Sticking his nose where it doesn't belong

[lordbumdragger]

I have a 3 year old lab who we adopted about 3 months ago and he has this annoying habit of sticking his wet cold nose just about anywhere on your body, groin, bare leg, hands etc. I first thought he was doing this by accident as usually it happens while one or both of you are moving. Now I think it is a very calculating move, perhaps dominance being in mind. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop him from doing this?

LBD

[nedim]

Maybe hes just "checking things out?" lol

[Renee750il]

He probably thinks it is great fun as it gets a reaction from you ;) Distraction is a good way to deal with behaviours you want to curb. When he does this, put him in a sit or a down. He can't stick his nose where you don't want it from that position. Make him hold it long enough that you can praise him for a good sit or a good down.

CreatureTeacher and Doberluv will probably have more suggestions for you to try.

[Babyblue5290]

My dog use to do that because he knew it would get our attention and get a reaction. And if he bugged us enough we would go play with him. He soon got really persistent with it and it got really annoying. Then we started ignoring him when he did it. He would get frustrated and then just go lay down. SO it worked, but took a while. Now he doesn't do it to anyone except my mom because she doesn't ignore him.

[EliNHunter]

I agree with Babyblue. Just ignore him as hard as it will be and for as long as it will take. Labs are very "pushy" with their love and he's just saying PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!! It's a lab thing :rolleyes:

[BigDog2191]

I wish Rocky did that instead of nipping.

Consider yourself lucky! :) ;)

[gapeach]

I agree with Babyblue. Just ignore him as hard as it will be and for as long as it will take. Labs are very "pushy" with their love and he's just saying PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!! It's a lab thing :rolleyes:

Carey must be part lab!

[gaddylovesdogs]

I agree with just ignoring him. I have a lab, too. She's not pushy, actually. She sits there and stares at me until I give her the attention she wants. If I take to long, she places her paw on my knee.

[Doberluv]

Now I think it is a very calculating move, perhaps dominance being in mind.

Does he do anything else that seems like he's trying to dominate you? Does he mind you when you ask him to sit or come? Does he seem to respect you in other areas? Does he challenge you? Does he display any dominant body postures? If not, then it's probably one little thing he's trying to get attention and not a big "dominance" issue. Most dogs aren't dominant.

So, what everyone else said about ignoring, giving no reaction and taking away his favorite toy.....YOU. LOL. When he comes close to you, like Renee said, ask for a sit or some other incompatible behavior. If he's sitting, it's harder for him to poke you with his nose.

I have the same thing with my Doberman. He's especially pushy, and especially when I get out of the shower. I do EVERYTHING wrong. I don't practice what I preach one bit. I shreak and giggle and tell him, "a-h-h-h...go away, you little ****" in a playful, half pretending, scolding voice. So, needless to say, he keeps doing it and licking the lotion off my legs. Of course, there's no hope around here. If he doesn't get me, my Chihuahuas will. :eek:

The only thing that works for me is telling him a command he really knows already and knows well, and that's either "leave it" or "away." And I can make my voice a little more serious and not so giggly, turn my face away so he can't see me laughing... and he'll buy it and go away.

So, there's a perfect example of pure, unadulterated, inconsistancy. He's allowed to get away with a little of that nonsense because his Mom is about as nutty as he is but then there IS a limit to how much cold, wet nose one can take. LOL. :rolleyes:

[mrose_s]

i would just get up and walk off when he does it. if you are out walk, stop and ignore him untill he stops...

[lordbumdragger]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am not sure if this is an attention getting habit as it occurs when I am giving him attention. For example when taking him outside for a pee he will run up behind you and hit you with his nose or when walking beside you hit your leg with his nose. It doesn't really bother me but it sure bothers other people.

A little info about Dexter: He was a sire for a kennel and was shown a few times and very well behaved. He listens quite well to me, however hardly ever obeys a command the first time (I am working on this).

LBD