A more gentle lapdog?

[Gempress]

Voodoo LOVES laps. He's all for squishing into people's laps. I tried to break him of it, but Hubby keeps encouraging him, so I decided it's a lost cause. But I've at least managed to teach him that he can't get into a lap without permission.

Ok, here's my issue....

When given permission, Voodoo does not daintly climb up onto the couch and ease himself into a lap the way Zeus does. He will leap straight up from the floor and belly-flop directly into the waiting lap. :yikes:

Hubby is a big guy and has no problem with this. But I cannot handle a 70-pound dog cannonballing directly into my lap. How to I teach him to be more gentle? I've tried to gently lead him onto the couch, but he still tries to jump on and ends up clocking me in the jaw instead. :rolleyes:

[houndlove]

Well, I think for one thing hubby's going to have to stop tolerating it too. Whatever way you guys deal with it, it's going to have to be both of you or risk confusing the holy heck out of Voodoo!

I'm trying to think of how I'd deal with it. Probably remove lap privileges for a while. Does he ever do it gently, or more gently than other times, or is it always the cannonball? Because you could try to, if he does the cannonball, tell him off again immediately but if he does it more gently, let him stay, then up the ante as far as how gently he does it in order to get to stay.

Or you could shape a better behavior with a clicker. Have him get on the couch next to you then play a little hokey pokey (one paw on the lap, other paw on the lap, head down in the lap, butt down in the lap). That would probably be fairly time consuming but could be a laugh riot!

[SisMorphine]

Let me know if you get any answers. Teeny runs full force across the room and FLIES into my chest . . . then slides down into my lap. We don't know "gentle."

[Gempress]

Well, I think for one thing hubby's going to have to stop tolerating it too. Whatever way you guys deal with it, it's going to have to be both of you or risk confusing the holy heck out of Voodoo!

I'm trying to think of how I'd deal with it. Probably remove lap privileges for a while. Does he ever do it gently, or more gently than other times, or is it always the cannonball? Because you could try to, if he does the cannonball, tell him off again immediately but if he does it more gently, let him stay, then up the ante as far as how gently he does it in order to get to stay.

Or you could shape a better behavior with a clicker. Have him get on the couch next to you then play a little hokey pokey (one paw on the lap, other paw on the lap, head down in the lap, butt down in the lap). That would probably be fairly time consuming but could be a laugh riot!


Voodoo always cannonballs, unless he already happens to be sleeping on the couch already. I like your clicker idea, though. I may have to dust my clicker off and try that with Voodoo. Thanks!

[Fruit bat]

Gemp, I cannot offer any help, but I can say the mental picture is funny.

[Charliesmommy]

Let me know if you get any answers. Teeny runs full force across the room and FLIES into my chest . . . then slides down into my lap. We don't know "gentle."

Ditto with Charlie! I'm just now getting him to gently take a treat from me, rather than risk losing some fingers.