Ruby

[Ruby]

Hi everyone, Ruby is 5 1/2 months old. She's brilliant, and most of the time she's a great girl, but I'm having problems with the 'leave it' command. She loves, loves, loves to get something from your pocket or the table, runs out the garden with it. I know we probably chased her early on as we were worried she'd swallow stuff like keys (or money!), so I think we must have inadvertently made this a game that she really likes. I've stopped chasing her, and found the best way is to just close the back door to the garden for a few minutes until she comes back and asks to come back in. I let her in when she drops the thing then. How to stop her taking it in the first place, though? She's great at playing the 'leave it' game, but she doesn't refer it to other things out of the game, so she just ignores you otherwise. I've tried luring her with a treat, but the game must be too good and the prize too high! Any suggestions?

Another thing she does is if you have a shopping bag, or getting the washing from the line, she'll jump up and bite to get what you have. Again, I think she just thinks it's a game, but the teeth are getting bigger by the day. Yesterday she bit me on the tummy (and believe me, no washboard tum here - so we're talking a bit of a spare tyre she grabbed). So sore! Naturally I yelped (a real one), but didn't deter her in the slightest. I reckon I must be doing something wrong, she's my first dog and I've a lot to learn.

Any suggestions would be great - I love her to bits, and I know it's just playfulness rather than aggression - I just don't know how to stop her.

Thanks,

Deirdre

[MandyGirl]

Welcome to the forum. I will leave suggestions to your training to other with more experience. I hope your tummy heals quickly; that's not fun.

[HersheyK's Dad]

A couple suggestions, propbably things you know, but just in case.

Need to proof the house. Leave nothing Ruby may want within reach or sight.
DO NOT play the game.
Jumping on you, turn your back, do not acknowledge the behaviour.
Hurts you, yell loud.
Tries for a forbidden, offer an acceptable.

This stuff is so easy to type, so hard to implement.

[BigBrownDog]

IMO - you really should enroll in a basic obedience class. With this being your first dog, it will help you immeasurably to learn about behavior and managing your dog - then when you have a small issue here or there, a dog board can help you. You have global issues (according to what you posted) and that is best addressed in person in a class.

[Ruby]

Thanks Mandy - Mitchell, Mandy and Fur Baby are so gorgeous!