Jane has just said what I was thinking, when Mischa was similar age our plan was not on the sofa, but we had an old armchair that was in the room we use mostly during the day, when she showed signs of wanting to get on it we let her, it proved to be the right idea as she spent her days when nothing special was happening either asleep or just watching what was going on around her. If someone came in she would greet them then go back to her chair, she was only 5 months old when I had ten people for lunch and i thought she would have to go in her crate to give us peace from pestering, but no, she said hello to each of them and spent 2 hours curled up in her chair sleeping and observing, we did'nt teach her to do that or make her, she just did it.
So my theory is you don't have to always make your pup obey your every word, they are sociable little critters and part of the family, if their behaving why not let them do it in comfort, of course if they are playing up then it needs thinking about.
Andy I reckon you have found what makes Eddie tick , so go with your instinct, he sounds like a good boy most of the time.
June
have edited coz you asked about the barking, to me it just sounds like he does it because he is frustrated and his way of trying to communicate with you, hiding under the coffee table tells me he knows it is wrong but is'nt sure what to do next, so my first step would be to ignore it and walk away, see what happens and if he is persistent then try to find out what his problem is.
Last edited by fiz on Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:30 am; edited 1 time in total
Just looked at the video, didn't realise the picture was the link
I wouldn't have a problem with what the dog was doing providing the barking was stopped. the dog is a puppy and has to learn what is acceptable and what isn't.
Its wrong to accept an action when it suits you and then convey to the dog its unacceptable when it doesn't.
Likewise its no good cussing the dog when your best china or any other possession gets damaged, that includes the dog launching itself onto your lap as your sat there with a cup of tea.
Everything you do should really be in accordance to reaching the finished product that you want.
Its a fine dividing line between deciding what is natural exuberance and what is becoming dominant play.
Completely agree with what your saying about everything I do should be working towards the finished article, however, what would you do to stop the barking? What did you do to stop your dog barking at the cat and how did your father explain the error of the dogs ways when it growled at your mother?
I've tried Jules' approach by getting up and walking away, it's seems to have the desired effect but I've only had the opportunity to test it once.
To everyone else I think We've decided to allow him to be on the sofa but only when we invite him, if he starts the barking/lunging business he gets ignored. If he sits patiently in front of us then he'll get invited onto the sofa......sound like a good plan?
Thanks Sandyback (sorry I don't know your real name).
I know I'm a pain, as I question everything . I do question everything I do or think too, if that's any consulation. However I'm always ready to learn other ways and methods if they work for others.
I shall keep your methods in mind should I ever have an unbiddable sort living with me.
To everyone else I think We've decided to allow him to be on the sofa but only when we invite him, if he starts the barking/lunging business he gets ignored. If he sits patiently in front of us then he'll get invited onto the sofa......sound like a good plan?
That's pretty much how I start all my puppies off. Everything is done on my terms. In other words, if they want any sort of attention, they only get it if they are asking calmly. If I'm holding them and they want to get down, they only get put down when they aren't struggling, etc, etc. So for me, it's a two way street. They get what they want, but they have to ask the right way.
I question everything as well as it makes for better understanding.
I'm an Andrew.
Andy, when my father removed the dog from the dog it was done in way that left the dog in doubt that its actions were not to be tolerated. it was called off by my mother and when it refused to move she went to push the dog off, the dog then lifted its lips and warned my mother off. at that point Dad got the dog by the scruff, gave it a clip round the ear and a good shaking. the dog then wandered off into the living room and the same thing happened again.
Then my mother called the dog up onto the settee a bit later on. then she called him off. never had a problem again, the dog (Springer) was gaining its confidence and although mother fed the dog it was me or Father that did everything else.
I'll say here and now it was the way it was, it was the mid 1960's and understanding dog psychology wasn't high on me Dads agenda probably the same with child psychology, I have no regrets
My thoughts haven't changed a great deal since that time other than to be more aware of recognising a problem as it begins to manifest.
I think if you have had dogs before then it isn't such a minefield.
Cute puppies soon turn into unmanageable delinquents, that is further exacerbated when they are out and about and off the lead.
As I say each to there own learn as you you go along and ask questions no 2 dogs are the same, but the approach to training is.
Dogs are a lot more forgiving than people think, I've yet to see one hold a grudge.
Just wanted to say Andy if your happy with how things are go with it
The main thing in my book with everything is that you need to be consistent to avoid any confusion, you set house rules and everyone has different houserules. The main thing is that your dog knows what they are and they donot change ( if your going to in the long term not allow on new sofa then start as you mean to go on )
Interestingly in our house my rules are 'not on sofa' but OH's rules are 'I shall ignore dogs on the sofa',
what do our dogs do ?
Climb on sofa when I am not in room and leave sofa sharpish when I enter room so in our household there is plenty of consistency ( I hasten to add that all I ever do is frown at the dogs and they know I am not amused ).
Finally looking at the Vid I would say you have a lovely lab
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, so go with your instinct, he sounds like a good boy most of the time.
. I do question everything I do or think too, if that's any consulation. However I'm always ready to learn other ways and methods if they work for others.
