Playful domination?

[babygirl82688]

Our RR is about 14 months old, but since she was a pup she has always played rough, yes I understand its only because they are rough wrestlers by birth but she can pick and choose who she is rough with. I have two small children who is never bothers, along with friends who bring there children over, she never bounce on nips or knocks over. However me!!!!!!! or my siblings or my mother or friends that visit she always jumps on and grabs our ARMS with her mouth and tries to pull us down or nips our behinds or KNOCKS US down , literally if you run or walk fast down the hall she come up behind you and jumps up into as to KNOCK you down, she will stop if you yell or ask her too  but then as soon as you turn your back she is after you again, and its is SERIOUSLY PLAYFUL BEHAVIOR but it hurts sometimes. no aggression however now she has to stay crated when we have guest over! I am just looking for advice! very odd behavior! I can film it if you need to see it..

Thanks Megan!

[melissap]

Hi Megan,

This is a pretty big problem and why it is said over and over to NOT let your puppy do things you do not want your adult dog to do. Sounds like she feel comfortable playing rough with friends and family. It is good that she is gentle with the kids - but she could really hurt someone with this behavior unintentional or not and you need to get her interacting better with them.

What is your reaction when she does this to people?
Are you correcting it?
Has she been taught basic obedience commands?

1st the bad behavior needs to be reprimanded and you may want to set up a situation with her so you can give her a correction with a leash and training collar on.
2nd implement a sit stay command and reward her when she interacts appropraitely by giving her a treat.

If you can, get to a class with her.


Melissa

[rrnewbie]

My pup, who is six months old, used to do the same thing to me, but not my husband. I immediately recognized it was because he viewed me as an equal, and this was my own fault because I wasn't consistent with him. At first I would play wrestle with him, because I did this with my lab when she was a puppy. However, I learned quite fast that ridgebacks don't have the soft mouths that labs do (and had many bruises to prove it!!). After this, I never played rough with him and every time he tried to nip me, I would calmly make him sit. Sometimes that didn't work, because he was so wild, if that was the case I would give him a scruff shake -- just grab the scruff of his neck, say in a sharp tone 'enough.' That was always effective. He no longer does this to me at all.

[melissap]

Great advice and feedback on how you got him under control and lesson learned about not encouraging the behavior that was creating havoc Liz 
It is best to nip it in the bud at an early age - they get big fast!
Melissa

[Louise n Shumba]

Shumba was like this when he was younger, he grew out of it at about nine months (he is now 14 months) it took a lot of time outs and ignoring his bad behaviour, there was a point when I thought he would never learn. When he was jumpy and nippy he was removed from the room into isolation, or everyone left the room, (I found if I was confrontational he would treat it like a game and come back for more). It has got to the stage now where if he jumps or mouths (which isn't very often - only when he gets overly excited) we can just turn our back on him and he gets the message pretty quickly. It is important when you are isolating them that you do not talk to them (harder done than said) they need to know whilst they are behaving inappropriately they get no attention from you, good or bad.

I hope you are able to find a technique that works for you, but I think patience is the key, don't get angry or frustrated they seem to pick up on that. Good luck because they are certainly worth it.  

[Bear_Hunter]

Odin would get a bit jumpy and rough with guests.  With a little guidance i've had them grab the scruff of his neck in a firm fashion and tell him no.  It has always seemed to have the right effect, so I agree with the post above that recommended that.    I guess you could probably relate it to the dog world to.  If a dog is doing something that momma doesnt like, shes not going to give a time out.  She is going to give the pup/dog a nip and a bark to get the message across.