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Teaching an old dog new tricks (or at least not to eat our new baby)
I have some issues with my dog, Cash, that I need to sort out before our first child arrives in November. I heard you ladies put Cesar to shame, so any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
We adopted our dog about a year and a half ago when he was a little over a year old. His former pet parents were looking to rehome him before taking him to the shelter. He's naturally quite hyper and in all his former homes (he'd been in at least four before we got him), he either did as he pleased or was kept in a kennel for long periods of time until they decided to find him a new home.
He's a really smart, lovable dog. He IS very hyper. But usually after he gets some exercise, he's pretty good. We also went through puppy training, which did very little. Although he sits like a champ. Now I admit, a lot of his bad behavior and habits are our fault because we tolerate it. But I'm desperate to break him of them because we have a baby on the way and Cash is a part of the family too. So we need to find a way to all coexist happily.
Some of the issues we have are kind of odd, and not Google-able at all. I'll try my best to explain.
-Cash is extremely excited when visitors arrive. He jumps. He licks. He can't contain himself. I usually hold his collar and make him sit until he calms down a bit (he shakes with excitement in the mean time). After about 10 minutes, he's fine.
-Cash demands a lot of attention. He's a big time personal space invader. He's not aggressive at all. But if you're sitting on the couch for example, he'll put his paws on your lap, climb on your lap, sniff as close your face as possible, etc.
-Cash has not mastered "leave it". I need Cash to be able to leave the baby and the baby's things alone. But none of the typical "leave it" methods have worked for us. (working with treats, and "trading" one treat/thing for another)
-[Disclaimer: I know this is dumb and totally my fault] Cash thinks our couch is his luxury dog bed. He's destroyed so many dog beds within minutes that I stopped buying them. So he sleeps on the couch. At night, (after we got to bed), he flips all the couch cushions down and sleeps. He also gets annoyed with us if we are both completely stretched out on the couch.
Any advice regarding these particular issues would be really great. Also, ANY advice regarding preparing your dog for a baby would be appreciated. I want to be able to hold the baby on the couch with Cash in the room. And I know I would not be able to do that now. But we're willing to do the work to get Cash in a good place by November. Thanks in advance.
Re: Teaching an old dog new tricks (or at least not to eat our new baby)
Honestly, I'd take another training class. And another, if needed. Each progressively more challenging. Learning should be a lifelong activity. There are always new commands or tricks to learn, and ways of making the commands or tricks more challenging.
It also sounds like he'd benefit from "Nothing in Life is Free" training at home (check the board FAQs for an explanation - the link is in the green header box on the main page).
Personally, I invite my dogs onto the couch. They don't get up without permission, and they get down when told to. That's me and my dogs, though. Some dogs never learn the distinction.
There are additional links in the FAQs with resources for preparing a dog for a new baby. One new one that hasn't been posted there is a free ebook by American Humane, Pet Meets Baby.
http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/programs/humane-education/pet-meets-baby.html
Also, see if there are any Dogs and Storks presenters in your area. It's a program that helps dog owners prepare their dogs for a new baby.
http://familypaws.com/presenter-locator/
Agree with PP about taking another class. As well as NILIF training. Example with the NILIF have to sit before: they are let out of their crates, they are let out of the house, before I pet them, before they eat, before they go back into the house, etc.
In regards to the visitors, it is all about training him that he has to be CALM before getting attention. I have a 55 lb pitty mix who used to jump up to get attention and hence almost knocking the person down. Anytime she jump on me or anyone who was over I instructed them (or did it myself) to ignore her and turn their backs if need be. Don't even say "no" because that it still giving them attention. Within a week she was sitting to get her attention. It was difficult at times but consistency is key.
Also, if he is so high energy, what about doggy day care? Or paying someone to take him on an extra long walk during the day? A tired pup is a well behaved pup!
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
I agree with this. It sounds he mostly just needs to learn self-control, and the only way to teach that is through daily practice such as in NILIF.
You might also continue trying to maximize his exercise and maybe do some training for fun (like clicker training for tricks or trying some kind of dog sport). The more exercise and stimulation he gets, the calmer he should be in the house.
Good luck!
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath