escull
Northern California
Posts:18
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| 12/09/2009 8:34 AM |
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Cooper will be two years old in a few weeks. He is still very much a puppy. We never got him neutered. I am pregnant with our first child due in January.
Some things that drive me nuts. When anyone comes home and lets him out of the crate, or a visitor comes to the house, he runs around like a maniac trying to find something to put into his mouth. He usually picks up a sock because those are lying on the floor (LOL). Once he has enough things in his mouth he gets really close to whoever and walks around their legs and through them if he can. Also when we get up in the morning he is on the same mission to get something in his mouth.
He doesn't respond to no, come, sit or stay when he is in this obsessive mood.
What should we do?! It really embarrasses us in front of visitors. |
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..::I love my Cooper::..
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 12/09/2009 8:55 AM |
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Embarrassed by your GSP??? Shame on you.LOL.
Hopefully, they will never grow up. I have found that around 2 1/2 they start to show a more mature frame of mind and it only gets better from there.
But,on to your problem. He may not outgrow this. How I would stop it is to not let him out of his crate untilhe is calm, then when he exists have him sit immediately,then when he is calm heel him a distance and have him down for a time,walk away from him,return after a time and release him calmly,maybe you can give a toy or treat or calm praise.
I would do this same proceedure in the morning. The idea is to prevent the frame of mind,put him in a calm ,obedient frame of mind teaching him to calm himself eventually.
I see the pushing or rubbing against you as a dominant posture. He who touches the most is the boss/the one in control.You may not give me what I want but I willfind another way to control the situation - the dog is doing what he wants and you can not stop it. He wins.
Now, this wouldn't be an issue unless it embarrasses you and it does.
BTW, I stopped being embarrassed by my dogs years ago.
Francine
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 12/09/2009 9:16 AM |
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So I have a bit of a different take on it than pixie. My girl, Halo, does the same thing the only difference is she looks for one of her toys. She will run around madly looking for just the right toy to present to the newcomer or me if I am coming home from an errand. Once she is recognized and thanked for the toy which she really wants to give to the person she is greeting, she goes about her business. For Halo it is her way of saying welcome and I am glad to see you. Halo is 4 YO and still does the same greeting. So, instead of trying to stop it I would redirect it so that your pup is getting one of his toys to present. Turn it into a greeting ritual when you come home. When you dog greets you with your sock don't say anything just substitute a toy, then tell him hello and love on him. He will quickly figure out that he gets attention when he presents with the toy. Just be sure you leave toys around that he can easily find (they have to be at hand and more available than the socks or other clothing). I never found anyone that didn't get a kick out of Halo's greeting once I told them she wanted to welcome them and give them her toy.
I would also suggest you put your cloths out of reach as GSPs love to snatch and collect personal clothes (especially socks and underwear) as they smell like us. Mine still love to steal my socks and take them to their bed or crate. That is really a complement when you think about it. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 12/09/2009 9:17 AM |
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| I forgot to add, GSPs are puppies until they die, but as pixie indicated they do start showing maturity around 2 to 2.5 YO. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 12/09/2009 10:04 AM |
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| You could really do either suggestion. I don't like when my dogs are jumping around, are excited and show lack of control. The paw stomping,pushing,ect annoys me and tends to be loud on wood floors,not to mention it does make other people a bit nervous,thinking the dog is not controlable. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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bravepoint
North Gower, ON Canada
MH
Posts:894
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| 12/09/2009 12:25 PM |
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I have Terra use this carrying behaviour to my advantage. When I come home she rushes to bring me my slippers. Terra follows me til I acknowledge her and take the slipper. My eldest, Moka at 11 1/2 loves to grab whatever from the froont door area where we came in. It could be a mens size 12 snowmobile boot which I might find on my family room couch!!
GSPs do slow down but are still puppies at heart always. It's part of their charm!
Gail |
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Gail, Moka, Avery, Terra & Rayne
Bravepoint GSPs
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jlp8cornell
Ithaca NY
MH
Posts:461
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| 12/10/2009 6:53 AM |
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| When I come home from work or even let Max out of his crate after 5 minutes, he always needs something in his mouth. I open the door, make him wait and then release him to a toy I have. I cannot have any clothes in his reach. He will take anything I have worn. After a swallowed sock and induced vomiting, socks are NEVER within reach. |
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Jen
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2440 |
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johnniegoldfish
Posts:8
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| 01/19/2010 3:50 PM |
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What do you think about the tied together cans (empty something like light weight soda cans) method, throw them at the visitor and say bad visitor. No? |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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snips
n.ga.
