you might bring him back once he has been quiet for half a minute.

I just put a citronella collar on my barker (at night). She must have had one before, because she hasn't gone out to bark at all. When I first put it on, without the citronella, she went out happily. I mention this only to point out dogs are smarter than we are! (Anyone doesn't believe me, just think about who does all the work and who gets to sleep when they want/eats without cleaning up!)

Let us know what you do for time-out and how it works.

kjd

Jumping up, barking, jealous?