Hi
I am new this forum (which is great by the way) and this is my first post.
Part of my job is walking other people's dogs.
I have been walking a cheaspeake for the last 3 months, he is about 9 months old, very strong and has a horrible habbit of jumping and nipping at what ever part of human body he can get first ( coat, hand .e.t.c) when i go to walk him (he is like this with his owners as well).
He chews the owner's furniture and any thing else he can get while he is on his own.
His owner has been very soft with him,she was at home for the fist 6 months of getting him, he follow's her every where, she now works ( but pop's home during the day 2 check and walk him), if the family go out any where apart from work the dog go's with them.
I walk him 7 times a wk and just started 2 put a muzzle on him when i arrive 2 walk him ( i take it off when he calm's down and he's on his lead).
His owner has just started useing a crate when he miss behave's at home.
Could this be seperation anxiety?.
He start's training class'es in a few month's.
I'm worrid that his nipping may turn more serious because i am firmer with him.

Sorry for such a long post but i've not come across this behavier before and i've worked with dogs for a while.

Any help or advice would be most appriciated.

Many thanks


He start's training classes

I've seen this in active dogs around that age. Obviously he's getting exercise, though, since you're the dog walker! He may need more mental stimulation, and basic obedience would definitely help. Most of the dogs that I've met who have this problem are under-stimulated.

Are you correcting the behavior? If you could give a little more detail, like how you're reacting, when it starts/stops, etc...that would help.

I'm sure others will have more to add, too.

Hi
thanks for reply.Basically i go in ( he normally has the run of the house and wait's for me by the front door, he can see me arrive by car),shout no,down, grab his collar to hold him down while i put his lead on (by this time i usually have a new set of bruises)then i get him out of the house a quick as i can on a short lead and he used to calm down very quickly once on lead ( i praise him when he behave's) but not any more.
The last 2 - 3 wks the jumping and nipping have continued out side.I have held him by the scruff of the neck, hand on top of his nose, pressed the side of his mouth to try and stop his jumping and nipping.Eventually he calm's down. I used a muzzle for the first time 2day where i had to sit on him to hold him down 2 put it on. (great once i did).
I have tried going in the house and just folding my arms and totally ignoring him, not even looking at him ( did this for wks)to no avail, shouting at him dos'nt work (he like's the attention even if it is louder).He will sit and give his paw for a treat, so i thought when i went in i would get him to sit , give a treat then put him on lead, no intrest in treat, just want's to nip and jump.
His owner got him a treat ball to occupy him till i arrived, it was chewed up with 1/2 hr of his owner leaving and me arriving.Owner even bought new different toy's, he's either chewed them to bit's or won't touch them.

I'm just hopeing the muzzle works, i put it on when i first arrive, take it off when he calm's down, as soon as he nips again it's straight back on then off again when he calm's again.

He is going to training classe's at end of March.

I would not call it seperation anxiety, I would call it spoiled. AND obviously you are getting the brunt of it.
I would have to say that the owner of this dog needs to be educated about crates, training and also the Chesapeake Breed. And the dog needs to be taught who is pack leader, since right now it sounds like he is. Chessies are known to be dominant, somewhat aggressive dogs. We had three of them and they were WAY different than our Laborador Retrievers. They were not friendly to strangers OR kids. The Labs were.
Now I know that they can be, but it depends on if you buy a BYB dog or a real working line.
I would try and find a way to talk to the owner and find out if she is receptive to getting the dog under control by crate training and working with the dog on obedience.
You, yourself can correct the dog BUT if it not reinforced by the owners as well, then it may not work.
Chessies get large and with him displaying this behavior now, it sounds as though it may only get worse as he gets bigger and older. It is unfortunate that a muzzle has to be used on a young dog like this.

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/chesapeakebayretrievers.html

You should read some of Ed's articles listed on the left side of the forum. They will give you alot of knowledge of how to get the dog to behave in your presence and to tell the owners of the dog how to manage him. He doesn't sound like there is enough structure, discipline or activity(more than walking..) in his life, thus causing behavior problems, like nipping and chewing on furniture and lack of respect. The articles will tell you how to become and act like a pack leader. Even though it is not your dog, you can develop ways to earn respect from most dog you approach- most owners want to know why their dog behaves me better than it behaves them..lol After you understand the articles, you can enlighten the owners of the dog by sharing the articles or telling them some tips.

The crate is being used incorrectly if being used for punishment. It should be used as the dog's den and is to be associated with positive things only, like eating, sleeping and relaxing or necessary containment).

Good Luck and welcome to the forum!
Alison Voore

Hi thanks for reply.
It's funny you mention Lab's, the owner had one before she got the chessie.I've only come across the chessie breed once when i worked at kennels ( the kennel owner had 2 ).There not common in my area. I've been researching the breed recently. And personally i would'nt have the breed mainly because of kids and there strength. ( i keep staff's and greyhound's)
I'm trying to work with the owner, altho she is still very soft, she is trying (just like me).I've asked her to start putting him in his crate for when i arrive, it make's it easier for me to muzzle him .She aggreed to.I've been trying to establish me being the alfa when he's with me, i'm hopeing the muzzle training may work.

Thanks again

Thanks Alison.
The crate is bing used as a place to relax, sleep e.t.c but also as a place to be put when he misbehave's.
I'm off to read some of Ed's article's.

cheer's

I have never had a Chessie, but it sounds like you have a very active, mouthy, and undisciplined dog on your hands. I think I might try using a toy or ball or tug to redirect his energy on something other then your skin and clothing. He may also respond very well to treats. He probably needs not just walking, but very active play to tire him out. From your description, I don't see clear signs of dominance, just wildness and lack of training.

Obviously, if he is chewing furniture, he is too young to be left at large when no-one is home. I agree with others that the crate should be a safe place, not a punishment. If he is crated when you arrive, you can teach him to sit quietly before you open the door.

Hi
After reading some of Ed's articles last night, i thought i might try a distraction toy, treats don't work he's to hyper when i first arrive to eat them but may be a squeeky toy squeeked where he can't see it but can hear it may work or may make him more hyper.I'll give it ago.
He is off lead for about 50% of our time chaseing balls, running with other dogs.He's great off lead.

Thanks for yr reply

He sounds very much like a Chessie that a friend and housemate had. He needs lots of exercise, especially mental exercise, which he can get from obedience training and nilif. The owner's should definitely work on crate training and limit his house freedom, at least for now. Teach him to carry something when you walk him. This will prevent the nipping and will require him to use his mind. Another thing that would help is to teach him to carry a backpack. Once he's used to that, you can have him carry things such as water bottles for you both.