Can't make him stop playing!

[BigDies]

My diesel boy has only one really annoying habit, he will NOT stop playing. Now, it doesn't exactly sound awful but his idea of getting you to play with him is to growl ferouciously bite your shoes until they come untied and then play tug-of-war with the laces, or if you're not wearing shoes, he likes to try and pull your pants down. He just randomly gets a wild hair in him and will come and try and make you play with him while you're sitting on the couch. It seems to be an attention thing, because he only does it when we're out. We've tried ignoring him, turning around so he knows we don't want him to play, yelling...everything. Anyone else have a similar situation or any tips? I thought about maybe squirting him with water, but he would love that and it would probably just encourage him. He's such a mess.

 

[Indy's mom]

He sounds like a pretty typical boxer baby to me. Make sure he's getting plenty of exercise, a good session in the yard of running around and generally wearing him out. Mix commands in with the play session and it easily becomes a fun training session as well.

When it's quiet time, do exactly what you said. Ignore annoying behavior. Turn your back on him, or leave the area where he is misbehaving. He won't alter his behavior immediately, but he will notice what does and does not get your attention. Boxers are pretty smart, it won't take forever...though it might seem that way to you in the meantime.

 

[ladyluck_t]

My diesel boy has only one really annoying habit, he will NOT stop playing. Now, it doesn't exactly sound awful but his idea of getting you to play with him is to growl ferouciously bite your shoes until they come untied and then play tug-of-war with the laces, or if you're not wearing shoes, he likes to try and pull your pants down. He just randomly gets a wild hair in him and will come and try and make you play with him while you're sitting on the couch. It seems to be an attention thing, because he only does it when we're out. We've tried ignoring him, turning around so he knows we don't want him to play, yelling...everything. Anyone else have a similar situation or any tips? I thought about maybe squirting him with water, but he would love that and it would probably just encourage him. He's such a mess.

Actually you have some great clues here, make play a reward for training, start with a sit, then instead of a treat for a reward, play a little tug, short game. then stop and ask for another sit, keep this up ALL the time, every single opportunity you get. If he wants to go outside, then ask for a sit/stay and open the door then step out and give the release word, then play a quick game of tag......as a reward for behaving.

Your dog is telling you that playing is the ultimate reward for him, so you can ditch the treats and make training a game.....the ultimate game for him. When he doesnt listen, then walk away. If he continues to bite at your heels, then ask for a sit (wait for him to give it or gentle place him in a sit) and then say "TIME OUT" in a neutral tone of voice, I use the football time out sign when training this. Then if he continues to bite at the heels, you say simply in a very neutral voice "whoops, you now go to time out room" be sure you have a space for them to go, either a small room (without toys ) or a rug, or somewhere where you can keep an eye on him (at least for the first couple of weeks ) give him a few minutes, then call him to you. It is important that when you release him from the "time out space" that you get him to sit or down or something and then reward with a game of tug or tag......he will put one and one together very quickly and as a bonus, you will have the best trained dog ever!!! :D two for one!!!

 

[ehayes21]

Actually you have some great clues here, make play a reward for training, start with a sit, then instead of a treat for a reward, play a little tug, short game. then stop and ask for another sit, keep this up ALL the time, every single opportunity you get. If he wants to go outside, then ask for a sit/stay and open the door then step out and give the release word, then play a quick game of tag......as a reward for behaving.

Your dog is telling you that playing is the ultimate reward for him, so you can ditch the treats and make training a game.....the ultimate game for him. When he doesnt listen, then walk away. If he continues to bite at your heels, then ask for a sit (wait for him to give it or gentle place him in a sit) and then say "TIME OUT" in a neutral tone of voice, I use the football time out sign when training this. Then if he continues to bite at the heels, you say simply in a very neutral voice "whoops, you now go to time out room" be sure you have a space for them to go, either a small room (without toys ) or a rug, or somewhere where you can keep an eye on him (at least for the first couple of weeks ) give him a few minutes, then call him to you. It is important that when you release him from the "time out space" that you get him to sit or down or something and then reward with a game of tug or tag......he will put one and one together very quickly and as a bonus, you will have the best trained dog ever!!! :D two for one!!!

WONDERFUL advice above!!!

 

[suzyqdogsmom]

Making playing the reward in training is a good idea. Be sure he gets lots of exercise. SuzyQ was the most active puppy I think I have ever had. She would just pester us to play with her, and since we got her in March in Michigan, it was too cold to be outdoors very much. We started taking her favorite stuffed baby and tossing it to the top of the staircase and having her fetch, after a dozen (or 2) times she would wear out and rest. We still do this in the winter when she gets wound up.

 

[tianthai]

He sounds very boxer to me! My dog is the same way, very easy to get excited and never knows when to stop. I have to walk away from the room to get him calm down.