Attention Problem

[Rhona]

Sam is now 6 months old.   I think he has probably entered the teenage years but I am not sure how best to deal with him.  When anyone comes to visit he jumps all over them, up and down on the furniture and has a nip and barks (not particularly aggressively more excitedly).  I can see that he is still a young and is just looking for attention but the more we tell him no the more exciting the whole thing becomes.  He does seem to have a bit of a power struggle with my husband too.  He barks at him constantly.  Usually he will just turn away from him and ignore the behaviour and if it gets too much he will be put in the kitchen for a while until he calms down.  He does seem to be  aroused by any visiters to the house too (cringe).  A friend of mine has suggested that it might be time to have him neutered but I am not too sure that I want to do that either.  HELP!

[lizzy]

Hello,

It sounds as if he is challenging your authority a little, not unusual for dogs this age. It may be worthwhile to put him on the lead when visitors come and tell hime to sit, reward him with a treat if he's stays sitting but try not to make to much fuss of him. This is something that can be overcome with a little training, it will take time but it's not impossibe.

Barking is usually done for attention and I think it's probably best what you are doing in ignoring him until he's quiet.

It may be best to speak to your vet about the neutering suggestion, I think that all puppy's go through this age and that it's completely normal and they do grow out of it, I know mine have!

Hth

 

[DIANNE32]

Bailey barks at visitors all the time when they come to the house but he does calm down after a bit, whereas he never used to. ONe thing that still bothers me with Bailey is he still snaps at people when they come to the house and its very worrying. Is it a phase? its as though he hates anyone coming to the house that he doesn't know.  

[dillydolly]

Have you thought about keeping aside a special toy for him when vistors come round? and keep him on the lead and when he is quiet and sitting nicely give him the toy but this toy must only be used when you get a visitor, another way is to buy a toy and let the dog know its your toy and he only gets it when you say so, this toy must be on view and you need to show the dog that it something so important to you but keep out of reach and every so often pick up this toy and throw it in the air and make it out as if its so fantastic and put it back ( make sure the dog sees you doing this ) when you feel he has behaved in an appropriate way let him have the toy only for a few mins and then take it back and place it out of reach and on show it works a treat for me you can rotate toys so he doesnt get bored . .
If your visitor is willing get them to sit with their back to the dog and have nothing to do with it until it has calmed down,  if the dog gets excited again repeat the procedure until he realises he is not going to get any attention with his behaviour.


good luck dillydolly