Manners.

Aussies4life

I need some suggestions. We have a wonderful 2 yr old aussie. Hes a very good dog, doesnt have to be walked on leash, doesnt jump up on people, loves kids...hes just a really well bahaved dog..most of the time..lol..

I just had a baby 3 months ago and with it being cold and such, I am unable to get out and walk him however he gets alot of play time during the day so hes not so pent up. Hes such an angel when its just us home, you hardly ever know hes in the house, he just lays down and relaxes.
Now here is my question..

When someone comes to the house, or company for that matter, he is out of control. Hes not mean or protective by any means hes just..annoying... He will not leave whoever is here alone. He demands there full attention like licking them, ramming his butt into them so they have to pet him (we call him ramrod sometimes). He RUNS around the house like a racetrack and cries and whines because OMG someone is here to visit HIM!
Its not that its a bad thing, hes just doesnt know when to quit. He does settle down eventually but until then you cant even greet your company because hes squeaking his toys (he does this when im on the phone too, it never fails..its annoying too!) and running around whining and crying because hes soo excited.

I have had to tell him to lay down several times when people are here but hes soo excited that he vibrates out of excitement and cant sit still. How does a person go about teaching him manners? I have to be honest and say that he makes me feel like the worse mom ever when I tell him to lay down. I do understand that when company comes over he is as excited to see them as I am because its not very often but, there has to be a line in there about his behaviour.,

I need some suggestions on what I could do.

He also has a very very bad habit of licking people to death. Its so annoying and he likes to, if he can when people are holding my baby, to lick him as well and he KNOWS BETTER! He looks at me when I tell him "no lick!" when people are holding him like "haha I licked him"...grrr...it makes you wanna drag his hairy butt outside and give him a licken! lol

Please help!

Criosphynx

The traditional fix for this is to teach a SOLID "go to your bed" or mat or crate or whatever...the dog has to wait there until released to go greet the people.

You wont be able to lick it in all one shot...you'll have to recognize the greeting thats are less over the top, and more toward your goal and only reward those. One of the most affective ways is that the second hes a bit to much say "OOPS!" and then leave the room immediately. The dog will learn after a few reps that its his behavior making the people go away... this is hard to get guests to do, so you'll have to get a helper to help you on a "fake" visit.

Another method is to remove the dog instead of the person. Personally I use this as a last resort...because dogs tend to not understand it as well because of the timing involved.

as far as the licking, I have a licker...the best thing I did was put it on cue (like a trick) and have a "stop licking" cue. But the get up and leave the room thing works for this as well.


for general inpulse control I teach this..

YouTube - "It's Yer Choice"

once they are GOOOD at this game, the food can actually become a cue to be calm...you could have guests hold treats.

Aussies4life

Thank you I will watch that video!

Gone2Dogs

Has the excited behaviour always been there or just since the baby was born?

As for the licking...some dogs are lickers.

Since the baby is HIS as well I think he is likely showing some ownership. Also he is likely torn with the "older brother" syndrome of being jealous of the baby getting attention.

He is a young dog and with the work already suggested for calming him when company comes he will probably settle into a more self controlled adult.