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How to Get Your Dog Only to Give Hugs When ASKED?
Cookie On My Mind asked:
Okay this sounds crazy but my black lab is addicted to hugging people! lol So we had taught him to 'give hugs' when he was a puppy and boy did he learn it.
He goes up to random people everywhere and tries to jump up on them and give them a hug and kiss. How can we get him to realize he should only do this when asked? I think it might irritate some people.
This is mainly an issue at the dog park or when we have company over our home
I should add, he's VERY delicate when he does this, he doesn't jump up on people out of control
birthday hugs
Okay this sounds crazy but my black lab is addicted to hugging people! lol So we had taught him to 'give hugs' when he was a puppy and boy did he learn it.
He goes up to random people everywhere and tries to jump up on them and give them a hug and kiss. How can we get him to realize he should only do this when asked? I think it might irritate some people.
This is mainly an issue at the dog park or when we have company over our home
I should add, he's VERY delicate when he does this, he doesn't jump up on people out of control
birthday hugs
Tags: People, Dog Park, Black Lab, Kiss, Sounds
This is a very cute trick, but over-hugging can become a problem. I would recommend you try to show him hugging isn’t appreciated all the time.
First, have a family member hold him on a leash. When he jumps up to hug without you asking, calmly push him off and firmly say no (or give a different command such as off), have the leash-holder give a correction (a gentle, but effective tug on the leash to get all four paws on the ground) , and turn your back to him. Once he realizes you don’t want a hug, go on into a different room. Take him with you, and ask him to hug you. Praise him when he gets off you when you ask.
Keep the training sessions short, but repeat every day until he realizes when you say off, he needs to get off, but he can hug when you tell him it’s alright. Labs are very intelligent, and I’m sure he’ll learn it quickly. Good luck.
This could be difficult since its something he’s already learned is okay. My advice would be: Whenever he jumps up, put your knee up in the air and across your body, like trying to touch your knee to your other hip (not like kneeing him in the chest, lol). That will block him when he tries to put his paws on you and he’ll have to go back down to all fours. When you do this, tell him very firmly “No.” If you do this enough and have everyone in your family, even friends do it, he’ll learn. It would probably be best, so as not to confuse him, if you didn’t ask him to give hugs while you are trying to train him not to. After he learns not to, then when you ask, he might need some coaxing, but he should still hug you. I used to have a Great Dane that liked to hug people too (she was also a lap dog, if you can believe that!). Once she started getting bigger and growing into her huge paws, we had to teach her not to – she was as tall as my 6 foot 4 father! Good luck. Happy training!
Since it was learned as a puppy, it will be difficult to unlearn, but not impossible.
Any time the dog even begins to hug, at the very first sign that the paw is coming off the floor, tell the dog “off” and back away so that he cannot make physical contact with you. Do this every single time – never let the dog hug anyone. If you are out walking and he starts to hug someone else, pull back on his leash and give the command “off”. AGain, don’t let the dog ever make contact with anyone.
After a very long time, when the dog has totally learned the off command and does not hug any more, then teach him an “up” or “hug” command. Put an arm out, and allow the dog to place their front paws on your arm, while giving the command.
This will take time, but the dog will learn that he hears the “up” command and sees the arm, it is okay for him to hug.
Just don’t try to do both at the same time, as the dog will get very confused as to when he can and cannot hug.
First, that’s such a darling dog!
Agree with the other suggestion, find a period of time, create opportunities and focus on getting doggie lab understand the signals. – when to get into action of hugs and kisses AND when to hold back,
Poor doggie may feel “sad”, so think of alternative to shower doggie with love when he can’t hug the person?