Question

Patches Mom · 05-02-2007, 12:14 AM

Buddy is now 1 year old. Should a Dober Dog know where his teeth are at all times? The reason I 'm asking I play fetch with 2 balls with Buddy when he gets close to me returning with the ball I tell him drop it. Today leaned over to pick up the ball Buddy grabed the ball while it was in my hand his teeth did not break the skin but it sure hurt. I yelled ow turned and went into the house did not go back out for a while. He also still jumps up I have grabed his feet and held them forever seems like. I have tried walking in to him when he jumps up. Any new ideas he bumped my face with his hard nose, sometimes he gives kisses.
Thanks fo any ideas.
Patches Mom

**TracyJo** · 05-02-2007, 06:35 AM

Chi used to be very bad about grabbing for the ball or the frisbee at the same time I did and would almost always get my hand too. I taught her "drop it" by tossing a treat to her (she'd have to drop the ball/disc to get the treat) and then "wait" - after the toy hits the ground, she is not allowed to touch it until I tell her "okay" or I pick it up and launch it. I didn't take but a few sessions for her to realize that if she wanted to play, she had to play by my rules.
The jumping thing is another story - she bounces all the time but from the time she was very young, we wouldn't let her touch us. If anything we encouraged her to bounce, it's just so darn cute. Unfortunately, a couple months ago, she decided to bounce right as I was bending over her and she ended up hitting me in the face with the top of her head breaking me my nose :-(

**PeeWeesMama** · 05-02-2007, 03:43 PM

Chi broke you nose? OMG Peewee gave a black eye, Gadget gave me numerous fat lips with his head, and lots of bumps and bruises. Patches I turn my body and raise my leg when my guys jump up and a stern "no". But he is still a baby at a year!!!

kevinwike · 05-02-2007, 04:12 PM

Geez I can't tell you how many pairs of glasses Pete bent/broke with his snout!!!!! That is absolutely a dobie thing! He also didn't like to let go when i tried to get his ball out of his mouth playing fetch. I finally taught him how to drop it at my feet...good compromise!!!!!

lanabana · 05-02-2007, 04:27 PM

Bumpy gave me a black eye with that hard head of his. He is pretty good about "dropping it" when I tell him. If I try and grab it, it becomes tug of war....so I just say drop it and most of the times he does.

LapDog · 05-02-2007, 04:56 PM

Duchess will sometimes get worked up...and on accident bump her with her head also. so I keep my face away from her when she is excited...she doenst jump up on us so I have that choice haha.

however, when she gets like that and doesnt know where her teeth are...when i reach for a frisbee and she tries to go for it too i just act shocked and say "OFF!!!" like I cant believe you just did that! they listen and still react playfully but back off.
sometimes i run to the frisbee at the same time she is running to get it and instead of ever reaching down I step on it with my foot insted. (dont slip

)

**Acooper** · 05-02-2007, 06:38 PM

Orson doesn't normally play too rough with me, but I have never rough housed with him. My husband and oldest son is the one that bare war wounds from "playing" with him. They get him over excited, then he can't think straight to follow commands.

I would pick one method for each of his unwanted behaviors and stick to it.....sometimes even when you think they aren't learning, they still are...it's just youth.

Patches Mom · 05-03-2007, 12:37 AM

Gee wish I could teach Buddy to put the ball in my hand my old Bouvier Jake did that all the time he would put the ball or toy in my hand.I did not teach him that he just did it on his own. Have been wondering if I sit in a chair,sit Buddy in front of me hand him the ball if he will trade me for a treat hand me the ball???
Patches Mom
Ps: I sometimes ask others before trying to train a behavior to see if it makes sense.

MyTrixie143 · 05-03-2007, 05:46 AM

For the jumping, try turning your back on him the second he starts jumping up and when he is calm when all four feet on the ground, turn around and praise him. This way he will learn he will be ignored when he jumps up but praised or paid attention to when all four feet are on the ground.

As for the toys, the drop it is a good command, you just need to expand it a little. Have him drop and give him the command wait or leave it so you can be sure that when you pick up the toy he won't be grabbing for your hand. Once they realize that you won't pick up the toy or throw it until they wait and leave it alone so you can grab it or throw it, they will start doing it every time and so much faster as they are so anxious for the game to continue.

JavasMom · 05-03-2007, 07:48 AM

I would do the same thing as Trixie when Java would start jumping up - cross my arms and turn my back and ignore her until she calmed down. Once she composed herself she would get lots of (calm) loving and maybe even a treat along with praise. Like all other puppy training, this takes a while, but it is so worth it. Now that she's 72 lbs of solid muscle, I'm glad that Java doesn't jump up as she could easily knock someone over.