I need help....please...Jethro is getting to be too much at playtime

[LeroyJethro]

I think this may be just needing more play time in general - but I don't want to play more when he does this - I just stop the play - and go inside and I am upset with him for a time. I don't get loud with him, but my posture is more like an ignoring you posture. I have tried "aught" "no", walking into his space - as it i think is a claim the space, play with me game, just walking away...turning my back - everything. Nothing is working.

Basically here's what happens:

We go out - he does his business - I get his ball and we play a few throws of fetch. He gets the ball and brings it back. Then If i am not throwing the ball enough - I stop to see what the other dog is doing or what have you - Jethro starts GRABBING my arm with his mouth!, My tummy my legs, my coat, my sleeve, my clothes. Making growling sounds and jumping up on me. Today was the first time he actually put his mouth around my arm. He obviously was just playing - if he wanted to snap my arm he could have - but I do not NOT NOT like this. When i try to walk away - he just nips at my rear end, thigh, anything he can get a hold of. We go inside and I telll him - very calmly that if he chooses to bite mama like that - play ends.

He then sulks while I am upset at him. I tell him that he can't bite mama like that. It hurts mama. (My thinking is if he plays with me this way - he will knock any children we have over to play with him down - and it could turn ugly)

I'm just frustrated.....we are due to have our CGC test on either the 14th or 16h of December and well - this doesn't make me feel confident he is ready....

Please do NOT beat me up about his amount of play - he gets plenty while we work during the day - he has bones, toys etc to chew on and we do play a little indoor fetch with him during the day too. I am looking for CONSTRUCTIVE feedback here please.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Well first off stop talking to him when he does this. You're (unknowingly) rewarding him. He's a dog, not a person, he doesn't know what you're saying and so he just thinks you're giving him attention ANY attention is going to just fuel it. So simply turn around and walk away no more play (and no more attention, talking or otherwise). I'd remove you from the situation, walk away, go into your bedroom for a minute or the bathroom for a minute, disappear from sight and stop play for 5 minutes or so. Then go back out and try it again. He will eventually learn that that behavior gets him ZERO attention and makes playtime stop.

Also on the exercise front you mention playing fetch but you never mention structured walks. Does he ever go on structured walks? This will help drain some of his mental energy as well as his physical energy.

Good luck.

 

[LeroyJethro]

*looks down ashamedly* No, no structured walks yet. We are trying to find a routine and with it getting dark so quickly here (4:30ish) I am hesitant to walk him at night. But yes I know we need to do that - we both could use the excerise and i'm sure it would help some with his pent up energy.

We are once a week going up to the local nursing/rehab facility and he is getting mental stimulation that way - as well as a little excercise.

Maybe this will be my December resolution Get out and walk with him! I know he'd be good at it!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

*looks down ashamedly* No, no structured walks yet. We are trying to find a routine and with it getting dark so quickly here (4:30ish) I am hesitant to walk him at night. But yes I know we need to do that - we both could use the excerise and i'm sure it would help some with his pent up energy.

We are once a week going up to the local nursing/rehab facility and he is getting mental stimulation that way - as well as a little excercise.

Maybe this will be my December resolution Get out and walk with him! I know he'd be good at it!

Yeah mental stimulation once a week isn't nearly enough. If he has that much energy then it needs to be daily even if it's only 30 minutes. No problem with walking in the dark if you live in a safe area and take a flashlight with you and wear reflective clothing. Now if you live in a rougher area may not be such a good idea but then maybe replace your playing in the yard time to go and walk instead and play in the yard once it gets dark so that you are still safe.

But honestly I think not giving him a reward for doing it (ie talking) will go a long way. And yes it may take MULTIPLE times of repeating it and over multiple days.

Good luck.

 

[LeroyJethro]

update

Met with the dog trainer tonight - because well Jethro grabbed my arm so hard today it's bruised and there are puncture red marks.

She basically said (we couldn't duplicate it tonight of course because we wanted to) that it is probably me - I'm not being firm/aggresive enough. My body posture is showing signs of being weaker instead of dominate. She gave me some suggestions and we are going to video the next play session to send to her.

THanks for the replys I appreciate the help.

 

[dodgeandmar]

Do you know someone with another dog? It might help him to burn more energy if you can find him another puppy to play with.

 

[ReneeandBoys]

any update?

Hi, I couldn't believe it when I read your message b/c we have the exact same issue w/ our 1-year-old Boxer/pit mix. He continues to bite myself and my three children. I don't want to hijack your post - but was wondering what your trainer ended up telling you and if it worked?? We have had Tyson for 4 weeks and are almost at the point where we feel he may need to go back to the Rescue. He has ZERO aggression - it's all rough play.

What is working for you (or any other readers)?

Renee

 

[hasb]

Otto was outta control

When we got Otto at age two, he was about out of control (after a 1 week honeymoon) and did many of the things your dog is doing. He was very demanding about play and was actually jumping up to take a nip at the back of my wife's neck. We had to establish a firm pack order with him, make him work (even if only a little) for all affection, have him sit and wait while we went through doorways, fed him after we had eaten and made him sit and wait, to eat only after we released him to eat, insisted that we initiate play and that we determine when play is over, and made sure he had exercise and mental stimulation. He gets mental stimulation on walks around the nabe where he can smell all sorts of different things. Three years later we still do all this and he is a sweet affectionate playful and protective dog who (mostly) lives by the rules.
I've noticed that if he is really hurt (while playing roughly, for instance) he will yelp. If he grabs at me too hard and I "yelp", he will immediatly stop. I am not recommending yelping as a training device, but as a way to let your dog know it has gotten too rough with you.
Phil 'n Otto (aka hasb)

 

[srennie]

A long walk or jog will do wonders for how a dog behaves. I'd say that should be your first priority...walk, walk, walk, as much as you can. After a long walk, then play time can happen.

I am working with a pit at the shelter and he jumped on my back and 'pinched' the back of my arm today out of excitement and wanting me to play. I was able to get him back under control by telling him to 'sit'. He has an excellent 'sit' response and he sat right down and waiting for his treat. He had never been that disrespectful to me before and I think being he is an un-neutered adolescent....he was testing me. I was very firm with him and we were able to go on a nice long walk with him behaving like a gentleman.

Keep at it and be consistent. Do not allow him to be disrespectful to you. I agree that being 'firm' is important...not aggressive (as that implies you will do him harm).

ETA:make sure when you are playing that you are not acting excited. It could be your excitement that is making it hard for him to control himself. The pit I'm working with is very sensitive to excitement and I need to stay very calm when playing with him. If your dog is very smart then he needs a lot of mental stimulation as well like hiding things for him to find, etc.

 

[prittiegirl]

Exercise and other dogs

Hi there,

I hope you are having more success in the last few weeks. I agree, both exercise in a structured walk and dog park format could have significant impact on this.

Try getting your dog a combination of exercise so that you can DRAIN some of the energy that he is using with you. You would probably be delighted to see the speed that he can run at with other dogs!