did i make a mistake ?

lolasmum · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:28 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone you have all been very helpful and kind.I don't consider myself quite the inadequate monster that i did before ! I will persevere and keep more pinot grigio in the house ! Fingers crossed Shocked

NigelB · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:54 am Post subject:

Lolasmum, thats good to hear!!

... oh, btw I may not be much help in training Lola, but if you should need any assistance in polishing off the Pinot Grigio I'm yer man!!!! Wink

Tracey · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:22 pm Post subject:

Hi Lolasmum

Your Lola sounds just like my Scooby. He is 6 months now and is a big boy for his age (tall - not fat). He is VERY excitable and jumps up at everyone, normally a run and a jump (a body-slam!).

He is better with people he knows but we have a lot of children who visit to see our horses and he is dreadful with them for the first 5 minutes. His claws can't half hurt, although he doesn't mean it. I try shouting for him to sit and 'off' but he takes no notice - he is in la la land.

We have been going to training classes for the past couple of months and he is soooo excitable there aswell. He does manage to do his training exercises but wants to play with the other dogs and the instructor all the time!

I have not managed to overcome his pulling on the lead using the trainer's methods but I now use a halti, which is a godsend Razz

. It means I can take him for a walk at least as he used to drag me everywhere and I wasn't enjoying it.

I don't know what to suggest really, apart from using the halti and sometimes keep it on when you get visitors so you can control her and the give praise when she does as she's told.

Just to let you know that you're not alone Laughing

lablover · Account Deactivated

Hi Lola, sorry to hear you're having a hard time, but just want to echo what's already been said. Sometimes our little darlings can test the patience of a saint - bit like kids really Shocked

.
Just to add to the good advice already given:
Using a gentle leader - have you tried getting her used to it indoors before taking her out with it. I'd put it on her and treat her for having it on - even for a matter of seconds initially. Clickers can be useful for this. Put it on regularly throughout the day, click and treat when she has it on, and gradually increase the time she has it on. Do this for a week or so before you even venture taking her out in it. If you've already tried all this (some dogs will just not tolerate a headcollar), she may be better on a harness (lupi, halti, komfi etc) and it may be worth trying one of these.
Re: Jumping up. This is natural behaviour for a dog. A pup will jump up to lick it's mum's lips, and in the wild the dam would regurgitate some food for the pups.
As Kay has already said, go back to basics, take each step at a time. Her advice re greeting visitors is good, but if you find her still difficult just take it a step further back - when the doorbell goes, put her into a room while your guests come in, leave her a few minutes until she is calmer and then bring her in when your guests are sitting down. If she gets over excited then out she goes until calmer etc etc.

[quote:ac86254446]She has learned the behaviour she exhibits is unacceptable as soon as you reprimand her she just doesn't seem to be able to help herself ![/quote:ac86254446]
It's just a subtle difference, but what we percieve as a dog looking guilty when they have done something wrong is actually them giving out appeasing signals. They don't actually understand the concept of guilty, they have just learnt that they get a certain response as a result of doing something and if the response is a telling off, they will give out appeasing signals. Far more effective is showing her how you want her to behave by ignoring her when she is doing something you don't want, and giving her attention her when she is good.
Just one thing I would add, it b]may[/b] get worse before it gets better. When trying to change a behaviour using positive reinforcement, you can get what is known as 'extinction burst'. Basically, take for example, jumping up. If she has been given attention or 'rewarded' for jumping up (even telling off is still attention), then when you first start to ignore her, she will try it even harder (after all, it got her what she wanted in the past, so maybe she just need to do it harder), persever and be consistent and she will get the message.
Good luck
HTH Smile

lolasmum · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the great advice.I have tried the gentle leader but so far has not been successful,also the car seat strap that we use in the car which is a harness but she is so powerful.In fact having grown up with alsatians and dobermans i can still honestly say i have known such a powerful dog as Lola.I think you are all right it is perseverence , praising good behaviour etc. I honestly think she can't help herself it is all too exciting for her. We have a porch in the hallway so when i answer the door i always make sure she is on the other side of it and after 5 mins she is calmer about the guests being there but she will still jump up if they ignore her or lick their feet or something else ! A box of marbles shaken used to work well for jumping up but she has become desensitised i think.I don't know if any of you have seen the film the mask when the dog puts the mask on and turns into a wide eyed tongue hanging out loon ? That's our Lola Laughing

swillsy · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject:

Hello, glad you are feeling a bit more positive.

Have you tried a Walkezee harness? http://www.walkezee.com/

Haven't tried one myself but bloke I see in the park who is an APDT trainer says they are really excellent for stopping pulling.

Sophie

NicolaL · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject:

[quote:60185fdac7="NigelB"]I'm sure lots of us wonder how we would have managed without the help that this forum gives us.[/quote:60185fdac7]

How true Nigel. I have to say that having this forum to 'turn to' has made my experience of owning a lab even more rewarding and complete.

Glad to hear you are feeling better Lolasmum.

All the best,
Nicola.

lolasmum · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject:

You have all given me great advice but the best advice has been that all the baby labs are a bit nutty ! That is good to know , i can't take it too personally then ! Progress report today Lola ate most of a wooden georgian dolls house in about 10 secs, ate a big hole in a wicker trunk , went for a walk with a gentle leader on promply lay down and rubbed her face all over the ground to get it off and refused to move , and jumped and licked the babysitter half to death ! But thankfully all your similar stories have meant i have kept my sense of humour over it today! And as for the pint grigio Nigel , when there is more in the bottle and less in me i know i will be making progress ! Laughing

I still think there should be special house insurance for puppies !

lolasmum · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

DID I SAY "PINT " GRIGIO ? I MEANT PINOT , NOW THAT IS A BIT FREUDIAN ! Shocked

NigelB · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:38 am Post subject:

Eating the dolls house sounds an expensive munch!!! .. Ive seen what those things can cost ... no wonder you have taken to drinking Pinot Grigio in pints!! Wink