Whacking Weimaraners

DoubleTrouble · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: Whacking Weimaraners

Does anyone else have a problem where their weims hit them? Mine do it to me a lot. Josie does it when she wants attention. Most specifically when I am very busy in front of the computer (I'm a student) and she wants attention. Cache always does it when we pick up his leash. I broke them of jumping and now this is becoming a problem. My instinct is to ignore them, but it isn't like I am just standing up and can turn around or anything. Any ideas? They also do it to each other-- more Josie to Cache, could it be a dominance thing?

ange165 · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject:

I don't know but it sounds really funny..
When I'm studying I have to give Ruby a bone or something to keep her entertained. Otherwise I have to set up chairs next to me so she can sit with her head an feet on my lap.

PamK · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject:

What do you mean whack? Derek paws me. My sister thinks that he is trying to shake, but he does it when he want attention and its really annoying.

amazonstarlight · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject:

My mix Sadie does a similar thing. She'll come up and lay down on the floor and kick as hard as she can. It really hurts and is purely for dominance (she thinks she's top dog, so I have a lot of this). When she does that I tell her "no" and if she doesn't stop right off I grab her collar and place her about 3 feet from me, tell her to lie down and stay. I have her sit there until she's calmed down then I call her over, sit her down by me, and then tell her "good".

I don't know if that's something that would work for your two, but I feel it helps a little with mine. Good luck!

DoubleTrouble · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject:

PamK, it is the same as pawing, but it can REALLY hurt. That's why I called it whacking. I want to stop it, because it's so annoying and painful when they drag their paws down my legs or just scratch my arm.

amazonstarlight, I might give that a try although I afraid they'd keep doing it for more attention. She does not have a very good stay (still too wiggly!). With Cache, who does have a stable stay, he only does it once when I am putting on his leash.

We tried teaching them "no paws" which basically meant a nice stay. It helps sometimes, but I can't always give her attention when she wants it, and if I don't reward her for no paws she will start the whacking again. Maybe I'll try increasing the time she can sit still for? But she is still so wiggly, no matter what training we are doing!

shouseholder · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:30 am Post subject:

Mischa stomps her paw at me when she is getting impatient. If I am distracted and she wants something, she smacks her paw on the ground in front of me. Glad she doesn't paw right at me, that would hurt. I just ignore her and don't give her what she wants. But secretly, I think it is kind of cute.

Asarra · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:20 am Post subject:

My husband calls it getting clubbed. Storm will just throw her paw up and hit you. I never thought of it as a dominance thing? I just thought she is looking for attention or to play. Doesn't hurt, but she is not full grown yet?

kamfam · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

This is addressed in that NILIF link...that behavior should be ignored, because they are to get attention, walks, etc on OUR terms, NOT when they want it. The only time I don't ignore it is when I KNOW they need to go potty. Kam can push me right off the chair when he needs to go!

weimdawgs · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:43 am Post subject:

Silkie does it all the time. She paws for attention. She knows she's not supposed to; it's just soooo hard for her to keep her paws down when she is excited.

ZaneTheBrain · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:56 am Post subject:

Yup. Zane does it too. I first noticed it when I took him to obedience school. He had to keep 'touching' the other dogs and people and was such a distraction. It was surprising and everyone thought it was cute and would take his paw, so I feel that encouraged him. I've had my eyes poked, as dumb as that sounds, many times and it hurts like heck. I'll be minding my own business and he shoves that giant paw in my face. He does it mainly to random strangers when we're out and about to get their attention. Of course they think he's cute and love on him. I ignore it or correct him when I can but it's tough to correct when he's doing it to someone else.

PamK · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:26 am Post subject:

Derek does it to other dogs too. At first I thought he was petting them like I pet him so I didn't correct it. I wish I had known better.

kjnewk · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject:

Ivan does it too. I am glad I'm not the only one getting smacked by their dog. It drives me crazy. He usually does it when he wants outside...I really need to start ignoring it...

jaegertheweim · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject:

I've trained Jag not to paw at us but he still does it to Roma and my cat. No wonder they find him extremely annoying Laughing

Wrench · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:40 am Post subject:

Haha! Wrench is a boxer in a past life I swear! He doens't do it for attention or really in a bad way...he does it when we are playing or he sits on the couch next to us and just "WHACK" right in the face...always in the face when it does happen! It's so funny and not too often or at times we don't expect it kind of thing. It's funny when he does it to other dogs...I think it's like " I know how big my paws are and I"m a gonna use em!" We had Wrench in bed with us the other night in the middle and he wacked Michael when he was stretching out and Michael starts teasing in the dark " oh Peg, your hands are so soft" haha Wrench's paws are NOT soft!

darlinggrl7 · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:26 am Post subject:

I made the mistake of teaching mine to 'shake'... So now, when they want attention, they will come, sit by me, and shake. Or, if I am trying to teach the other one something else and am petting, the other one comes by to shake for praise. I also made the mistake of trying to teach down after nail clipping.. They shake then in mid shake, its like "oh no, she wants the other one" and go down on the way. Which generally ends up with claws down my arm. I'm fairly sure one of them is going to scar. I will say though.. they are getting better! And I'm not a very good trainer.. live and learn.