MH
Posts:413
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| 01/19/2010 7:58 PM |
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Better socks than underwear |
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brenda |
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flygirl
Muncy, PA
MH
Posts:409
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| 01/20/2010 7:46 AM |
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| I thought this was just a "Benelli" trait until we had Diamond, a 2-3 yr old GSP stay at our house as an over night guest on his way from MI to CT. The first thing he did when he stepped into the house was pick up a toy and prance around. After he settled in, I turned and saw him prancing around with McKenna's pajama bottoms in his mouth. We all had a good laugh. |
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Benelli
Abby
RIP Dutchess - 2000-2010
Cheyney the cat |
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zimbass
MH
Posts:237
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| 01/21/2010 9:50 AM |
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| Buddy does it also, he grabs his kong or his blanket. One thing that Buddy does with only me is when I let him out of the crate, he leaps completely off the ground into my arms and I catch him. I'm glad he doesn't do that with visitors, that would be really bad. |
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http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2095
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2532
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sheilak
Rocklin, CA
MH
Posts:269
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| 02/25/2010 8:44 PM |
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| I am really late with the subject, I didn't realize that this was a typical Shorthair trait. Our Chelsea, who just passed away at 9 1/2 years always had to run around and find a toy when we came home, she acted like a puppy until the day she passed away of a ruptured heart tumor. I miss her so... |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 02/28/2010 9:21 AM |
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Wow so that IS a Shorthair thing! Tessa does the same. When I let her out of the crate (and she is super calm at that point, no whining, just politely waiting) she zooms straight for the next sock or glove no matter how many toys are in reach, and does her free-at-last dance.
So the first thing I try do is check to make sure all socks and gloves and hats are out of reach but she still seems to find the stuff! When I tell her to drop it she does and immediately picks up her toy and continues the dance, so she knows, yet it's the same routine each time! I will try Francine's approach at a more structured and controlled release from the crate. I don't mind her happy dance but would like for her to leave my stuff alone.
I've heard they don't calm down until two years after they die. My trainer said I can expect Tessa to be calmer at about 3 years old. 1.5 years to go. I must say she has calmed down quite a bit already, compared to how she was as a puppy - she was so wild out of the crate that I could not even put a collar on her. Consistent training (what a struggle at times), patience and time eventually worked for us.
The counter-surfing is the only thing I am embarrassed about. Just not cool when you are visiting friends especially if the friends are non-GSP people. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 03/01/2010 6:00 AM |
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| I have my house puppy proofed pretty good so hat, gloves, socks, underwear are out of doggie reach...however it seems when we get home or friends come over the dogs grab their toys and sort of show them off. Blitz was really good about not jumping up on people until we got Donner now he does a bit cuz he is trying to get attention. So really I am just working on the no jumping because that can cause problems is someone older comes over I don't want them knocked down or even little kids...otherwise mine don't have any behaviors that bother me in public! |
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been far east
MH
Posts:293
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| 03/01/2010 5:10 PM |
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| Mine will do the same thing .I have found if i do not talk to them and just go about my business they settle faster. They are all focused on me and then i begin to talk to each one. Dottie will not eat supper right when i get home . She needs hello time. Rocky on the other hand will eat a.s.a.p .(been far east ) |
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Gatormom
St Paul, MN
MH
Posts:203
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| 03/02/2010 1:02 AM |
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This is the first time that I've read this post, and I am blown away by the fact that others also grab a toy or something when let out of their kennels. Gator does this too, and sometimes it's a tennis ball, a toy and other times it's a shoe or slipper, or whatever he can grab in his mouth. It it's something he's not supposed to have, I can say "get an appropriate toy" and he will most often find one of his toys that he has strategically placed around the house.
I saw a more maturity in him when he turned 2, and he will turn 3 in April, and he still has a great deal of puppy in him.
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Barbara
Kaiser (1996-2010)
Gator
I am simply thankful that least dogs exist, and I'm humbly aware of how much less a person I'd be - how less human, if they did not exist - Rick Bass |
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zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
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| 03/02/2010 3:08 PM |
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All of my GSPS do this & so did my Lab, my Boxer and my APBT, not sure exactly what it is, but all greeted people and me with a toy, shoe, sock, glove...whatever they could grab. I always re-direct pups to toys only.
I instruct visitors to ignore dogs totally & they calm within 5 minutes & are very well behaved.
At my grooming shop they are quieter, but are used to many people coming and going. There are a couple clients who play & rile them up & they get very excited when they come in & a bit wild.........need to do obedience with those clients someday, LOL! |
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