We have a one year old black lab. Sweet and also hyper.
My problem is - he loves to chew on stuffed animals, while rubbing the animals up against our legs. It drives us crazy because it is wet and gross and very unpleasant. Nothing we do can make him stop this behavior! Otherwise, he usually listens to us, but this behavior is unstoppable. He was a newborn puppy when his dog mom died, so I'm wondering if it has something to do with that.
Please tell us what to do!
I doubt the stuffed animal is symbolic in anything.. dogs like to chew on things like that. You can buy bitter apple spray or the harder stuff at your pet store and spray the things you don't wan't him chewing on. THe bitter apple didn't phaze my boxer-rottweiler.. i had to go with the harder stuff.
THe much bigger issue is that he is pushing the toy against your leg. This is a sign that your dog is attempting to control how and when he receives affection or attention from you.. My guess is that at some point in the past you've responded to him when he does this. Maybe you thought it was cute the first few times and proceeded to play with him, or maybe you even corrected him.. but either way,.. he has learned (and really, it only takes a few times) that he will get your attention by doing this.
It's a bad habbit to develop. Too many of these things and your dog will forget his place in the pack hierarchy, and this can really become a problem down the line. It's always funny or cute when they are little, and horrid when they are big.
My dog "power snouts" my hand and arm when he wants to be petted (which is just about every minute) and he started doing this as a puppy. I should have caught it right then, but let it slide with my big NFP heart.. BIG MISTAKE.
I'd probably do one of two things.. ignore the behavior entirely until he understands it will get him nowhere.. or start giving him some other command when he does this.. like "Go lay down" . Since reward works waaay better than punishment.. every time he listens to you and lays down in his deignated dog spot.. give him a treat. Do it for a while, then start skipping, until it gets to the point that he just follows the command in hopes of getting the treat every once in a great while.
Just a heads up.. other behaviors to look for that indicate your dog is trying to challenge his place in the hierarchy
-leaning on you, sitting on the couch next to you, sitting in your lap, sleeping in your bed.. all of these are warning signs.
-Don't ever allow your dog to go through doors or entry ways before you do. Try to keep your dog walking side by side with you on walks.
-When you meet people, or come upon people, YOU make the initial contact.. not him.
Now all of this might seem a bit mean, I thought so at first. But the truth is that canines have a very different mentality, and they REQUIRE hierarchy and pack rules. If they don't have this they are very unsure of what is expected of them, and can become fearful, agressive, skittish, or stressed.
I have done volunteer work at this no-kill shelter a few hours from where I live. It is an enormous ranch in the desert that takes in all kinds of animals.. horses, pigs, monkey, dogs, cats etc. .. its actually funded by Brad Pitt, no kidding. Even amongst the close to 500 dogs that reside there.. there is still a hierarchy and pack rules. Infact, the most dominant in the pack is a huge malamute.. they call him "sheriff" because whenever anyone comes on the property, he checks them out first. Every other dog will stay back and watch what Sheriff decides. When he gives the okay to let someone pass, every other dog in that pack listens. That person, or animal will not be bothered. It's really fascinating to obersve actually.
My point is that if you love your dog, you will develop clear guidelines and order. This has been a huge struggle for me and my pets, but I am working on it!