Too friendly??

[Ashon Stewart]

I am having a problem with my 9 month old EM female 100lbs, darting towards everyone she sees only to drop at their feet and roll onto her side and wait to have her belly rubbed. She gets tons of affection at home from myself, the wife and the 2 kids, but she goes bonkers everytime she is on leash and meets a new person. I am worried that sue to her size, many will not see this as friendly and it very well might frighten, Possibly even hurt someone (knocking over a child). I did not have this problem with my last mastiff and I am not sure how to correct the behavior. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated .

 

[Loverboy Skyline]

I am having a problem with my 9 month old EM female 100lbs, darting towards everyone she sees only to drop at their feet and roll onto her side and wait to have her belly rubbed. She gets tons of affection at home from myself, the wife and the 2 kids, but she goes bonkers everytime she is on leash and meets a new person. I am worried that sue to her size, many will not see this as friendly and it very well might frighten, Possibly even hurt someone (knocking over a child). I did not have this problem with my last mastiff and I am not sure how to correct the behavior. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated .

You need to do more obedience training. You need to make her solid enough than you can say "sit" or "down" and you know it will be followed even with lots of distractions. She can't jump if she is in either of those positions.

In the meantime, put that leash to use. She can't get to anyone as long as you have a strong hold on the leash. If you are unable to hold her back, use a prong collar, but that shouldn't be necessary.

 

[glen]

Agree with loverboy, try more training, sit stay and focus, high value treat hold it to your waist and give when he does as hes told, start the second you see someone approaching, toull see his body change.

 

[Boxergirl]

I agree with the above posts. Remember to get your dog's focus while at a distance where he can concentrate on you. I also learned something from my daughter's boy's behaviorist. I always had my dogs sit and focus, but she told us not to ask him to sit. She wanted us to allow him to stand and ask him to focus on us that way, asking for touches, eye contact, etc. I still think it's okay to ask for a sit, but for some dogs the stand does seem to work better. It does for her Otis. I'll ask my daughter for more detail when she comes up today. She's a trainer and a veterinary behavior technician and she's better at explaining things than I am.



Also work on impulse control. There are some links posted on the forum for games that help with that.

 

[Ashon Stewart]

I agree with the above posts. Remember to get your dog's focus while at a distance where he can concentrate on you. I also learned something from my daughter's boy's behaviorist. I always had my dogs sit and focus, but she told us not to ask him to sit. She wanted us to allow him to stand and ask him to focus on us that way, asking for touches, eye contact, etc. I still think it's okay to ask for a sit, but for some dogs the stand does seem to work better. It does for her Otis. I'll ask my daughter for more detail when she comes up today. She's a trainer and a veterinary behavior technician and she's better at explaining things than I am.



Also work on impulse control. There are some links posted on the forum for games that help with that.

Thanks! Impulse control was the concept I was thinking of. I appreciate everyones input. The problem I was having wasn't necessarily that she wouldn't respond to commands it was that as soon as she was released from a sit or stay she would bolt. It's weird but I think impulse control might be the better way to phrase it.

 

[Boxergirl]

Thanks! Impulse control was the concept I was thinking of. I appreciate everyones input. The problem I was having wasn't necessarily that she wouldn't respond to commands it was that as soon as she was released from a sit or stay she would bolt. It's weird but I think impulse control might be the better way to phrase it.

Do a search for impulse control. There's a link to some games you can play. Also look at "place." If you're book inclined, I suggest Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out. Check out the Fenzi Academy. They often have classes on greetings, impulse control, etc. $65 for a bronze level and it's worth every penny.