CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: Colin on December 17, 2004, 06:36:12 PM
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Misty is just about a dream dog to own apart from one thing - her manners are terrible when anyone visits or we go visiting other people. She gets herself so worked up she screeches in excitement, her whole body shakes, her teeth chatter and she jumps all over people and sometimes her furious licking turns to mouthing. This will go on for about half an hour at least. She's 19months old now and I thought she might have calmed down a bit by now but if anything she's actually getting worse.
She's particularly bad when going to relatives houses (I'm sure dogs have a way of detecting their owner's blood relatives), it takes her ages to calm down. Even when she has calmed, if anyone leaves the room for just 5 minutes on their return she goes nuts again, climbing on whichever piece of furniture can get her closest to them. It's great that she likes people so much but it can get embarrassing at times. Jimmy used to be quite bad for it too, but as long as he has a ball or toy in his mouth he tends to just wiggle round in circles now, rather than launch himself at people.
I've tried putting Misty out the room and also keeping her lead on and making her sit at my side but these things just seem to build up her excitement even more and once she's free she goes even more loopy than she was in the first place. :D Sit stays and down stays don't work either - her excitement levels mean she can't keep still for a nanosecond.
She used to race upto any kids in the park and jump all over them too but thankfully she's getting better with regards to that - she still spots them a mile off and runs up but tends to run around them, wagging her tail rather than molest them. I was hoping this might mean her manners indoors might imrove too, but she's showing no signs of it. :rolleyes:
Soooo, has anyone got any suggestions for how I can deal with this ? We are spending Christmas/New Year with relatives that are used to all this but there are also going to be a few other people there who I'm told aren't really dog people - with Misty doing her crazy routine I doubt they'll be converted either. :unsure:
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Can't help, as Penny is exactly the same, she now drags me down to the school twice a day just so she can meet her fans. She jumps up with everyone,but she's got a fetish with ears instead!
Penny is 2ys now.
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Colin, it is so weid that you posted about this subject today as when I came home from work Butty had been banned to her bed by Adrian for similar behaviour :ph34r:
Now we have been decorating and spent alot of money on new blinds, suite etc. Well today when the 2 blokes came to deliver the suite, she got worked up into such a frenzy when they walked around the side of the house to come to the patio doors that she got herself tangled in the vertical blinds and pulled them all down :angry: leaving my brand new blinds in a crumpled heap on the floor :huh:
I know I'm not helping your problem Colin :lol: but I do sympathise with you ;) I have tried restraining Butty when people come in but she literally chokes herself if I hold her :rolleyes: lock her in the kitchen and she tries to dig a hole in the floor :o Butty is 2 years 3 months now and doesn't show any sign of calming down when it comes to people visiting but in other areas, like you are with Misty she is just a wee angel B)
Don't know the answer though :blink:
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she got worked up into such a frenzy when they walked around the side of the house to come to the patio doors that she got herself tangled in the vertical blinds and pulled them all down :angry: leaving my brand new blinds in a crumpled heap on the floor :huh:
Whoops :lol: One of mine did that with my new bedroom blinds....it certainly wasn't funny at the time!
