My 4 1/2 month old OES Annabella just won't calm down!
She's so sweet when it is just the family. We brought her home at eight weeks of age and she was INSTANTLY house broken. She NEVER went to the bathroom in the house. (except when excited with visitors). Bella never, ever chewed anything but her toys. She slept through the night from the first day I brought her home and she walks beautifully on the leash at my side. She is perfect.... but for this excited urination problem. HELP! |
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| Boy!!! You have my sympathy....although she sounds like a very joyful puppy...poor baby just gets too excited~~~
I know someone here will have great advice....it's just not me..  .(sorry) . I just wanted you to know I feel for you.. |
| Sheepies need LOTS of exercise. If you are anticipating guests you need to make sure she goes for a LONG walk before time. You also need to get enrolled in an obedience class ASAP to learn how to get her under control.
She should not be allowed to be all over guests and get so excited that she pees all over. You may need to crate her in a seperate room while you have guests until she is more able to handle it. You might want to try reading the book "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell. I don't agree with all she says but she has some very good suggestions. |
| that book is really fantastic and I had forgotten about it. Library tomorrow I think.... |
| You have my sympathy as well, I have the same problem with 2 8 m/o
boys . They act like total idiots, which gets the 2 older boys going  |
| Oh boy - sorry to hear about this! Good thing you're thinking of a solution now, not when she's as much as 100lbs of this!!
The licking and peeing can both be signs of submission. Would you say she is more on the dominant or submissive side? Dogs often lick under the chins of dominant dogs as if to say, "hey, you can be the boss, I'm only a little tiny puppy who is nice and good and I don't mean any harm". What would happen if after she has all four paws on the floor, the guests give her attention? Stroking her on the chest as opposed to the head can elevate her self-esteem if that is a potential problem. Perhaps if she felt acknowledged and liked by the visitors she wouldn't need to try so hard???? I don't know....just a thought.....Let us know! |
| Thanks to all who replied. I will have to find a dog trainer or something. Bella gets lots of exercise as one suggested. Long walks on the leash. I've tried crating her too. She just doesn't get it. I guess I will have to stick her away every time I have visitors.... Something I really, really, really hate. Even my guests think I'm "being mean" if I keep her in her crate but when I let her out and she pees on them they change their tune.
She is a sweetie though..... smart as a whip. Can already sit, give paw, lay down, roll over and bark on command. I just can't understand why since she instantly gets things like house training and chewing and well, everything I've ever taught her.... why she just can't understand that she needs to calm down around guests in our home. I can get her to calm down to the point that she is lying down but as soon as she thinks someone is even slightly looking at her she goes crazy all over again.... over and over and over again. I think it's that I am not communicating well or clearly enough to her what I expect from her. Either that or she just loves people so much that she can't control herself.... No clue. In response to Mel and Tucker post.... Annabella is just the sweetest thing. Not dominant at all. Submissive all the way. She is not afraid either. Just sweet. Her paws are never on the floor when people come in. She is so big that her paws come up to an adult's chest already. She is only four months old too. It takes all I have to pull her off when she's on the leash. Thanks for the suggestions..... keep them coming!!!!! |
Momof4 wrote: In response to Mel and Tucker post.... Annabella is just the sweetest thing. Not dominant at all. Submissive all the way.
Although it is good for her to be submissive to you to some extent, it is possible for her submisison to reach a point where in humans we would call it low self-esteem...do you think this might apply???? Does she appear confident with herself? When you put her in a new room she has never been in before, what would she do? |
| She's a baby!! If she was 4 1/2 years.......yeah, then I'd be concerned.
She sees visitors as new play mates and then people start with loud voices and silly sounds and out comes the pee. Your adult friends will have to realize she is still to young to meet people without accidents, nipping, yapping and all sorts of other puppy processes. It's too much for you baby. A tired pup (and exhausted adult) is a better behaved pup. When she does get to meet people, hand people towels and say, "If she gets excited you'll need this." That will temper their voices and be grateful when the potential fountain is put away in her crate with a fun toy.......far away and a radio playing to lessen the yapping. |
| I don't think people realize what "lots of exercise" means when it comes to sheepies. They can be VERY high energy dogs (granted some are not). When Tasker was that age I took him to the Fair Grounds EVERY night, I would ride my bike on the track and jog him for a minimum of an hour every night. As a pup he needed LOTS of running and romping, not just walking.
