Hit and Run Act

[Sue J]

Jett just started this. When loose in the yard with us, she runs up when our back is turned and jumps up on our back then runs on her merry way. She acts like it's fun to her, but we certainly don't like this hit and run act:mad: How do we correct this?

[Dobs4ever]

Sue forgive me if I am laughing but I can just picture this. You need to pay attention and as she gets real close sidestep so she is air born then turn and ignore her so she does not get any encoragement on this new game. The other thing I would try is turn on her real fast and ask for a sit or down and if that does not work I would put your hands up and move right into her pushing her over backwards if necessary. She surely won't like this turn in the game so should stop it. If you don't like those techniques then drop to the ground before she gets to you - you can do a sitting squat or drop completely down and be very still. As she gets to you and wants to try to play say NO and stand up and walk away so she is not enjoying the game anymore. She needs a play date with some one she can really run and wrestle with!!!

This could be dangerous (and yes to her it is a game) especially if she knocks you over and gets someone hurt - so I would take it serious and try not to laugh at her antics. This does encourage the Big Clown in them.

[Dravens]

Have you considered getting her involved in flyball? If she likes the hit and run action you could maybe channel it into something useful!

[magtie]

yeah i can't help but lauging thing of a big dob trying to get a piggy-back

[RKCM]

Sue, I would be concerned too and it could be dangerous. My dogs always go thru this jumping up on me. It has always been solved by kneeing them. I don't do it hard, as to hurt them, but to tell them it's not a game. I say NO! It stops with that. They have never jumped on me from the back.

If the dog will sit or down for you that's a good idea, but if excited, the kneeing thing may be the only correction that will work. I've heard of people using spray bottles to defer behavior, but it never worked with my dogs. They just opened their mouth and enjoyed the mist. It couldn't be fun to have a big dog jump you from behind and it's not safe. I'd like to know how you correct this behavior. I'm sure you'll find something that works. Keep us posted.

[jelly8bean]

My personal opinion is to remove yourself if she does this. If she catches you all, turn saying "NO" and then promptly leave the area. (or if you can get her, remove her). Yes she thinks it is a great new game, especially because you all get excited. But you have to stay calm and just make it not work. No negative attention, no nothing. Just remove yourself.

[Sue J]

Thanks everyone. We never laugh at her when she does this 'cause we don't like it at all. To tell the truth when she does it, our comments are censured on the net!! LOL Of course she gets attention with it, even though it's negative. We can't knee her because she's gone by the time we get turned around. That's part of our dilemna in figuring out what to do..she's already run on by us. We're gonna have to be very diligent too because she's so darn fast at slipping up too. I think we're gonna try the moving over and leaving her airborne if we can do it fast enough or trying to get our hands on her and pushing her over. If those aren't workable, I'm also gonna try dropping to the ground and "crying". She can't stand it when I cry. She stops anything that might be hurtful and becomes sorrowful when I "cry". Draven--good idea about flyball after I get this thing stopped.

[Big Dogs]

Sue does Jett only due it when your back is turned or does she jump straight up in front of you too. Does she also like to just run past you which I like to call fly by's. First this is a game for her and she want's your attention this is a new way of her trying to get it and at the same time if she is doing it to your back only at this point she is also testing you to see what your reaction is going to be. I agree with staying calm but removing your self from the area is not the answer and never give up your space to a Dobe or any other dog in this situation. From a pack perspective when a young dog harasses an old dog the older dog doesn't leave his space he defends if he didn't this would be a show of weakness or as being subservient. My guess is she slowly builds up to this the longer she is out there. There are several ways to deal with this and Dobes4ever has several good ways of dealing with it. Here is another way of dealing with it if you see that she is building in her excitement up to this again have her sit and put her leash on her and release her to run around with her leash on. Dogs have a way of correcting there selves and it slows them down she will pick up on it before long that she is not to get that excited when you are there. Of course do not leave it on her when she is alone in the yard but that isn't when you have the problem. They other thing is you can work her if she has that much energy. Just a few ideas good luck and keep us informed.

[Sue J]

She has only done it to me when outside in the yard that's fenced where she usually runs free. My husband just said she did it inside to him the other day though when he was looking out the front door. I haven't noticed her doing any fly bys. Usually when we're outside with her she just stays fairly close to us with her little nosy self right in the middle of whatever we're doing. She started to jump up on me face front today for the first time in a good while, but stopped as soon I saw her reading herself and said no. Thinking now about what Big Dogs said I don't think I'm gonna "cry". I think he's right, that's my space and she can't disturb it that way.

[jelly8bean]

I'm not talking about "giving up space" sort of issues so don't go over board on reading into this. I'm talking about taking the fun out of the game she has going. Any sort of reaction will be attention and she can/will keep it up to get the attention. Stop the game by removing yourself. Not forever, or even for long, or (depending on your setup) not even from the yard, the point is to stop her fun time so she gets the picture that this is not a good game and you will not play. My yard is much to wooded for a leash to be on a "free" dog without major concern for being hurt/trapped, so I wouldn't have thought of that. However, the idea that if she did it you put a leash on her might be a correction, but I would worry it might also be an interesting thing to add to the game for her. They are so very smart.

[Dobs4ever]

If your back is to her it would be hard to knee her and I have just never had success with that technique. Maybe I just never got it right but When I am facing the dog I want everything to be postive. And since I want a tight front I feel this would give me problems getting that nice tight front - even though sometimes they almost knock me over I have a strong tight front.