Vicaroo1000
"Slug Assassin" and PBS Gardening Dweeb
- Jun 23, 2011
- 5,775
- 389
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Beefeater's Buxom Beatrice and Lord Harrington's Bodacious Beauregaard
I've always known that Bo is prone to easy over-excitement, but I had no idea how QUICKLY he could go into melt down mode until last night. Genuinely understanding this gives me an opportunity to exercise leadership in controlling Bo's excitement level.
Here's what happened:
Bo is up on the couch with me - watching TV, as usual. He's on one end and I'm on the other end. I usually put my feet under/on him because he's my foot warmer. (I have these amazingly always-frozen feet in spite of the wool socks I always wear. Sexy huh?) So last night, I start rough housing with him on the couch. We're just playing. I'm rubbing his tummy and taking his paw and sticking it in his mouth and asking him why he keeps biting himself ... goofy stuff. I'm kissing his head. He's high fiving me like crazy. You could tell Bo was having the time of his life. This is all happening during the commercial break of Dog Whisperer show so when the show returns I stop all play. Yes. THAT FAST. Even tho I halted play, Bo wasn't done yet. A few seconds later, I'm watching the TV and all of a sudden notice Bo humping the couch. Clearly I'd taken him to OVER EXCITEMENT-VILLE and without even realizing it. He gets corrected and stops this activity - briefly - and then starts back up again. "Wow", I think, "He's got a very short fuse to over excitement!" Keep in mind that he's just one year old and still very much a puppy. Of course he's easily excitable! As his pack leader, it's my job to control that excitement level.
This got me thinking about other times when I've seen this behavior. The only time I've seen this before is when I have them both at the dog off leash area in my complex and he and Bea are playing for an extended period of time. He will get to a point where he'll hump Bea. It's not sexual. He's neutered. He starts acting a bit whacky and then it's hump time. It's absolutely over-excitement and I am certainly capable of being aware so as to notice when he's crossed that thin line --- and then put the kybosh on it. I will start being more vigilant and assertive about stepping in and controlling this behavior -- beginning today.
The other thing I know I can do is channel excess energy into something else. If Bo is genuinely tired from our walk/playing, he's 99% less likely to act out with unacceptable behaviors. We've been playing a game I call "Kick the Pinecone" that both Bea and Bo enjoy immensely. I'll be taking that up a notch!
Anyway, that's for letting me share my "A HA" moment!
Here's what happened:
Bo is up on the couch with me - watching TV, as usual. He's on one end and I'm on the other end. I usually put my feet under/on him because he's my foot warmer. (I have these amazingly always-frozen feet in spite of the wool socks I always wear. Sexy huh?) So last night, I start rough housing with him on the couch. We're just playing. I'm rubbing his tummy and taking his paw and sticking it in his mouth and asking him why he keeps biting himself ... goofy stuff. I'm kissing his head. He's high fiving me like crazy. You could tell Bo was having the time of his life. This is all happening during the commercial break of Dog Whisperer show so when the show returns I stop all play. Yes. THAT FAST. Even tho I halted play, Bo wasn't done yet. A few seconds later, I'm watching the TV and all of a sudden notice Bo humping the couch. Clearly I'd taken him to OVER EXCITEMENT-VILLE and without even realizing it. He gets corrected and stops this activity - briefly - and then starts back up again. "Wow", I think, "He's got a very short fuse to over excitement!" Keep in mind that he's just one year old and still very much a puppy. Of course he's easily excitable! As his pack leader, it's my job to control that excitement level.
This got me thinking about other times when I've seen this behavior. The only time I've seen this before is when I have them both at the dog off leash area in my complex and he and Bea are playing for an extended period of time. He will get to a point where he'll hump Bea. It's not sexual. He's neutered. He starts acting a bit whacky and then it's hump time. It's absolutely over-excitement and I am certainly capable of being aware so as to notice when he's crossed that thin line --- and then put the kybosh on it. I will start being more vigilant and assertive about stepping in and controlling this behavior -- beginning today.
The other thing I know I can do is channel excess energy into something else. If Bo is genuinely tired from our walk/playing, he's 99% less likely to act out with unacceptable behaviors. We've been playing a game I call "Kick the Pinecone" that both Bea and Bo enjoy immensely. I'll be taking that up a notch!
Anyway, that's for letting me share my "A HA" moment!