Colin, I'm not really sure about that one :blink: Mine don't have much manners and do tend to jump up on people but not quite as bad as Misty by the sounds of it ! I'm guessing you have tried getting people to turn their back on her when she starts? Mind you, I didn't have much success with that one myself :rolleyes: You could maybe try clicker training her if shes food orientated? But I'm guessing she probably won't be still for long enough to click for calm behaviour :lol:
Oh how I would love to be a fly on the wall when she starts on the non-doggy people :o :lol: Take a camera ;)
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Gilly - I bet Adrain was furious about the blinds, especially if he'd hung them himself. I remember taking ages putting up a curtain pole once, only for Jimmy to plonk his big bum on the bottom of the curtain and pull it down straight away. He got the fright of his life when it all came crashing down on his head. :D
Gill - Misty is food orientated and will sit and wait for quite a while for a treat. Unfortunately it just delays the inevitable and she then starts assaulting people with over enthusiastic affection again. :rolleyes:
I suppose it's just a case of constantly telling her off and restraining her and hopefully the message will sink in eventually. I'm not sure my family help really, especially the kids - I tell them to completely ignore Misty until she's calmed down but a combination of Misty's determined persistence and the fact the kids find it all hilarious means I'm fighting a losing battle. :rolleyes:
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Adrian was a tad more than furious Colin :lol: :ph34r:
Anyway she was let out of "solitary" whne I came home from work, I told Adrian that she doesn't know the difference between the old blinds and the new blinds, what a thicko he is, but that's blokes for you :lol:
I have had a small amount of success with people who "adhere" to the turning their back on her when they come in, but then I have my FIL to contend with who has never owned a dog in his life and thinks that pushing his fist in her face and making growling noises is how you play with a dog :angry: I have decided that I won't tolerate it anymore and last time he did it I said "If you do that to my dog one more time I'll give you a taste of your own medicine and ram my fist in your face!" :o :lol:
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I have decided that I won't tolerate it anymore and last time he did it I said "If you do that to my dog one more time I'll give you a taste of your own medicine and ram my fist in your face!"
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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You could try reading Jan Fennels books, she has quite a few good tips :) .
My dogs aren't aloud to greet anyone without permission. And they are not allowed to jump on anyone under any circumstances ( a simple "NO" helps in my house). If I have quests in my house, and if at that situation my dogs get overexcited (they rarely do nowadays) I simply take them away, to another room, and let them out when they have calmed down. If the "problem behaviour" starts again, I just take them away again. Despite being stubborn ;) , cockers are also quite clever dogs, so they will learn sooner or later.
Oh and Gilly, if someone hit one of my dogs, I would go ballistics. I would attack without thinking any further :lol: ..
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Dear Colin,
My two greet everyone with equal enthusiasm and are hopeless ... I have to shut them out of the kitchen if the Gas Man/Washer Man etc is there otherwise they practically rape the poor blokes (in their own little Cocker way) but they DO quieten down after a few minutes ...
I have this advice for you - it may be hard to accept but I think it may work - take them down to your Local and let them loose in the Bar ....
They will be so full of pork scratchings/crisps/brown ale - and so fed up of Uncle Tom Cobbly 'n All making a fuss of them, plus other people entering the Bar do NOT get barked at, and mostly if they get a dog wanting a fuss, they can't be arsed until they have got their drink ... that it may make them think that maybe visitors aren't always that good value ...!!! Check it out with your Landlord forst though ... Just a thought ..!!
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I am really glad this topic has been raised - Pickle is the worst assualter-of-guests I have ever seen. He just gets so hyper, and literally throws himself at people. He is still mouthing a lot too, at 14 months I really thought he'd have grown out of it by now.
On Saturday he actually jumped on to Steven's aunt, who was sitting on the sofa - he was going mental, chewing her hair and licking her face. So embarrassing.
My problem is that most of my guests encourage him, and say 'oh dont tell him off, I want to play with him' as I am frantically trying to tell him off / calm him down / drag him out of the room. Also, Pickle is NOT a delicate little flower like wee Butty - he is a big, heavy bruiser, who could just about knock over a grown man! So not ideal when he lands in your lap!
I will be watching this post for more good advice :ph34r:
Emma and Pickle xx
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Alfie goes ballistic when people come into the house, its like no one is allowed to settle down untill he has greeted them in his own cocker way - a big lick on the face seems to be his choice :)
What I have noticed is that those who bend down to him and allow a minute of fuss soon get left alone and Alfie wanders off in search of more mischief or settles down to keep an eye on them from the comfort of his bed. Its the ones who dont get the greeting over and done with who are in for the constant jumping up. Step dad is the worse off here as he walks with a stick and is also worried that Alfie will nip him(hes on warfarin and bleeds easily) and keeps pushing him away. So having him and Alfie in the same room is a nightmare :( I tend to do my best to distract Alfie with toys or chews but invariably I have to take him into another room untill he calms down enough to listen to "sit" and "down"
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Lottie is dreadful for this too, crying, wimpering and occasionally will do a small wee in excitement but luckily that's a rarity now :rolleyes: She will actually jump on them if they sit down :ph34r:
I do find it difficult to deal with and like others have said, most people say it's OK when she is doing this and don't seem to understand that it it not and that they are not helping the situation if they pay her attention :unsure:
Shutting Lottie in another room results in her endlessy pawing the door frantically :angry:
If I am expecting company then I often buy her a pigs ear to distract her but even then she can go and hide it, and then come and say hello :rolleyes: But at least it doesn't last too long then and she will go off and enjoy her pigs ear.
