MaryLynn

I touched on this on another thread, and honestly, while Gryphon absolutely adores how this lady treats him she is really starting to bother me.

I even find myself rearranging my day to try and avoid her, but it's like she looks out the window for me.

Gryphon is doing really great learning how to properly greet, and most people will either have the understanding that he doesn't want to meet someone (still a bit of fear issues with loud children, or people with walkers, rollerblades etc), or that if he does start to become overly stimulated that they have to give him a few seconds to do the proper behavior.

I have a neighbor who without fail comes out everyday and just starts baby-talking, high pitched talking, and squealing at Gryphon.

I like positive reinforcement training, so usually I get super excited as a low value reward, and give food treats for high value rewards when training Gryphon.

I have tried the same method of training on this woman. I assumed that if she could stop what I see the equivalent of a dog barking and pulling on a leash (her squealing and running to my dog), that she could pet my dog.

I told her that she can't smile or talk to him until he has performed a sit, so as soon as I ask him too she will start yelling HERE I COME GOOD BOY and start squealing from 20 feet away as she rushes over to get her pet in. He obviously gets really excited, and the whole point is missed.

Some people want to put shock collars and hit dogs with rolled up papers, well I'd almost like to do this to this lady!

I thought about writing her a nice letter, but I feel like I have already made myself really clear?

What would you do? What should I do? I am trying to find ways to take ownership of this issue, and deal with it without involving her, but I just can't see what I can do when she makes such a big scene.

Watch me isn't working, should it though? I am not sure if a puppy would be able to hold attention with something that crazy going on in the background?

petitpie

Ask her to help you train him and then instruct her how you want it done. She is unaware of how to interact with dogs.

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kukukachoo

maybe think of a new trick that you "want her help with" like stay? if she loves him that much she may be tickled to have a job in training him.

perhaps buy a thing of treats for her to keep and use when he sits and stays before coming over to see her?

that would give you an opportunity to explain the levels of treats, too.

that's all i got! good luck!

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MaryLynn

That's a really good idea! I never thought of that, she is quite a bit older so I will have to see if she is up to it.

Perfect way to solve my issue and not hurt her feelings (which I have never wanted to do).

Ladywolfe

Go ahead, smack her with a rolled up newspaper. It won't harm her, and the sound will startle her enough for her to regain her composure---LOL

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liljaker

When I first got Sunny last year EVERYONE I came into contact with (females) used the high baby-talk voice and it drove me nutz. The one thing his breeder said from Day 1 is that "I don't talk baby talk to my dogs; talk to him as an adult as you would any other person." Well Sunny wondered what the heck was going on when these ladies would talk that way to him and it would freak him out. (Sure he was thinking, what is WRONG with these people?). So, I would firmly but politely let them know that he was "in training" and please do not use baby talk to him.....just speak to him as you would any other person. I really didn't care if they were offended and if you are tactful, she won't be. Worked for me.

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kukukachoo

Oh yeah, this is great advice! LOL!

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lily cd re

I'm with Ladywolfe! No, but seriously the suggestions to enlist her in helping to teach Gryphon something where you teach her how to act around him are really the best. I think given how young Gryphon is you shouldn't be disappointed if he loses composure around the energy this lady currently projects. Good luck with it.

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Catherine
Lily AKC: CGC CD HIT CDX RN RA RE RAE NAJ; APDT: RL-1; CPE: CL1-R, CL1-H, CL1-F
Peeves AKC: CGC BN

msminnamouse

If you can't get her to understand and act accordingly, management would be your next step. You could put a DO NOT PET patch on a harness. Or say worriedly from a distance that he has some kind of skin infection or you think he has fleas.

I dunno. I'm out of my element with how to train humans!

Have you tried telling her straight how it is? That you use an excited pitch of baby talk as a reward when training so any and all excited baby talk needs to be saved for rewards? And demonstrate for her so she can try asking for some cues and APPROPRIATELY baby talking him?

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MaryLynn

Yeah, both my husband and I have just gave her the straight and low, but she just seems to want to pet him so bad that she just can't help it. I have rearranged my day and when we see her we just go a different direction. I feel horrible doing it, but I feel less horrible then resenting her for the confusion she causes my dogs.

When I asked her if she wanted to help she told me she was too old to help (but not too old to come flying out of her house...lol??)