Male forcefully gives his paw

[BarbD]

My female is very gentle when she gives you her paw - that means she wants petted. My male, on the otherhand, is very forceful & demanding. He will sit in front of me & whap me with his paw. If I ignore him, he will hit me again to get my attention. Now it's not like he doesn't get attention, believe me. I've tried ignoring him or saying no and putting his paw back down & only petting him when he keeps it down. I guess that part of the boxer behavior but he hits hard! Any thoughts on this? Thanks

 

[Jan]

I would never respond to him when he is being so demanding. In fact I would pointedly look away when ever he does it. It will probably get worse before it gets better, but it will get better. I would also start practicing NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free). Basically what it means is that you make sure that they work for everything. If they want a pat, you have them do somehing first. If they want to go out you have them sit for example. You need to be the leader of the pack. Don't free feed and make sure that you control the toys etc. Don't just leave the toys lying around. If you want them to play with a toy, have them do something first.

Good luck!

 

[fayebay1969]

Buddy only does the paw thing to wake us up in the morning. It's usually a pat but if I don't move, he does it harder to get me up. I tell him no and go to the bathroom first or brush my teeth. That way I'm not going right outside with him to show him I'm not listening. He then goes and rings his bell. I take him out after that.

 

[mmsimon]

Ever since I taught Liza to shake a paw she paws us when we are already petting her. I just dodge the paw and sometimes stop altogether. We have practiced NILIF for a long time, I think it is just a by-product of her learning. I will have to extinguish it. As for being demanding, Liza used to be...she used to sit beside the couch and put her head up like "pet me" and it was sooo cute and it was so tough to ignore it but the pros say to yawn and look away and they get the hint. It worked like a charm She may try now and again but she give up really quick.

 

[Cholbert]

Siren does the paw slap, offering her paw whenever she's given the sit command. I've never figured out why she does this. I'll tell her to sit and she will - and then immediately offer her paw for a shake.

 

[dy74]

Funny... Maia our girl is a gentle little soul with her paw, she daintily places her paw in your hand...but Sam our boy hooks his paw around your hand and 'grips'... it's not demanding really (we ask him for the paw and he complies...) but I'd say it's a pretty firm handshake!