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Phoebe & Joey are just the same. They get so excited when someone comes into the house. Joey's not too bad because he just grabs the nearest toy and starts making a whining noise, but Phoebe launches herself. We we're going out on Saturday night and our friends came round ours first for a few drinks. My friend was all dressed up with a short skirt and black tights but Phoebe was so excited, she jumped up at her and laddered them :blink: and whenever the doorbell rings they both go mad and it's a nightmare trying to watch " A Question of Sport" during the buzzer round, they go absolutely bonkers :D
It's also embarrasing when we're out walking. If anyone shows Phoebe any affection she starts jumping up at them putting muddy paw prints on their nice clean trousers :o
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Livvy is like this too and screams for England,She's 5 and we have tried everything. I read Jan Fennels book once and tried her approach. All I finished up with was a very confused and upset cocker. :(
If people dont like it, they don't come in now! :huh:
Alfie and Cleo just waddle round in circles, with a cuddly (usually the same one) in their mouths. :blink:
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I discovered at the weekend rawhide can have a bit of a calming effect, not overly keen on giving it to her in case she swallows any of it in big chunks and chokes so not an ideal situation, i knew we we're expecting visitors including two small children so measures had to be taken before she floored the pair of them on sight :o She loves kids especially and has been known to drag me halfway accross the park for a look at them :lol:
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Tia always grabs a toy when she comes to greet you - even when you get up in the morining :) .
She also howls at you if she thinks she's not getting enougth attention when you first arrive this is generally followed my lots of licks and running around the house like a mad thing. So much so i'm often worried she'll hurt herself :unsure: .
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I feel so much better after reading this thread. I was going to ask this question soon as Daisy wants to give every visitor to our house a full body hug and wash down! :o We are trying the lead, treats and ignoring techniques in quick succession but our problem is that Daisy is so damn cute that everyone just wants to cuddle her back, my sister is the worst, she actually comes to my house to visit Daisy now - regardless if I'm there or not!! :rolleyes:
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It's always a comfort to know other people have the same problems. :D I suppose as Cockers tend to be such hapy, enthusiastic, people-orientated dogs this is likely to happen. Also their managable size probably means we maybe don't discourage it from an early enough age in the way you have to with larger breed dogs.
I actually had a bit of success with Misty when we went to a friend's house yesterday. I phoned ahead and asked if everyone there could just ignore her if she went hyper and only stroke her once she was seated and behaving. Amazingly everyone followed the instructions - although they all had one eye on the football on TV, so that helped. :D She was still excitable but not to the extent she often is - but there were no kids there and that is definitely when she's at her worst.
It does seem to be a case of training the people as well as the dogs, if you can get the people to listen then it seems half the battle is won. Whether I can get all my nephews and neices to ignore Misty until she's calm is another matter entirely though - selective deafness isn't just a cocker trait. :D
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Billy sit's and waits for people to greet him but his bum is wagging madly the whole time :D
Abby is like a think posessed and has been known to launch herself of furniture into peoples arms Oh and we tried the turning your back on her and she ended up on my BIL shoulders like a fur wrap :D She will not be ignored by anyone we also have the problem that if I take rubbish to the bin or pop across to a neighbour for no longer than 2 minutes she still greets you like a long lost pal :rolleyes:
Michelle
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Bramble is used to our (FOUR) children and their closest friends, but last Saturd\y morning, he sat in his kitchen chair and watched all the 'hang-overs' come in for the pints of cold water and then bacon sarnies, and barked at one of James's friends that hasn't been here for a couple of weeks ...
Mind you, Bramble barks at anything and everything - we let him out to do a wee and he goes out barking ..,. just as well we have understanding neighbours .. (or are they just deaf ??!!)
