Hi, I haven,t posted about Molly lately (14mth TT) as on the whole she is very good, but I do find the evenings hard work with her as she becomes quite boisterous, jumping up unbidden and bringing toys constantly to throw, it isn,t possible to concentrate on anything as she will jump up at the computer if I,m on that, is she to young to be expected to understand that she has to give me some space, or is it usual for a dog of that age to need occupying all the time.How can I go about getting her to understand that she can't always be the centre of attention. Thanks Jane

Jane
Our 17 week Lab pup, Amber, does exactly the same. She sleeps quite a bit in the day, has an odd moment (mainly in the morning) when she starts bringing toys to you to throw for her, and then has another go in the evenings when we're watching Eastenders or Holby City. Not good timing!!
We throw the toy a few times for her and then ignore her after a while, seems to work with her, mind you, she's more obedient with my husband than she is with me, he tells her to go and lay on her bed and she does it straight away, don't do it when I tell her!!
Sorry I can't advise you, but symphasise with you. Good luck
Lisa

Hi Jane,
IMO, 14 months is not too young for a dog to learn that she isn't supposed to be the center of attn for every possible moment. In fact, it's a bit old :P But don't mind my opinion on that since I've heard that TTs are much 'different' than the dogs I'm used to :) :) :)

When my dogs have pressed further for attn than I want to give, I usually directed them to do a specific thing instead of "just go away and leave me alone".
For instance: I put her on a "down stay" at my feet and rest my foot on her shoulders. For a while, it felt like a jack-in-the-box was spasming under me, but anytime she'd try to get up, I'd put the pressure on to remain....but continue above doing what I was doing. ( reading, working on desk, etc...). Eventually, it becomes self-restraint into a habit to just go to sleep when no one wants the dog to play.

I've also suggested to friends to use a leash and that worked for them the first few times to keep their dog from crawling or bouncing away.
anyway, it's a thought for you to possibly try something along this line:)
best wishes :)
toodles

I've had quite a bit of success with the '24 hour ignore'. For just 24 hours - ignore your dog - feed it before it's normal times so it doesnt' get the chance to 'demand'. If it wants a game - take the toy and put it away, don't make eye contact, don't even take it for a walk for 24 hours (it won't kill it honestly) ofcourse you'll have to let it out into the garden, but try and engineer it so the dog doesnt' have to 'demand' this either. If it trys to climb on your lap, turn around and hunch up so there is no lap - if it persists get up and move away....... There will almost certainly be an 'extinction burst' which will see the undesired (and ignored) beahviour increase in intensity - but the dog will realise that things have been turned on their head and almost certainly realign it's behaviour.

HTH

Fran

our blade 6 month old lab, also does this, he has some tug toys, I can sit quite happily (watching eastenders) and have a good old tug of war with him, it tires him out no end so then he will have a good nights sleep. I am no good at ignoring him i'm afraid
carol

Hi Molly
My 4 year old rescue dog is an attention seeker.Same thing with her toys,putting them in your lap to throw and barking full blast at the same time.Drives you mad.Shouting is no good it just excites her even more.I push her toys to the floor totally ignore her and she gives up,after the tenth time and will go and lie down.
With Meg its more barking,than toys to the point that my obedeince teacher offered me a anti barking coller to try and controll this behavior.The collar didnt work so, am looking to get one myself.I wouldnt encourage this behavior,i know Molly is only young but it is best she learens now un like my daft meg.
linda.

Its annoying when it proves hard to get some peace to oneself :) , we all need this from time to time.

It is pretty important to remmember that if the dog gets rewarded very occasionally for "nagging" or "pestering", it will continue, as occasional reinforcement for a behaviour will make the nagging etc. far stronger.

I use the words "That's enough" to break all contact. I originally taught this with a toy, and when playing would once in a while stop still with the toy and say the words in a pleasant but firm voice. I would then carry on with the walk or whatever I was doing. Five minutes later, I call the dog to me (so the game is at my instigation, not hers, as I was the one who had said "That is enough until I am ready for more thankyou" (if you see what i mean ;) .

After some weeks this can then be transferred to everyday life and the dog will start to understand. . My own feeling is that after using the command, it is important to totally ignore the dog and to be the one who then says "Yes I am available again now". I find it is best to start in the house for just a few minutes until the dog has "got it".

I do feel also that as has been already suggested, it is good to teach a "Settle" command and for a really pesky dog I suspect Fran's idea would work well too :)

Lindsay

Hi thanks for all the posts, I have always used the words" All Gone" during a walk if I have given her a treat and she is looking for another one or if I have finished the stone throwing game during a certain part of our walk and she understands and accepts that because I never weaken, she is a bit more persistant in the evenings and is obviously not alone in this, but I shall say those two magic words and then ignore her completely. I wish she had a bed to go to but from day one she never settled in it and ate two before I gave up!. Thanks once again Jane

Hi Fran
Thought you would like to know,after reading your post( 24 hour ignore)I decided to change megs routine,where before she had the run of the house,now i have put her in the kitchen for the last 24 hours.Only Letting her in for a while when i have invited her into the living room. Same with Elsa /puppy.My kitchen runs off the living room so they
can see us and are still part of the goings on, only now the gate is between us.I did take her out for a run today,the lead was put on in the kitchen and when we came back walked through the back garden into the dreaded kitchen and lead removed.One of my friends came round to day and we sat in the k having coffee and after the tail wagging both dogs went in their bed and slept.Normally Meg, would bark at me for ages bringing me toys to the point she got all the attention from me trying to shut her up. Be it good or bad attention she got what she wanted. Meg is a really lovely dog full of fun and loads of affection to give.Now she is still all that without the attention barking.thank you for your post it has really helped and i intended to keep it up.
linda