A GOD SEND for me was a friend who had a Black lab, every weekend we would take the dogs up to a pon and they would chase and swim and play for HOURS in order to use up energy. Your girl, as cute as she is, really does not appear ready to deal with the confusion and excitement of guests. I would try very hard to keep her away from the situatuin until you can get her established in an obedience program. They need lots of fun and play that is controlled by you. |
| It takes a lot of repetition and controlled exposure to company and guests. Have you tried keeping her on a leash and at your side when company comes over and encouraging her to be calm with to-die-for treats so her focus is on you? If you know company is coming over you might cut back on the meal she gets before they arrive so her hunger keeps her focused on you.
Quote: She is so excited that after my guests leave there is urine everywhere! Not to mention if I turn my back or go to the bathroom for a second my guests are up on the back of the couch or on chairs because Bella is all over them licking and peeing.... She is huge and intimidating to my four children's friends....
I'd think that if you have to use the bathroom, Annabella should go along with you or be confined to a different room until you rejoin your guests. You know that she can't be trusted alone with them. You might also instruct your guests as Cesar does... "no touch, no talk, no eye contact"... they should completely ignore her. Annabella might see the antics and excitement of your guests and your kid's friends, with them climbing on the couch and on chairs, as being a game that's fun play. She's still just a pup... sheepies can be so exuberant.
The good news is they tend to mellow out a bit with age.  |
| Summer is over exuberant when my son comes round. I just keep putting her out the room, up to 6 times last week, when she tried to jump at him. After the 6th time she got the message. I am not saying she wont do it next time I think she will! |
| Maisey does the" I am so happy to see you I will shake my bum till I can't control my bladder" dance too....*sigh*
She just turned one year, and the only thing that works for her is for me to make her sit\stay and force her to be calm, petting and praising her till she is calm, and then release her with her white nylabone or a toy. We figured this out last month, and it has worked everytime!!! Beware the mistake I made, to crate her or confine her until she was `calm` because everytime I thought she was calm enough to come out, she was obnoxious. Really embarrassing and not at all like her loveable self. She used to deek me out. Sometimes, I just scoop her into my lap while hubby answers the door, and snuggle her till she`s ok... Now when I am sitting on the floor, with my enormous sheepie on my lap, talking to her, my guests think I am the nut, and not my dog...
Whatever, it saves on pet stain remover.... |
| Hi,
She sounds like a mischievious soul and a sweetie. I agree with what the other members said as licking the jowls of another dog or human is a sign of submissiveness..so is the peeing. She is eager to please and acknowlege that she's a submissive little girl. I have no doubt you take her out often but like Ginny mentioned - there is a difference in taking them out for long walks and tiring them out. A sheepie is a dog that needs lots of excercise before becoming fully tired out. Ever see the old school movie Annie Hall? There's a part where the female lead is visiting her therapist and she's asked about how often they are intimate. The female (Diane Keaton) says , "oh all the time..three times a week!". Next you see the male lead with his therapist and he's asked the same question by his therapist. His reply, "Hardly ever! Only three times a week!".
Anyhow I thought of this skit when reading your post for some silly reason. For a human you may be getting worn out from those long walks and think your pup should be too. For the pup she may still have tons of energy and needs a longer one or a chance to play with other pups and race around at an offleash. Running and playing would perhaps wear her out more than just a walk. Try to view the world through her eyes and learn "dog speak" , doggie obedience is a great idea too! I always sound like a broken record (forgive me!) but what ever work you put in now will pay you off for years to come. Remember this little furball will grow up to be aprox 100 pounds and so work on habits now to prevent them from becoming issues when she's so much bigger. Repetition and consistency...urg it's so boring but the result is really beneficial as you're going to have Bella in your home for the next 10 years or more. Bella sounds like a wonderful girl in all other aspects and so while this might be difficult ..someday you'll be able to smile and remember this habit when she was young but no longer doing it. Good luck to you!! Marianne |
| Thanks guys! I will take all you said into consideration. Annabella is not "fearfully" submissive. Just a big dopey, happy girl.... as OES's are famous for. She does not roll onto her side and offer her belly when humans are around indicative of fearful submission. She just exudes happiness and kisses and unfortunately pee. With other dogs she seems to know her place. Will avoid agressive situations politely and welcomes interaction peacefully and happily.
