Playing hard
Any ideas Lisa and Frankie |
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A playing sheepie is going to interpret a "push" as encouragement to play more  No touching, just tell him to go lay down.  |
Yup! Pushing back at my dogs is how I encourage several of them to switch into play mode when I get ready to run them in agility  This is a very physical breed and body slamming is something they understand all too well. One of my agility instructors clearly doesn't get this and apparently wishes I would play with my dogs in a way more familar to her way of thinking and her dogs, but you do what works for your own dogs and your own breed, thank you very much  Yes, stopping the came immediately upon transgression is the only way to get the game across. And I mean DONE, toy on the shelf or whatever, and ignore dog. When I start teaching tugging I'll inevitably get some scrapes on my hands from overzealous teeth. Then it's a loud "ouch", toy goes away, we're done, too bad. They learn pretty quickly to watch their teeth even when excited. For dogs who like you to throw things for them and will jump up on you or try to snatch the ball or whatever (Hi Sybil and Dazz) I teach them that first they have to sit or drop before I'll throw. In the beginning they'll resist because mauling you is fun and effective in its own way But once they catch on that there will be no game and no throwing till they "park it", it's amazing how fast they can go "splat". Dazz especially still can't quite contain herself and whether in a sit or a down her front legs will be going in anticipation, which will probably come back to haunt me some day in obedience, should she ever get that far. But it's kind of fun to watch for now and it encourages impulse control, of which she had exactly none until we started playing MY variation of the game. I spent a lot of time black & blue until she got it. Kristine |
| We do the same thing with these 2 goofs. Baloo learned a very long time ago the fun is over if teeth get anywhere near skin or clothes. He's super careful-- but it hasn't diminished his playfulness or any fun. Lily... still learning. She's fond of getting too excited and jumping at your face (doesn't matter if you are sitting or standing. She just jumps) When she jumps... no deal. game over. We're done. I just walk away and ignore. If she gets my hand when playing with a toy we let out a loud yelp (i think I sound more like AACKK ) and I drop the toy. Game over. Now she quickly sits down and is instantly calm when I do that. I wait few secs then pet her head "all's well" and then go about our business. It works for us so far. |
| Yep, dittto all of the above - including the black and blue marks on occasion One change we do however is we do not allow either of our dogs to "solicit" a game of tug. We have one tug toy for each and the toy comes out ONLY when I decide its time to tug. They each get some seperate "tug" time outside. They tug, I say, tug, tug tug...Then I say "out" and the idea is for them to drop the toy. Works with the holder one, younger one still learning...Once toy is dropped, I pick up and announce "tug" again and we repeat a few times. If the dogs get too excited, do not drop when I command, jump up on me, or in general become too rough, game over and toy is put away... There have been times when I've gotten nipped accidently when the dog got too excited and too overly anxious to get the toy and went to grab before I moved my fingers! Tug is a great outlet and relieves stress for them. But only if played correctly. They learn quickly though and I get to keep all fingers  |
| As well as all of the above I like to have a book or magazine lying around so if the toy has to go away I can sit down calmly, read and ignore the dog completely. They seem to calm down faster if you don't look at them or make eye contact. A magazine seems to work better because it obscures more of you. I seem to have gotten lucky with my newest puppy, when you yelp or cry out she'll try to lick your hand better!  Good luck! |
| When Archie gets rough housing (my fault normally!) and goes to far, a quick grap of his scruff with some downward movement and a NO, is enough to calm him, into a submissive state. But, you have to drain their energy, so set aside some serious play/work time with the pup, so that he knows when it is okay to play. Archie knows that I am Mr Playtime, he doesn't bother my wife or other people with that behaviour, as he knows he will not get any return fun. It can get rough at times but as he doesn't have other dogs to play with at home and the cats do resort to using their sharp pointy things on the end of their legs, but play is always initiated by me so he knows when he can goof about and when he can't. They need draining as well as training................ It does get better with time. |
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