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lets face it, they're such happy little dogs that every minute is like the 1st day of their life! :D
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Ollie does this, and it can be so embarassing. Some of our relatives have got very cross about it and shouted at him and shoved him off them roughly, which then creates tension. We have tried crating him, putting him on a lead, shutting him behind the stairgate until he calms down...but the problem is, whatever we do, once he is "set free" again, even if people have been here for an hour, he is just as loopy. He thinks nothing of leaping on top of someone and climbing onto the back of the sofa behind them, sitting on their head, licking them to death....
I don't know what the solution is really but it's frustrating because some people won't come to the house now because they can't cope with his manic behaviour.
In a way I am glad I've read this thread, it's made me feel we haven't done something wrong!
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It can be trying ....
My first dog was a Golden Lab and she was a complete saint .. I did spend a lot of time training her (without help from as then unborn children!!) but nonetheless, she was ace - after I had shown her the house rules, she didn't get on the furniture or beds; never jumped up; only barked to order; one cocked eyebrow from yours truly and she would away to the kitchen to go on her own bed .... aaaah, those days are long gone ...!!
I employed the same training methods with my first Cocker, Barley, and she is pretty good really ..
I mean, I WANT her to get up on my knee every night after tea; her place IS on our bed during the day ...... She has every RIGHT to snooze away with me at the end of the day when I am reading a library book ...
They are small(ish) but they have such beggar personalities ... no-one coined it better when they called them 'Merry Cockers' - they do get smoother with age, but they are only young once ...... (am I sounding like an indulgent dog-owner??) perish the thought - I hate it when they jump up, but it is just part of their character (they simply don't get petted like a Lab unless they bounce!!).
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It does seem to be a case of training the people as well as the dogs, if you can get the people to listen then it seems half the battle is won
Thats soooo true! I have problems with Oscar when we're out and about. He launches himself at anyone he sees. Today a lady said 'ooo can I pat your dog' so I asked him to sit and was just battling to get him to be calm before letting her pat him to which she replied "oh let go of him I know all about dogs and I don't mind if he jumps up at me".................... :blink: <_<
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:luv: B)
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I was only saying on New Years Day that Sally is ok apart from the greetings, Neils dad arrived to Sally nearly ruining his manhood for life :o She will always try to find a toy or a ball to greet you with, if she cant find anything a sock off the radiator will do. All she wants to do is just lick your face then she takes off to another room and settles. Cockers are loveable characters and after reading this thread it seems like the majority of us who do try our best to train our four legged friends, dont have much success in this field ;)
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Dear Allison,
Your post nearly did me in -
Speaking of Fathers - when mine first came to visit after I had got Barley, I did mention (appertaining to his habit of wandering out of the bathroom like Julius Caesar; towel casually wrapped around loins) that she was a reasonalbly small dog, and, as such, may be wont to jumping up and grabbing (hands and any other dangly bits etc) and I wouldn't want him to be inconvenienced (or worse) by her gratitude ....
He gulped a bit, but then quickly revived (as Fathers do) and said 'Well, absolutlely - I wouldn't want to choke to poor little thing !!'
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Sue --- that's ace! :P :P :P
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:D Monty is all thats mentioned, when i come home from work he goes nuts, i feel like ive just been raped, bullied, and calmed all in one ,wow... :D :D
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Sue H
Great story, I laughed more than the OH :D :D :D and he's in the other room watching Last of the Summer Wine dvds. (I know - sad isn't it) ;)
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Sue - how cool is your dad???!!!!!!!!!! I haven`t laughed so much in ages! :lol: :lol:
Bonnie is exactly the same but people do make her worse. "Oh leave her she`s so cute " doesn`t help when you`re trying to teach them.
Life`s never boring with a cocker is it??? :rolleyes:
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:lol: :lol: :lol: at sue,,that was funny
jasper and mabe,s encounter people all day,,so as yet i,ve been lucky,,no jumping up and annoying them :rolleyes:
of course for some reason that changes if family visit,,they must think,,ahhh, family,,lets get all our jumping done,,whoo hoo,, :lol:
good luck with misty colin ;)