Crazy Lexi

[lexintitus]

I haven't thought to post a thread about this before because I thought it was just Lexi but here goes:

Lexi is crazy. She's even termed "crazy" by her vet. Granted, she's calmed down alot since when we first got her. She was a pound puppy and I honestly believe her original owners surrendered her because of her craziness. We had to do a lot of obedience training with her. However, when company comes around, she goes plumb crazy. All of the obedience traning goes out the window. She's jumping on the furniture (a BIG NO-NO) she jumps to sniff what's on the kitchen countertops (another NO-NO) and she just tears around the house like she's trying to catch the back of her neck. In her obedience training, the trainer couldn't say enough great things about her. She knows all the usual commands and then some. Due to her being uncontrollable around company we sought another trainer, who was going to charge us $700, if we decided to hire him, to take a look at her. He told us that when she jumps up, to put our thumb in the back of her mouth and twist her head away. He said that would be a discomfort to her, making her reduce the occurence of jumping. I wasn't about to do that. I don't want Lexi associating hands going in her mouth to be a bad thing. I have to go in her mouth occassionally to fish things out (bits of stick mostly) and she's very good about it. She obediently holds her moth open while I get the junk out. She knows I'm not going to hurt her and I don't want to jeopardize that. He told me some other things to do but all of them included me touching her, causing discomfort.

Are there any suggestions on what I can do to calm her down when company is around? Again, she already knows sit, down, wait, on your chair (which is her "safety" place to go, home "her crate" etc.) It's like a jekyll-hyde thing when company comes around. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I have the exact same problem with Maggie and Susie. When guests come over they totally lose control and will only sit or lie down for a moment and then they are up, wiggling, getting in everyone's lap, licking and jumping all over the furniture and running around like crazy.

As a trainer I have tried every trick in the book to curb this behavior to no avail. I have come to the conclusion that this is the way they are and I am not going to change things. So, I have resolved myself to the next best solution. When guests come over, the dogs are confined either outside (if weather permits) and not allowed in the house or in the bedroom with the door closed and are NOT permitted to greet guests at all. Sad, since a lot of my friends want to meet the dogs and see them, but they'll just have to settle for looking at the frolic in the yard until the time comes when they can behave themselves. It saddens me, but I really see no other choice in my case.

Good luck.

 

[lexintitus]

Big relief to know it's not just Lexi. We actually have her training certificate on top of the refrigerator, framed, to show people she has gone through obediance classes Then I show people all the pictures of either me or DH holding her and cuddling her saying "Yes, she really can be still and loved on." Bless my mom, since I have to put Lexi up when she comes over, she feels bad and has vowed the next time she by, I am to let Lexi out of her crate. My mom has agreed to visit until Lexi calms down...it's going to be a long visit. She said she'd just come prepared, wearing a thick suit. My dad was quick to add that he would be conveniently waiting outside, cheering my mom on LOL!!!

 

[Angie K]

My female is a "crazy" when people come over. Especially the skinkids friends or if the pizza delivery guy comes walking up the drive. She goes balistic. This is what we try to do when we know someone is coming to the door, my Husband (who in HER eyes is the ALPHA) will make her sit on her pillow in the living room and give her the Stay Command and stand right in front of her until the door has been answered. If Pizza man, once we shut the door he releases her, she usually bolts to the sliding glass doors to watch him get into his car, but by then she usually is calm enough to just watch. If one of the kids has a friend over, after they are in we tell them to ignore her until she settles down and then they will ask her to sit and shake and give her a treat. She usually barks up a storm at anyone that comes in but after about 15 min she will stop and start sniffing and trying to lick their hands etc. That is when we do the treat giving. This has worked with several of my skinkid's friends and now she just greets them with dozens of Wiggles and Kidney Beans as if they were one of us. Good Luck

 

[Cami]

Ditto.
It is so bad at my house that I can hardly get the door open to greet whoever is on the other side. I have literally seen grown men back up upon seeing how crazy Cami acts when they are at my front door.

I know that she only wants to greet them in her own way but to a total stranger who doesn't know any better they might get the impression that she is about ready to have them for lunch!

She is not loud or agressive but obnoxious all the same. She just wants to share the love. I am sure that even people that know her and know what to expect get tired of it after awhile. She is getting to the point now that after someone enters she will go and get a toy and bring it to them wanting them to play with her. In a perfect world this would be ok except it is usually covered in Boxer slobber and no one wants to touch it! LOL

She will sit but as soon as her bottom hits the ground she feels that she has complied and she is up again. I hate to admit defeat but sadly in this case I must. I just tell them all that she is just crazy and we love her in spite of it....hehehehe

 

[momstaxi]

Ginger is like that too. When someone comes she & my mixed breed run from the front window to the door barking like man and jumping. The mixed breed is very protective and sounds ferocious until he is allowed to greet the vistor then he just goes away. Ginger(my boxer) follows Buddy and copies his barking ,etc. but really just wants to play. she does jump up on guests and i have to tell her alot of times to sit. Finally after 15 min or so she will calm down. It can be a pain sometimes.