Overly aroused with toys (again)

[sugar]

So, yesterday I was in the front of my house with my dog and my bf (there is a fence, no worries). The dog was chilling out and learning to work his Buster Cube (occasionally he will try to just lay down with it and chew but doesn't mind if I take it away, shake out some of the food and then give it back so he can try and toss it).
Anywho, I have no idea why but my bf picked up a small hard plastic dalmation statue my parents keep in front of the house (no clue why we have that, Chubs has never shown any interest in it before at all). So the bf thinks if he makes "puppy" noises that Chubs will think its a puppy and lick it and cuddle it. Well, Chubs just thought it was a new toy being offered and tried to grab it (we both heard the 'snap' his mouth made as it was pulled out of his reach). Well, Chubby now managed to get it from my bf, I try to stay calm and ask him to "Drop it" (we have been working on this). I take it and Chubs then tries to grab it again (not realizing that my hand is stuck between his teeth and the 'toy').

I got two little nicks on my hand (as well has a little sore yesterday, but it feels all better today). Anywho, I get it away from him again (had the bf run inside and get me a meatball to 'trade', but it took Chubs about 6-8 minutes of staring at the toy intently and the meatball right next to his head before he broke eye contact with the toy and gently lapped the meatball from my hand). I tried to bring Chubs inside (away from the toy) and he was so hyped up that he tried to grab my bf's shoes (which he was holding in his hands). After about 8-10 minutes he finally calmed back down to the mellow/relaxed Chubs I normally see.

What the heck can I do, because last thing I want is for some silly kid to get sharked over Chubby's toy obession (not that I have let him around kids yet. Adults and fenced dogs only so far. Both of which he has done fantastic with).

Its like he gets into this hyper-aroused state when he sees things like toys or balls and its impossible to bring him out of it (even with something as super awesome as a big greasy meatball!)

[RealPitBull]

Well first thing, smack the BF for me!

Second, there are some dogs that are just soooooooooo toy/ball driven that it'll be a lifelong management thing. BUT that doesn't mean it has to always be this difficult.

My suggestions would be continue to work on trading as a daily thing. Make sure you trade where sometimes he gets the original item back, and sometimes he doesn't.

Next, practice Zen4Dogs (there is a how-to in the sticky thread here on this board about foundation must-have behaviors).

Enforce the rule no matter WHAT that Chubs must sit for something before he gets it. NEVER allow him to intiate or grab for ANY toy. You might also want to teach him that he can't even take a toy from a hand, that it MUST be on the ground first. And you can throw a "Take it" cue in there, as well so you are doubling up on the cues that tell him when he can take something: must be on ground + must hear verbal cue.

Make sense?

[sugar]

I did get pissed with the bf and I told him so. He just said "I thought he was going to be be all sweet and think it was a puppy" and I told him Chubs knows the difference between puppy and plastic toy (on walks if we pass someone's home and the dog is in the yard, Chubs is very sweet and his tail helicopters instead of wags. So I know he wouldn't do to a real puppy what he did to that toy). I love my bf (been with him almost 6 years now) but he gets easily frustrated when it comes to my dogs (my last one had a phobia of men and took her a while to warm up to him. He would get all pissy about it. Eventually she owuld follow around my bf more than me anytime he was over and she just loved him. Now he's getting like that with Chubby and I still have to remind him that Chubs is a work in progress...only for him to tell me how great his brother's dog is...arg!)

If I give him a toy (or if I see one he has left on the ground) I pick it up and have him sit, and then he must 'wait' until I put it on the ground. Then I release him with 'ok'. We are working on trading, but I thought that if I take it from him I should give it back so he doesn't think I'm taking it away forever (should I be only giving it back sometimes?)

Its sad, I kinda thought he would make a good candidate for therapy work because everything else about him is fantastic (loves people, gentle with his cuddles, loves strangers, gets along very well with other dogs, is naturally extra gentle around people with canes/wheelchairs...etc) but I don't see how it would be possible if this obsession never really goes down.

[maryellen]

you have had chubs for a short time, he needs more time to come around and for you to work with him. he can be a therapy dog down the road, but right now you are both getting to know each others quirks, and need to work on them. dont rush it, let it all happen SLOWLY ... use the books you got to work on his object obsession. remember this is still the honeymoon stage, and it will take a little bit longer for Chubbs personality to come out,and training will be slow and patient... i know its very frustrating, you can bitch slap the BF for me for showing Chubbs the statue, but always remember men are pretty much useless when it comes to understanding dogs and training (not all men but most ). so just remember the BF is useless when it comes to this and just train chubbs your way, and nicely tell BF to not do that again...

i know its frustrating you want Chubbs to do lots of stuff, but remember he is a new dog in your house and everything should go really slow so that you both work out stuff together...

hang in there, it will all work out you will see, it just will take time and patience on your end.. (and if vodka or wine helps use that too lol)

[sugar]

I swear after yesterday a drink (and a few bandaids) would have helped, lol.
I was really angry with him because he knows that Chubs can easily get into that hyperaroused state (the trainer, when he saw it first hand, said "I don't like to use the term, but he goes into the 'red-zone' state where a bomb could drop on his head and he still would be trying to get that toy).
I'm trying to keep it slow, relaxed and easy for Chubs to succed, but now that the weather is getting warmer the kids are starting to play basketball and bounce their basketballs down the street and I know what its going to do to Chubs to see/hear that.
I'm working with the methods explained in that 'Control Unleashed' book you lent me. Trying to desensitize him while he is under his threshold (In my yard I have a basketball at the top of a short flight of steps, about four or five, and there is a metal gate in front so he can see, but he cannot reach them. At first he was whining, pacing and jumping to try to get to them but lately he will look and whine once or twice and just continue on his way. Saturday he spend a lot of time in the yard with my mom doing laundry and she said he didn't even try once to do anything.)

[RealPitBull]

always remember men are pretty much useless when it comes to understanding dogs and training (not all men but most)...

OMG Maryellen, I about died when I read this.

Kaleena, when I play the trading game, sometimes I will just take the toy and offer something exceptionally yummy and edible (even better if it's something he can sit and chew for a min or two and be distracted) and then end the game with me having the toy and putting it away.

The main point to get across is that if he trades, he'll always get something in return and usually it'll be something better. I'd say for now especially when he has something he really loves, end the trading game with him getting that thing back. But also make sure that sometimes, with lesser value toys, end the game with you taking the toy away.

There is also the possibility that this is an obsession that will slowly fad once he finds out that he can have his fill of toys.