Exercise is extremely important. I researched her breed extensively and fell in love with the big fluffy herding breed. They require at the minimum of an hour of extensive focused walks.... not playing in the yard. Annabella LOVES to walk. She caught on to "heeling" immediately and thank goodness because she is very big and strong. Being that I live in the mountains and the winters are bitter I am considering also aquiring a tread mill. Has anyone used it for their dog? I also often put her on the leash and simply walk around our home when we are snowed in. Stopping, turning, walking. This seems to exercise her mind very well. |
Momof4 wrote: This seems to exercise her mind very well.
SO important, eh? I find that even if I've walked and played with Tucker and he STILL has energy to spare, if I do even a 10-15 minute clicker training session he's ready for a nap after that, especially if it's something new we're working on. |
Momof4 wrote: Thanks guys! I will take all you said into consideration. Annabella is not "fearfully" submissive. Just a big dopey, happy girl.... as OES's are famous for. She does not roll onto her side and offer her belly when humans are around indicative of fearful submission. She just exudes happiness and kisses and unfortunately pee. With other dogs she seems to know her place. Will avoid agressive situations politely and welcomes interaction peacefully and happily.
Exercise is extremely important. I researched her breed extensively and fell in love with the big fluffy herding breed. They require at the minimum of an hour of extensive focused walks.... not playing in the yard. Annabella LOVES to walk. She caught on to "heeling" immediately and thank goodness because she is very big and strong. Being that I live in the mountains and the winters are bitter I am considering also aquiring a tread mill. Has anyone used it for their dog? I also often put her on the leash and simply walk around our home when we are snowed in. Stopping, turning, walking. This seems to exercise her mind very well. Not all submissive dogs roll over etc. if she shakes her head, wanders in circles or a number of other activities she may be stressed from haveing a more submissive nature. An hour of exercise walking and Marley is just warming up, an hour running next to my bike and she is juste getting started. Each one of the dogs are different - yours may be high energy like my girl. We keep up the exercise, she has a live in playmate, and we do two classes a week to keep her mind busy and if I slip up the least little bit in our training she can become "troublesome". My husband is still upset abut the window sill she ate last month. and she was two in september. |
| Another thought if she only does this with guest around they maybe rewarding her for this behavior when they greet her at first.One way to stop it is have her sit-stay before greeting guest,you may have to get a friend to help out.A good trainer can also help out with it |
steveoes wrote: Another thought if she only does this with guest around they maybe rewarding her for this behavior when they greet her at first.
Good point - that's a distinct possibility. I find the worst guests (although of course I love them) are my grandmother and my best friend - neither of whom particularly like big dogs. Why? Because the dogs jump on them. Why? Because they shriek and giggle and move around a lot, and emit a really nervous, high energy. The sit stay is another option, certainly, although if this exact thing is too difficult (I once read it alikened to having a child curtsey before meeting anyone...perhaps a bit too much but the intention is still bang on), a simple "four on the floor" rule is easier to do: all four paws must be on the floor before there will be any touch, talk, or eye contact to or with the dog. I'm still working on this myself, and in fact we are starting obedience classes this week and this is one of our biggest challenges, so I'll let you know if we learn anything else. |
Dutch was bad for jumping on people and I had read in another post here that (don't remember the reason but ..) the person dropped a pizza pan on the floor and the noise startled the dog and it stopped . so I got a cake pan and when Dutch jumped on a guest I dropped it and said behave, only had to do it 2 times and then for a couple of times I just held the pan up saying behave and so far she doesn't jump on people anymore  |
| Distractions wook well sometimes too.Paws 4 on the floor may be easier,but with sit-stay you would be suprized at what behaviors/tricks you could teach your dog and that in it self could stop any unwanted behavior.Besides it gets fun once they learn the basic commands.If your obediance instructor bases his/her instuctions of the akc canine good citizen you may find sit-stay easier than you think. |
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