Chester is doing well, walking generally going well and has now been off lead a reasonable amount (in controlled (i.e. not many distractions around) environments).
However, there is a behaviour that is getting frustrating, and i'd appreciate some thoughts on eradicating.
Basically, when on a long lead or off lead, or sometimes even on his normal lead, he quickly goes into what i think is an overexcited state where he tries to jump up and grab at anything he can - be it an arm/hands, top, coat, treat, etc. If he's off lead this becomes a running jump with some flying through the air. If he catches fabric/flesh, he'll rip it. Normally, but not always, this is in open areas, but he's shown no signs of increasing arousal before hand (sometimes he's been as calm as anything before it starts). It's normally accompanied with ears pinned back, growling and barking.
I've heard a couple of suggestions - 1) to throw a few small treats on the floor to refocus his attention and 2) to use an interrupter of some form and then reward the calm behaviour. 1) works a little, but he went straight back to jumping as soon as he'd finished them. 2) didnt work at all - the last attempt (about 30 minutes ago) resulted in, eventually, a rip down the side of my gillet and a chunk out of a new jumper.
When trying 2, I said firmly 'down' - a very reliable command normally - but was having to step back and get my arm out of the way of his flying mouth. I can see that this was probably exciting him more (me moving about), but had i been still i'd have been maimed - similarly if i'd turned my back on him.
My last resort was to grab him and hold him close to the ground until he relaxed - which he did, about 15 seconds later - and i then gave him a reward. Before he relaxed he was trying to bite at my hands (more viciously than he has previously, but i think still, in his head, 'play'). Once calm, he walked home pretty much like a dream.
I don't want grabbing and holding to be the approach to adopt to solve this. So is there anything obvious I'm missing.
However, there is a behaviour that is getting frustrating, and i'd appreciate some thoughts on eradicating.
Basically, when on a long lead or off lead, or sometimes even on his normal lead, he quickly goes into what i think is an overexcited state where he tries to jump up and grab at anything he can - be it an arm/hands, top, coat, treat, etc. If he's off lead this becomes a running jump with some flying through the air. If he catches fabric/flesh, he'll rip it. Normally, but not always, this is in open areas, but he's shown no signs of increasing arousal before hand (sometimes he's been as calm as anything before it starts). It's normally accompanied with ears pinned back, growling and barking.
I've heard a couple of suggestions - 1) to throw a few small treats on the floor to refocus his attention and 2) to use an interrupter of some form and then reward the calm behaviour. 1) works a little, but he went straight back to jumping as soon as he'd finished them. 2) didnt work at all - the last attempt (about 30 minutes ago) resulted in, eventually, a rip down the side of my gillet and a chunk out of a new jumper.
When trying 2, I said firmly 'down' - a very reliable command normally - but was having to step back and get my arm out of the way of his flying mouth. I can see that this was probably exciting him more (me moving about), but had i been still i'd have been maimed - similarly if i'd turned my back on him.
My last resort was to grab him and hold him close to the ground until he relaxed - which he did, about 15 seconds later - and i then gave him a reward. Before he relaxed he was trying to bite at my hands (more viciously than he has previously, but i think still, in his head, 'play'). Once calm, he walked home pretty much like a dream.
I don't want grabbing and holding to be the approach to adopt to solve this. So is there anything obvious I'm missing.
