I cannot believe it!

[SidsMama]

So, Sid is enrolled in Puppy Preschool that we attend every Tuesday night. This is VERY fun and Sid has a GREAT time!

So, last night we go to class. Sid is acting like he's never had any training whatsoever. He totally forgot everything. Well, we were working on a recall exercise, Sid is standing right next to me, and next thing i know my foot is getting warm. I look down and the little S*&T is peeing on me, leg lifted and everything.

I cannot believe how disrespectful this was. I was so stunned, I didn't even know what to do, just moved my leg and went and got the stuff to clean up the accidents.

I am a very firm believer in teaching our dogs respect. I mean think about it, we expect our children to respect us and others, why not our dogs?

WHAT was this about? And how do I stop it?

Any help would be greatlly appreciated!

 

[gmacleod]

LOL

I think you need to be a bit careful about assigning human emotions/values/perspectives to dogs Peeing on your leg is something you (understandably) consider to be disrespectful. But dogs do not. You're kind of barking up the wrong tree if you think your pup did that as a sign of disrespect to you. A more likely explanation is that he may have been marking you as "his" - as a sign to the other dogs (ie. having little to do, per se, with you, but as a statement directed to the other dogs around).

I say "may" because it's far from the only explanation. Another one is simply that he was so excited by the other dogs, the new situation, everything going on - that he just lifted his leg on the nearest thing (which happened to be your leg) without even really noticing what it was.

My dog was a bit like that. He started lifting his leg at a very early age (4 months) and wants to mark everything in sight off his own property (he even saves up his pee at home for that purpose!). So, at the dog park, he'll be racing around playing - and every so often, pees on the nearest thing. Most of the time, he's not even looking at what he's peeing on - but has his gaze fixated on the others who're still running and whom he's about to race off with. And yes, several times, the thing he's lifted his leg on was a person. Not ever me, fortunately And he's not even looking at them as he does it - but boy does he look surprised when they yell and he looks up to find a person there I do not think he was "marking" them - I don't believe he was even concious that they were there (till they yelled). He hasn't done that in a very long time now - but if I see he's totally engrossed in other dogs, then I keep a very close eye on him (just in case).

Anyway, the point of all that is that I don't think your pup "disrespecting" you is the cause, which means that looking for ways to make him show you "respect" is not the solution. A better way is simply to pay close attention to what he's doing, especially when he's excited and fixated on other dogs - and let him know in no uncertain terms that it's not cool should he ever try it again. Also, of course, when he's that engrossed - it's wise to keep your leg out of range

 

[ELubas]

My girl and I were in the novice obedience ring heeling (she was about 4 mos old) and as we are trotting around (I so so proud of her for doing so nicely so young ) the trainer asked us to "halt", we do, I looking proudly ahead, until I realized Ii was standing in a puddle She peed a river-so excited she was to be in the ring with the"big dogs" ! Thought you might be comforted to know you are not alone and , no, your pup means no disrepect. Next class I provided the paper towels and cleaning supplies.

 

[SidsMama]

You are probably right. He probably didn't realize that I was what he was peeing on. I just felt so disrespected. I know what you are saying about human emotions, etc w/ dogs. Its just a feeling that I had!

More than anything, I was STUNNED that he did this. Never in my life, have i had a dog intentionally pee on me! Oh well, I will just have to be very firm with him and let him know that this is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Its kind of like havin' a baby huh?

 

[gmacleod]

Its kind of like havin' a baby huh?

LOL - yes, exactly He does need to learn what's OK to do with people, and what's not - it's our world he's fitting into, after all. But it's a learning process, that actually has to come from trial and error (or rather, from trial and feedback ).