Why don't they just enjoy him??!!

[MDCS]

I need to vent. It seems like every time we have people over, they get tired of Cassius being friendly, ie kisses, and his 'please play with me' attitude. Why can't they just see him for what he is...a friendly puppy who is active and just wants to play. I can't put him in his room because that would be just cruel IMO He loves people...yes he licks, but come on! It's just frustrating because I get upset with them for not just enjoying our baby.

Oh, another thing. Why is it people feel the need to play with Cassius by swinging their arms and hands around his face! We've told people time and time again that this encourages him to mouth/bite people. And they do stop for a little while, but then it's right back to it again. Can they not think of any other way to play with Cassius? Or maybe just pet him so he doesn't get all riled up?!

I just wish people would chill out!

Thanks for letting me vent.

-Jamie & Cassius

 

[cooper]

Hey, I feel for you, I have the exact same problem, nobody wants to be licked. The way I try to fix it is by putting Tessa on a leash and then make her do a down for ten minutes, or until her super greeting stage passes(I know its not really fair, but it works). Then everybody just has to watchout for the odd pass-by lick:p
I also dont like when people come in and start doing the HEY PUPPY and clapping their hands what do they think is gonna happen.

 

[Thomas Liggin]

Not everyone enjoys being licked. Some people don't like dogs, period.

But you shouldn't have to close Cassius in his room.

When we are having people over for a birthday party or Christmas dinner for example, we will crate Indy and Ava in the TV room. They can see the people, but it gives them an opportunity to get used to the crowd in the house and when we let them out they aren't so rambunctious.

It works pretty well for us.

If we don't, they compete for the attention of our arriving guests. Ava will try to hog their attention, and Indy will get a toy for an offering, but they do a lot of pushing and shoving for the prime spot in front of the person.

So, we let them observe everything that is happening and release them once they've had sufficient time to adjust.


Tom

 

[Chris W.]

i had the opposite problem with my first boxer, Bob. I hated being licked, but everyone else in the world liked it. So he NEVER learned to quit licking!
Bob's motto was: "Lick first to see of you like a lickin' dog"

I do not have to say "do not slap box with Cassie" twice. Because she's a rescue and was beaten severly prior to coming to live with me, I always end that sentence with, "or she will snap at you" She's very distrustfull of strangers and will not play with only but like 5 people that she knows very well.

Tommy, on the other hand, is now almost 3yrs old, and loves to slap box with everyone. But he has learned that chewing hands is only appropriate during this type of play, which seems to work out for everyone. I wouldn't worry about it too much. People playing with their hands like that are expecting to get slobbered on.

 

[lilly111161]

I have learned that there are actually people in this world who just dont like dogs, or sometimes animals in general. I f I pick up on that vibe when people are in my home, I give my dogs a special treat in there crates, which are right in my dining room.

 

[Bear's Mama]

Jamie, I know exactly what you mean! Everytime someone comes over (granted, at first they are trying to pet Bear on top of his head) they start waving their hands and arms in his face. That so encourages him to play bite and get even more rambunctious and start jumping around. Then they decide they don't want him to do that anymore and Bear has just gotten started! He doesn't understand why he isn't supposed to bite at their waving hands now. I tell people to keep your hands out of his face and turn your back on him if he tries to jump up at you. I know it is difficult to fend off an excited, playful Boxer, but you get what you ask for!!

Jennifer & Bear

 

[SkippyToo]

I try to tell my grown sons to ignore my "kids" when they first arrive for a visit to my home. Using this method, the dogs calm down first and then they can get attention when it's wanted, and when they are less frantic.

My youngest son always talks about how my boxers need disclipline; however, when he comes to visit he does the "rough" up play. This makes the babies think that they can lunge and jump (playfully) any time my son arrives. It's a mess.

Anyway, I have also done what Tom suggested. Put them in their crates until they settle down. This gives everyone, boxers and people, a little time to relax and adjust.

I guess I am strange, and I hope I don't make anyone mad at me, I do not like to be licked by other people's dogs. If my dogs want to lick me I do not mind so much, but I can only stand it for so long. If someone else's dog licks, I back off. Now, I'll say this (with a slight grin), I will take boxer kisses from any single one!

Mary, Bob, Samson, Delilah and Tyra (Zipporah)

 

[gmacleod]

Not everyone loves dogs - and even of those that do, not everyone loves being licked. Each to his own - or how about live and let live??

Of course, when people come to visit they should comply with your requests *not* to rile up the dog.

Actually, I'm personally less concerned with whether or not people like being licked than I am with competing with rambunctious dogs to be able to hold a conversation with guests :p - so I don't crate or otherwise remove the dogs, but I *do* make them sit and leave the guests alone until they've settled down. I also ask people to ignore them, at least for the first ten minutes or so.

That certainly helps the dogs learn to be calm around people - because they're not allowed to greet them until they can do so nicely. Funnily enough, it also seems to work for the guests - if they've been sitting down for ten minutes or so before they're allowed to greet the dogs, they're far less inclined to 'rough them up'. Coincidence? Hmmm...