Help! jumping and biting during walks.
I hope someone here can give me some advice. I have a wonderful 6.5 moth old male OES (neutered about 2 weeks ago) named Rufs. I have always had a hard time walking him, he has no problem being on the leash he is quite used to it but as a younger puppy he would just sit/lay down and refuse to walk, then he started to pull when he saw shade (we are in CA and it is very hot, now we only walk him in the early morning or dusk, so that he can learn in comfort). He seems to understand heel...when he want to of course but mostly he is get distracted. in the last three weeks he has developed seriously (in my eyes) bad behavior. During our walks he will be a very good boy but then for no visible reason he will begin jumping on me and biting my clothes, my arms, he began jumping a while ago and I asked a trainer affiliated with my vet about it, she advised me to turn my back to him and ignore it. This worked for about a week then he added biting to the jumping and ignoring it became impossible ( but I am patient, having worked with lots of kids in my life) I ignored it some more and of course always treating and affirming the second he stops. Now, he is still doing this when I walk him (not always, sometimes we have really great long walks where he doesn't even pull to sniff other dogs or people... he is very very friendly). Rufus is about 65 lbs already and as you all know can fit about half my forearm in his mouth. here is what I have tried (I always give praise and a treat for good behavior): turning my back and ignoring the jumping or biting, giving praise and a treat when he stops trying to distract him with a loud noise or even a treat , praising him when he listens holding his paws when he jumps up and releasing them to the ground once he stops struggling (I don't like doing this and have only tried it a few times with out much success) forcing him onto his back (I really don't like doing this!) Doing this has been the most effective but I worry it has also encouraged him to challenge me for dominance because he has also began to ignore my commands more and more. I don't want to write a novel of questions but I am at a loss, I am unable to walk my dog anymore and we live on a busy street with no yard so getting him to walk is very important. He is showing agression but inconsistently... not to food, object, people, or other dogs and is not possessive in the least. He is very cuddly and just wants to be as close to me as possible at all times. I can literally stick my hand in his mouth and take out an object he found that he shouldn't be chewing on with out even a growl but I have bruises up and down left side from him jumping and biting during walks. any help would be great Also... giving him a quick smack is very uncomfortable for but I have needed to (never resulting in hurting him just hard enough to shock him... but again don't like doing it and he seems to just want to challenge me further) thanks sheena |
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| That isn't aggression, that's an adolescent sheepdog with too much energy and not enough direction and training. He is trying you and it will only get worse if you don't get it under control now. When sheepies become teenagers they enter the terrible 2's so to say. It can last anywhere from 6mo-2yrs. They need an extremely strong owner. Get him into obedience now before the issue gets worse. It sounds like you need the help. In the mean time make him sit for pets. Any time. Your on the couch and he wants pets. Tell him to sit, when he does, he gets love. When he starts to bite, shove a toy in his mouth. Also don't force your dog onto the ground. This can cause more issues. |
| Make sure he doesn't associate the jumping, biting with the treat, this may increase the jumping and biting so he gets a treat. I would push hum off and with a firm loud 'NO' like you mean it, With no treat afterwards for good behaviour. I don't think smacking works, just makes them flinch and peep, but doesn't solve the problem. |
| It's not an OES exclusive habit - it's quite rampant. I have several people in my classes each session who have let this behavior develop and continue. It honestly is quite easy to get stopped, it just takes you to step up and take the initiative. It's unacceptable behavior. If you can't do this on your own, please seek a good training class and trainer who will help you. In fact, it's a good idea all the way around to take your pup/dog to class.  |
| This sounds like a puppy with pent-up energy and is frustrated and is trying to get you to understand. Sometimes just a walk won't do it. They need to RUN. Is there a dog park in your area where you can let him go off leash? A very large grassy area, free of cars? My Simon at nine months was a runner. He needed it! I would take him to the dog park and just let him go at it. He would start a chase game with all the dogs chasing him. He was fast and could cut corners like nobody and would leave them all in his dust. He was loving it. Fun to watch. Everyone commented on how fast he was. If he didn't have this outlet, he was a beast to be around. |
| I appreciate all the advice everyone. I agree that forcing him to the ground or smacking him (again never hard enough for him to even peep) isn't a good idea which is why I abandoned it after a day. Although pent up energy may be the case when we do take him to a park (non of which are fenced and it makes me nervous that he might decide NOT to come when called) he runs for all of 30 secs and then takes a nap, it will be much easier once it cools down it's just too hot for him to be out side with all the fluff. I do look forward to letting him run free in the park with some other dogs very soon. Also I understand that consistency is important. Rufus does not get loves or treats without sitting or laying down and we feed him about half of each meal by hand through learning commands. The issue isn't that I think the behavior is exceptible because I most certainly do not nor is it that I am UNABLE to stop the problem, it's simply that nothing I've tried (some advise from trainers and some from long time pet owners) has worked more than once. I suppose I just need to keep standing my ground with NO! For the first 4-5 months walks were too tiring for him but as long as it was cool he enjoyed a short stroll and listened to me very well (he would not walk for my husband unless I was there and every time my husband gave a command, Rufus would look to me. Somewhere in the last 3 weeks that has changed. I'll kick the lessons and commands up a notch or two right away and try and figure out if and where I became inconsistent or lazy and do my best to fix it. Thanks! |
Hope things get easier  |
| Maybe he has you worked out ... If I play up a bit and then behave and be a good boy, I get a treat. |
| Izzo started doing this just a couple weeks ago (he's about six months and a couple weeks now). At first I was so upset. He had been doing so well with his training and it all seemed to go out the window. I have found that he does it because he wants to play. I didn't realize it until I recognized that he jumps and nips at me in the exact same way he does when he's around my brother's dog (whom he was raised with for the first few months of his life). He doesn't even jump or nip at other dogs--just Archie the labradoodle and me! Yes, it could be a behavioral issue but for me I found that he just wanted me to find something and throw it for him. Maybe I shouldn't but I usually indulge him by running around and playing chase with him. If he ever gets too excited chasing me and jumps up, I immediately scold him and wait for him to calm down until I start again. I let the game be the reward--it keeps going as long as he plays nice. |
| We have this issue but in the house aswell, when he wants to play. We've recently had a trainer in who advised to distract with a treat. Don't give it to him though. If in the house, lead him to another room with the treat and do some tricks\training including waits for 5-10 mins. only treat on compliance with the request. Same when outside but obviously you can't go into another room. |
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