[nagdu] Improving House behaviors

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi friends,

I feel a little ridiculous even asking some of these questions, but my
dog's house manners are not acceptable to me.  I've only had him for
too months, so maybe I'm expecting too much out of him, but I hope
not.

First of all, if I eat a snack or a meal while sitting on the couch,
he is all over me.  I tell him to sit, and nothing happens.  At that
point, I want to put him on tie down, but I also don't want tie down
to be a punishment.  I do not currently have a crate and honestly
don't have the funds to buy him one right now.  The other thing is
that I want to deal with the problem; I want him to be able to lay
down by me while I eat a meal or a snack.

The other problem is that he picks up stuff-clothes, stuffed animals,
stuff like that.  He does it sneakily, but even when I've found him
taking things, he has not learned.  I tell him know and put the thing
away, but he is not learning that this is not ok.

Any suggestions?  Sometimes I feel like when I take something away
from him or give him a command, it doesn't even register in his head
that I'm telling him to do something or telling him he can't have
something.  BTW, he listens well when we do obedience, and his guide
work is great.  But I have high expectations when it comes to house
manners, and I want productive ways to work on them.

Thanks guys!

-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16