Cricket
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Best Answer
I suspect that your boy is doing a little "testing" and some "attention seeking". The "testing" is part of his age and possibly breed. He's trying to see what "works" in his life. So if pushing you gets you to pet him and mouthing you gets you to interact with him, then these behaviors "work" and he will keep doing them. For an independent self-thinking breed like a Pyr, this could lead to trouble that comes from lack of leadership.
So I encourage you to make a point of rewarding him (with attention and other things he likes) for a variety of calm and cooperative behaviors but ignore (don't look at him, touch him, or talk to him) his "pushy" or "demanding" behaviors. The more you find to reward, the more he will learns positive ways to earn your attention. I would also ask him to do some small thing for you (like "sit") before giving him attention, toys, food, and other stuff he wants. It's a polite way for him to say "Mother, may I?"
It's also quite likely that he isn't getting enough exercise so he's a bit bored and antsy. Find "jobs" for him to do each day and try to have him tongue-hanging-out tired at least once a day. I also like the "walk away" technique and would just say "Bye!" and get up and leave the room (so he can't follow) if he puts his mouth on you in any way. Wait one minute and then calmly return to the room and resume what you were doing. But watch for the first polite behavior and calmly reward him. You aren't angry when you leave, it's just that mouthing you not only won't get your attention, it will make you leave. Most dogs catch on quickly and learn to keep their mouths to themselves in order to get their humans to stick around. If you also reward lots of "nice" behaviors, he learns better, more polite ways to earn your attention.
Cricket Mara
www.pawsitivedog.com
 Posted 270 days ago
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