Is it bad that....

[dogsarebetter]

I encourage and allow Ruckus to jump up on me to greet me? First of all, i like it he likes it, and he doesnt jump up on anyone else.
he also never jumps up on me unless i invite him.

and i have another question....
there has been a few times where i was setting on the floor playing with him and he has mouthed my face! i tell him no sternly, but to me it always seems like an accident. after he does it and before i can even say no he gets an "oh sh!t!!!!" look on his face.

someone told me that he mouthed at my face because i was making eye contact on his level making him my equal. to me this advice sounded like ceaser bull crap and i completely disregarded it.

she said was creating an unbalanced house hold!

[mrose_s]

buster has banged his teeth into my face a few times. but he suddently loks ashamed. its my fault. i blow in his face and he barks and snaps. but as soon as i say "stop!" he knows its over and he's my sweet little boy again. once he had his bottom tooth hit the roof of my mouth and his top teeth hit the bridge of my nose. a bit painful but i don't think he's dangerous and it never hurts for maore than about 10 seconds.

i also encourage him to jump up. but he only jumps on me. and usually only when i ask. but on occasion he gets carried away. its really quite cute

[Doberluv]

I think it's all just fine. All I'd do, is if he gets too rough and hits your face with his mouth, just stand up and walk away...playtime over. You don't have to do anything else. If you're consistant, he'll learn to be more gentle. I wouldn't encourage him to play too roughly though because they do forget what they're doing sometimes and get out of hand. Sometimes the play can turn to prey. LOL. You're right about the Cesar b.s. It's not about some heirarchy or dominance nonsense. He just got too wound up.

As far as the jumping, you're inviting him, he's not bothering you and he doesn't bother anyone else. What could be wrong with that?

[dogsarebetter]

thats what i thought
thank you.

one day i was setting on the floor with him singing Whitney houston's "i will always love you"

by the time i got the word "always" out he gave me a pinch on the nose. it very hurts much, but i know its uncalled for. but that situation was funny. i guess he didnt like my singing!

[Doberluv]

Well, I wouldn't keep playing if he does that. It really does need to be made clear that nipping will not be tolerated or it can get worse. So, if he does something like that, be sure to abruptly and immediately get up and walk away and ignore him for a minute. Be very consistant with that. You don't want him thinking that nipping human skin is OK.

i blow in his face and he barks and snaps.

I don't recommend doing things which trigger his snapping. They have a hard enough time as it is learning the human "ropes," without enticing them to bite at you. I know they seem cute in a way when they do some of these wild things, but it's not cute when it gets out of hand and it can very easily. So, it's important to give them clear signals and not confuse them with things that make them think it's OK to do stuff like that.

[IliamnasQuest]

My dogs are all taught to jump up on me when I ask them to, but I don't have much problem with them jumping on others. I like hugging my dogs so it's a choice I've made and they seem to like it too!

My shepherd, when she was a pup, wanted to nip at faces when she was really happy and excited. To her it appeared to be an affectionate behavior. I didn't want her to do it, though .. the potential for connecting with someone who may consider it a bite was not something I wanted to encourage. So I did the "OWWW" and walk away technique and she learned not to do it.

Dog teeth + people faces = not a good idea .. *L*

Melanie and the gang in Alaska