Poppy
New member
- Dec 15, 2011
- 246
- 23
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Poppy, Bunk
I've been in your shoes. Poppy was a happy go lucky 50 lb jumper. Bunk was reactive to high energy+noise and would bite (dogs). A year ago we were lost and felt like there was no end.
Eventually I found a dog training class that was right for me. It was 3x a week for 8 weeks. Outdoors. Around other dogs. No treats and no shock collars.
Slowly Poppy jumped less and Bunk reacted less. It truly comes down to exercise discipline affection. I was so amazed that by the end of the course, dogs that had been CRAZY: chihuahuas, pits, labs, boxers, and my bulldogs, were now respectful and obedient.
Until you find the right professional for you, there are some things you can do at home..
Jumping - Practice having friends enter the house and ignore the dog. If he jumps, get them to give a firm NO and ignore him until he calms down. It will take ages and several people before it clicks. Number one rule with jumping is consistency. Make sure NOBODY rewards this behaviour with laughter and pets. It's especially hard with strangers because they go "oooohhh it's okaaaay he's sooooo cute!!" thereby undoing all you worked for, lol. I just say to people "Sorry, he's in training" and don't let them pet him until I know he'll behave. Harsh but must be done.
With the girls, do you think they fuel his excitement at all? I know kids will be kids but it's now a good time to train them on how to interact with an excited dog. Their body language and tone might be misleading him into thinking its play time when really they want him to calm down. They must say No in a low stern voice and ignore them and turn away. He'll know they mean business. It may be a good idea to keep a leash on him dragging on the floor at all times, so you can quickly correct or separate. The most interaction he should have with the girls is on walks. They should always be on walks and represent authority. Same with feeding. Not sure how excited he gets, but if you trust him, let the girls hand feed him with supervision. He must eat slowly and nicely from their hands. He may not be ready now, but it will happen one day. Again it's tying into the respect thing.
Oh I wanted to mention this thing called the thunder shirt. Please look into it. I find it takes the edge of anxious/excited dogs. It works for Bunk. When he wears it he has much higher tolerance for little snappy dogs barking at him, lol. It may not help the jumping, but I think it may help w. the fighting. They seem to fight because the energy gets sooo high that it explodes. The thunder shirt relaxes them.
I don't think I would rehome him just because his age is a big factor in the behaviour. He needs leadership and direction. Moving him into a dog only home would stunt him, while he still can improve. If one day you feel you were 100% consistent, gave him exercise, direction, and still no difference.. Then at least you know you did right by this dog and you would feel right rehoming him.
And no I wouldn't send your dogs to that dog training place. If your problems are at home and with you kids, she should be in your home training them/you.
Eventually I found a dog training class that was right for me. It was 3x a week for 8 weeks. Outdoors. Around other dogs. No treats and no shock collars.
Slowly Poppy jumped less and Bunk reacted less. It truly comes down to exercise discipline affection. I was so amazed that by the end of the course, dogs that had been CRAZY: chihuahuas, pits, labs, boxers, and my bulldogs, were now respectful and obedient.
Until you find the right professional for you, there are some things you can do at home..
Jumping - Practice having friends enter the house and ignore the dog. If he jumps, get them to give a firm NO and ignore him until he calms down. It will take ages and several people before it clicks. Number one rule with jumping is consistency. Make sure NOBODY rewards this behaviour with laughter and pets. It's especially hard with strangers because they go "oooohhh it's okaaaay he's sooooo cute!!" thereby undoing all you worked for, lol. I just say to people "Sorry, he's in training" and don't let them pet him until I know he'll behave. Harsh but must be done.
With the girls, do you think they fuel his excitement at all? I know kids will be kids but it's now a good time to train them on how to interact with an excited dog. Their body language and tone might be misleading him into thinking its play time when really they want him to calm down. They must say No in a low stern voice and ignore them and turn away. He'll know they mean business. It may be a good idea to keep a leash on him dragging on the floor at all times, so you can quickly correct or separate. The most interaction he should have with the girls is on walks. They should always be on walks and represent authority. Same with feeding. Not sure how excited he gets, but if you trust him, let the girls hand feed him with supervision. He must eat slowly and nicely from their hands. He may not be ready now, but it will happen one day. Again it's tying into the respect thing.
Oh I wanted to mention this thing called the thunder shirt. Please look into it. I find it takes the edge of anxious/excited dogs. It works for Bunk. When he wears it he has much higher tolerance for little snappy dogs barking at him, lol. It may not help the jumping, but I think it may help w. the fighting. They seem to fight because the energy gets sooo high that it explodes. The thunder shirt relaxes them.
I don't think I would rehome him just because his age is a big factor in the behaviour. He needs leadership and direction. Moving him into a dog only home would stunt him, while he still can improve. If one day you feel you were 100% consistent, gave him exercise, direction, and still no difference.. Then at least you know you did right by this dog and you would feel right rehoming him.
And no I wouldn't send your dogs to that dog training place. If your problems are at home and with you kids, she should be in your home training them/you.
!
I only realized later how important this exercise was be as Bea's little VERY STRONG personality developed. Maybe you can do this with Aldo? (I will try to describe so it makes sense) I still do this with Bea every so often. It's a leadership and trust exercise. 
