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Can I get Cesar on speed dial?

As much as I'd like to think I'm the "pack leader" in the house, I know I'm not. I've lost control of the situation and I'm not sure what to do about it. Can I get Cesar on speed dial?

It's not that bad, but I think it needs to be dealt with now before the situation gets worse. Admittedly, we haven't had the dogs around a lot of people. When people come over, we usually put them outside or in their crate. But I realized about a year ago that's not helping them become socialized and learn how to behave. So we've started allowing them to hang out when we have people over. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't.

Last night, it didn't. I had a friend and neighbor over to watch a movie. Jeremy was at a friend's watching the Super Bowl, so it was just us girls. She has two dogs of her own, so she's not oblivious to how dogs can act. When she rang the doorbell, I told the dogs to stay in the living room. They did. I was impressed.

I walked to the front door, opened it and she came in. We exchanged pleasantries and then came the attack. Greta and Cassie jumped all over her like she was a chicken-flavored dog bone wrapped in cheese and slathered in peanut butter. They were just sniffing and licking. But it was obnoxious and unpleasant and I had no control over it. I grabbed Greta and pulled her off my friend, because that much muscle jumping on you is never fun, trust me.

We proceeded to the living room and once we sat down things calmed down.

I've seen that exact scenario on episodes of "The Dog Whisperer." Cesar has someone ring the doorbell and he does some kind of Jedi mindtrick on the dogs so that they stay in the living room and don't jump all over the guest. Do I have any volunteers to come and ring my doorbell and be my guinea pig while I figure this out?

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Carla Kucinski

February 8, 2010 - 4:38 pm EST

I have a similar problem with Yoshi. He doesn't jump on people, but he does bark at everyone -- even people he knows and loves. It's really annoying, even a little embarrassing when our friends come over. Granted, all of them love Yoshi and know that he won't hurt them or anything but it's loud and obnoxious.
I've seen those episodes with Cesar too and I really do believe it's a Jedi mind trick.I have tried his whole approach of claiming the door first before he does, and then getting in HIS space and walking toward him to show him this is my space, back off. : ) It works... sometimes.

Andrea Martin

February 8, 2010 - 5:09 pm EST

Yeah, I've never been able to claim that space. Jeremy can sometimes. But at the same time, I am better at some things than at others. I have mastered the walk...and he has not. Score one for me. :)

pooperscooper

February 8, 2010 - 5:51 pm EST

You don't need "Cesar", you all simply need to teach your dogs some manners and basic obedience. We have a group in the area which would be more than happy to work with you: the Carolina Dog Training Club. A non-profit club which has been in the area for several decades, they train on Tuesday nights at the Lewis Recreation Center off Pisgah Church Rd. You can get more information about them on their website: http://www.carolinadogtrainingclub.com/

Andrea Martin

February 9, 2010 - 10:18 am EST

Yep, we never did that. We just taught them commands on our own when we adopted them. We never enrolled them in any classes. And when the topic did arise in our household, the cost of the classes usually held us back from enrolling them. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet, though. The other night was pretty embarrassing.

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