Looking for some advice.

[tynman]

I have a 13 week old Boerboel I have had him since he was 8 weeks old. I am positive training (treats and words) and some correction training him. I am also crating. The last 2 weeks this has started. When my oldest daughter is waiting for the bus by the front door (inside the house) the crate is 4 to 5 feet from the door and the puppy goes nuts barking and trying to get out. Its like when he hears the bus it triggers him to go nuts. Then when my other kids go to school a hour later I put a leash on him and take him outside with the kids and the wife while we wait for the bus the kids play and he is fine. Once the bus comes the kids come yelling and running to us to kiss us good bye. The puppy then lunges at them (got his little teeth into a shirt and jacket a couple of times) I have taken him to the curb when the buses bring them home and he tenses up a little but do not go nut and try to lung at the kids. I also tried to distract him with food or treats but it only worked once the other times he is to focused on the bus or the kids and doesn't even smell the treat. I even take him for a walk to a very busy street and sit there with him watching cars and listening and I give him treats for sitting there so behaved and he is fine. I need this to stop while he is still small. Any ideas why he is doing this? And how I should go about stopping this? I dont want my kids afraid of him. I got him for them and so he could protect them if needed. Thanks in advanced.

 

[irina]

I would say the kids' excitement gets him excited. We have a corso, different, but similar. He is almost 3 and still would get worked up if there is commotion and excitement especially if people are touching. I would talk to the kids and ask them to be calm around the dog. Rather than running and yelling, come and say good bye calmly. And you should give the dog a job to do at that time, such as watch, sit or down. Reward the dog for doing the job and staying in command by verbal praise and treats.This is what I would do, and still do sometimes when company comes over.See if this helps.

 

[DMikeM]

It's sounds just like Irina said. Transferred excitement. I have a blanket over my crate to reduce visual stimulus, but if your kids are excited and bouncing about the dog will key in on it and do the same.

 

[tynman]

I would say the kids' excitement gets him excited. We have a corso, different, but similar. He is almost 3 and still would get worked up if there is commotion and excitement especially if people are touching. I would talk to the kids and ask them to be calm around the dog. Rather than running and yelling, come and say good bye calmly. And you should give the dog a job to do at that time, such as watch, sit or down. Reward the dog for doing the job and staying in command by verbal praise and treats.This is what I would do, and still do sometimes when company comes over.See if this helps.

I have told the kids to calm down and he did well for one day. Kids are kids 11, 10, 8 and 6 so its hard to get them to do what I need them to do. But with the job for the puppy it had too he doesnt have that long of an attention span yet too. Cause that is what I want him to do is just sit and watch on the front step. But I will work with him on it and the kids on just walking to us and not running and screaming BUS.... I had before Tank a American bulldog that was 4 years old and even he sometimes still nipped at the kids feet when they got home and run in the house. Thanks for the advice.

 

[irina]

Of course he does not have a lot of focus, he is a puppy and needs to be trained. Give a command praise, treat, correct if he breaks command, put him back into command, repeat. You have to work at it. In the meantime train your kids and don't get mad at the dog if he gets excited.

 

[teodora]

same advice: don't make it an event. My CC is almost 2 and he still gets from 0 to 10 level excitement instantly. Just behave like nothing happens - ignore the bus and the puppy will ignore it as well.

 

[season]

Great advice above. I'll just say he does it because he can. He hasn't been given a believable enough correction to make him want to stop.


Carpe Diem

 

[season]

Your kids and your dog need to listen and follow your lead. If they aren't it means that you aren't being consistent with rules, expectations and follow through. They need to believe 100% that if they don't then there are consequences. And those consequences/corrections need to be believable.


Carpe Diem