I feel your pain! What I've found useful is the elementary school across the street. Ky always tells them hi in the AM and again when they get out of school. I've been taking Bentley for a walk when they're all lined up waiting for the buses, we're practicing walking by them with no contact. The kids know they can pet and love on Ky when she's over there but they have to ignore the puppy. Sometimes a kid will forget but for the most part it's working out well. Bentley is becoming more relaxed around people now.

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Thank you! It's hard to hear that my expectations are a bit too high, but I can swallow the pill.

I'll try taking him out to home depot or maybe just the mall parking lot on a weekend. He's already enrolled in puppy kindergarten, and we've been working on loose leash walking for a week in class and for two months at home. Normally, he's 75% of the time right where I need him to be on the leash. We do have socialization at class. The first class, Bear was on target with staying on his mat and leaving the other puppies alone. For the past two classes, he'll stay on his mat, but has trouble listening or focusing on us b/c he wants to play and if another puppy gets within 10 feet of us, he's off his mat, looking to socialize. Each time I rein him in and make him sit. He hasn't been taught stay yet. When we're walking around home, he's 2x better when we come across another dog. Maybe because they are so far away, but he will stand on 'alert' and watch the dog, but will easily respond to my commands, no pulling, no jumping, no barking, etc.

I'm not mad at him. I was really frustrated last night (more so with the people than him anyways), but once we got in the car, he stepped up on my thigh to lick my ear and my heart just MELTED! Can never stay mad at any of my animals.

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Follow Bear on Facebook!! He's Growing Up, Bear!

Sounds like you are on the right track! Patience. He will be a big dog before you know it.

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Dave

I understand you. i am experiencing the same thing with chester. Our Petco is the only place that allows dogs, so whenever i go there i usually take him. the hardest part is the people, like you i am having a difficult time trying to explain he is in training. by the time i try to explain they are already all over him. I don't mind if they pet him or give him one treat but when it comes to petting him and getting him overly excited when he starts to jump on people is when i have the problem. We've been working on this for a while now when he jumps we simply ignore him. I think next time what may help you is putting your hand up in "stop" signal and just say he's in training and you would prefer if they show no attention. My trainer recommended this for chester and I think I'm going to try this out as well.

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Oh man, I know this all too well! Liberty just adores kids and people. She goes crazy for attention! What I try to do is have her sit before anyone pays her any attention. It is harder for her to jump on someone if she is sitting. So if someone asks to pet Bear, tell them only when he's sitting. Then tell Bear to sit. If Bear stands up or gets too excited, ask the person to stop petting him until he sits again. It will take some time, but he will eventually sit when he wants to be petted! It's taken me a long time to get to this point with Liberty, but we're pretty much there.

Also, have you considered a Gentle Leader? When I take Liberty out she wears one. It's a personal preference but I find it really helps calm her down and she pulls less. I am hoping that as she matures, I will be ale to wean her off of the Gentle Leader. But for now, for my sanity, I don't go out without it!

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

Have your tried banks and bookstores? The banks around us all have treats waiting for the dogs at the reception desk. I believe, Barnes and Noble, is similiar to the Canadian bookstore Chapters, and they also welcome dogs.

I agree with mickeychick about the gentle leader. When I first start taking my "future" service dog training puppies out, I always use a gentle leader too. I, also find, the puppy is calmer and easier to control, which makes the outing more enjoyable for both of us. For me because I don't have to keep correcting the puppy and for puppy because I am not constantly correcting him.

I've never seen a dog (other than service dogs) in a bank or bookstore in Minnesota. I'm certain I'd be shown the door if I walked into Barnes and Noble with Bella.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

What you describe sounds to me like a normal pup. Mine is 4.5 months old and is a work in progress....

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Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

Oohhhh! I didn't know Chapters allows dogs! Hmmm may have to go on a little outing in the new year (stores are toooo busy now!)

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

I've had good luck telling people that Casper has to sit before he gets pets. It's quick to say "He just has so sit first" and most people are comfortable telling a dog to sit. So they'll tell him to Sit if/when he gets up. Not everyone, but many. The most trouble are the people, mostly kids, that insist on moving the hands right past his mouth and eyes to get to pet the top of his head. His whole body and head follow, then they jerk their hands into the air, and he follows the hands, and then it's just chaos after that. And the keep doing it over and over. Arg!