Okay, I have to ask this question for friends of mine who have an eighteen-month-old Brittany Spaniel - female, and spayed. For lack of a better word (and all those kids out there reading this), the dog "hugs" on the legs of her owners (two adults, three kids), friends of family, visitors and various cushions and pillows. I always thought this behavior displayed a sense of hierarchy for the dog over her owners and other people.....but cushions?? What is she doing this for?? They asked if my dog does this (she doesn't) and now we're all wondering why she does it and how to stop it. I should mention that she is a very high-strung dog, her family took her to obedience training, but in my opinion, she is very unruly and I feel they may rely too heavily on prong collars and shock collars for control and little on actual obedience reinforcement. Maybe this all factors in with the afforementioned behavior. Any thoughts? I appreciate your comments on behalf of my friends and all the victims (including the pillows) of this little dog's energetic antics. Thanks.

Kimberly I'd suggest handling this just like any other jumping up on a people problem. I won't worry about the why she doing it, just how to stop it. I'd start with the paw holding method when she jumps up on people, hold her paw and walk her backwards, saying "No", only once the each time she does it session.

If this doesn't work try the knee to the chest with no command, then ignore until she tries it again. Usually they get the hint. Of course OB training needs to be enhanced and all the family memebers need to be trained so they all use the same command. 3-5 people trying to train one dog can be confusing for a dog, each person giving a different command. Its sounds like the dog is confused and getting prong and shocked for not following all these different commands. I'd be wanting to f&*& something too. Whats goes around comes around.

But sharping up on the OB verbal commands with constiency in a daily 3-5 times a week drill would I think help this bitch. I'd also put away the prong and the shock collar since they were not working anyway, I'd try to re-establish control mono-mono.

I know it sounds like it could be something complicated like sexual dominates in the rank structure? But I think if a dog is properly trained a "Leave it" or "Thats enough" or "Stop" command would solve her breaking any rules. Now I agree it won't solve why she is doing it. But as long as it stops, I for one don't care why, I mean if it were my dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />