Puppy Enthusiasm

[dpenning]

One of the things that I fell in love with at the dog show this past weekend was the 8 month old EM puppy I was playing with was actually playful. The first group of mastiffs I saw at a breeders house were adults or 6 week old puppies so the 8 month old was a different stage. While I thought it was fun and cute, although I admit I wasn't entirely sure how to handle it, it gave my husband some reservations when the 200+ male he was holding the lead on rolled over and started flailing his legs wanting to play. It started with both of them by nuzzling our hands to be pet, then gently mouthing them. This was all very clearly playful on the dogs part.

I told him that if we lived with the dogs from the time they were puppies we would have known how to get them calmed down when they started getting too rambunctious for the situation. But his point was valid, what about when my mom comes to dog sit for us. While she will have some experience with them from the time they are pups it won't be daily interaction. Mom is 74 and very active but still, it would kill me if the dog hurt her in any way by accidentally knocking her down or something when it wanted to play.

My thoughts are that if we are the ones training the puppy that we can also train mom and if the dog understands gentle or leave it that mom would be able to maintain control.

Anyone have any thoughts about puppy enthusiasms with strangers and/or family members who are taking care of them for a week? Or even just the level of rowdy that these guys get to or should be allowed to get to when playing?

Thanks,
dawn

 

[Abby&Fiona]

We have a good friend that doggy sits for us for long weekends a couple times a year when we can't take the dogs.... An EM and a 5.5 month old pit/mutt haha. I had her over a couple days before we left and had written her a 3 or 4 page note about what commands work best and when to crate if needed, where to walk and not to, avoid this or make sure to do that. I apologized for overwhelming her but she was hardly bothered by it since she works with a classroom of toddlers and has to deal with the parents picky preferences hehe. She said that the pup actually did REALLY well for her. The EM she has known for years and she is very calm.... but the little monster was my concern. I just made sure I told her the important commands and techniques that we are using- which work for us and will help her too. They did help.
BUT when I had the two dogs stay with my mom and her yippy chihuahua, my pup figured out that my mom couldn;t chase her down hahahahah Let's just say my mom got some exercise that weekend. HA! She wasn't rotten... just a teaser.
I think if your mom uses the same methods as you she should be ok.... Maybe putting your dog in a sit as often as possible to avoid leaning or pushing could help- just an idea. Also, many people say that dogs act better for others than for parents... kind of like kids HAHA.

 

[dpenning]

Thanks so much for the response! I'm going to look into a doggy daycare as well and if I can find one I like I may take my big dog there once a week when they are old enough so they get used to it and if I have to board the big dog they will be used to it.

 

[Abby&Fiona]

I think we will use boarding for our honeymoon. Fiona goes there for training and loves it....depends on how she matures by then. Nice doggy daycares are great for the playful ones especially!

 

[brianmurphy]

Shawn(my dog) is very lazy.I try to make him play but he is very inactive.He has gain lot of weight because of this.Can you suggest some tricks to make him play and enthusiastic again?

 

[dpenning]

How old is he? You may have to work off some weight with walks and watching his diet. Dogs do tend to settle down as they get older.

 

[brianmurphy]

Hey dpenning, He is 2 and half year old.I am trying to control his diet as suggested by you before. Can you suggest me any exercise or other way to make him active and playful?

 

[dpenning]

I'm probably not the best person to ask as I'm somewhat of a couch potato myself! Really just walks and introducing new toys. But remember, puppy enthusiasms don't last for ever! I did have one dog that I could get to chase radio controlled cars. <G>

 

[brianmurphy]

Thanks for your reply.I am trying to make him play with radio controlled car now as per your suggestion.Hope this will make him cheerful again.