Jumping and nipping and general spazziness!

[tracilg]

Ugh - the constant nipping and mouthing continues to be an issue with Babe despite all of our efforts otherwise.

Is it possible for a dog to really be so ADD that the just forget what's right and wrong? Because I swear she is. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

And , thanks to my brother, she's taken to jumping up on people. He's too lazy to bend over to pet her so whenever he sees her, he pats his chest and invites her to put her paws up so he can pet her. Now she thinks it's ok to do that to everyone and we are working to break that habit.

She is such a sweet dog, but I swear, she has more selective hearing than my kids and it's driving me insane. If there is food involved, she'll listen. Unless she gets too excited to even sit still -then she'll try to jump on you and grab the food out of your hand.

When she gets that worked up, I just walk away and end my interaction with her. But I'm really feeling the whole "fun times stop when you act up" approach is not making enough of an impression on her.

Not saying I want to prong her, but I feel like there has to be SOMETHING I can do to show her these behaviors are unacceptable. Sigh.

[mcgregor]

my Yogi used to do that but not anymore as I trained that out of him , when your dog jumps and tries to nip move your hands up and say no....walk away , ignore the sweety... takes alot of time and with patience it will work..... also you have to ask everyone in your household to do the same , eventually with friends who visit also. Yogi tends to forget sometimes but he is so much better than in the past and its a long continues training until your dog completely forgets the nipping and jumping..

[tracilg]

Maybe I'm just not being patient enough, but it seems like after nearly 3 months of people telling her "no biting', yelling OUCH when she does, and stopping play that she'd start to get the hint.

I swear, she has rocks for brains.

[mcgregor]

yep but you gotta remember pitbulls are hyperactive dogs..... they can get over that , whoa was my yogi as a puppy yikes! ... he is so much better now.....pits are smart dogs and usually learn pretty fast but some thing like the nipping takes a lot of time because its a naturall instinct of the dog breed, all dogs do it but gradually stop if corrected

[RealPitBull]

The 'ouch' thing isn't really effective, I've found. You have to be a bit more proactive and really focus on what you WANT vs what you DON'T want. What situations is she jumping/nipping? Set up training scenarios where you can reward any behavior that's not jumping/nipping. Also, use a head collar - they are great for interrupting problem behavior. You can gently but effectively stop the nipping, then reinforce wanted behavior. Also, ask for a sit before you give her ANYthing she wants, at any time.

[tracilg]

The behavior is at it's worst when she's over-excited - when company comes over, for example, or we bump into the neighbors while out for a walk.

It's like she gets so super excited that everything she knows - including her ability to listen - goes right out the window.

Other than that, she's generally ok. And we do make her sit for everything - dinner, getting her leash on, taking the leash off, going out the door, etc. If she doesn't sit - she doesn't get it or get to do it.

[mcgregor]

That behavior is akin to the dog being hyperactive, most pitbulls are like that as mine used to be...you have to work that hyperactivness out of the dog though sometimes the dog grows out of it but rarely.........

[maryellen]

when company comes over make sure she is on leash attached to you. no one touches or looks at her until she is calm... once she is calm no matter how long it takes then she can be touched/looked at /petted.. it will take time but it will work.. same with being outside, no contact from anyone until she is calm and relaxed. no matter how long it takes. she will figure out very quickly that jumping = ignoring and sitting nice =pets and lovin...