How do you convince a 50-pound pit bull that she's not a lap dog?

[NightTrain]

As you may be aware, I recently moved in with a guy who has two cats and a dog. It's the first time in my life that I've shared a living space with critters. It's been a positive experience, but I do have one small problem.

My roommate's pooch is a 50-pound pit bull who fancies herself a lap dog. Now, don't let her breed throw you. Mystique shatters all the stereotypes about pit bulls being vicious and mean. If anything, she is *the* friendliest, most affectionate dog I've ever known! Unfortunately, that can be a problem.

Yesterday afternoon, for example, I was lying in bed with a miserable headcold, somewhere in that nether region between asleep and awake. Next thing I know, there's a big-ass weight pushing down on my abdomen, and I'm feeling warm air against my face, followed by the incessant lapping of a huge tongue! I know Mystique was just being affectionate, but I was tired and weak, and just wasn't in the mood for it. Suffice it to say, I had a hell of a time getting her off me!

So far, I've handled Mystique's zealous outbursts by simply closing the bedroom door when I need privacy. Often I'll hear her whimpering on the other side of the door, but it stops eventually.

Patrick (my roommate) warned me that Mystique is a chihuahua trapped in a pit bull's body. It didn't take long to see what he meant by that! :eyes::P

[tandot]

1. Awwww. She really likes you.

I have a chihuahua and he does the same thing. There is, of course, a 42 pound difference.

You might be able to train her not to do that, but that might take some time and effort.

[hlthe2b]

2. Wait until it's 10 degrees below out and the electricity goes out...

and you're home alone-- then you'll value a 50 pound cuddly lapdog, I can assure you!

And yes, I've known many many affectionate pitbulls. It is rarely the breed as much as the lineage, owner and training. Enjoy! Dogs are God's gift to Women (and men)....:toast:

[MuseRider]

3. Let me know

if you figure it out. I have a 95 pound lab who does the same thing. Sitting on my lap is a problem but the worst part is he has a tongue that can wrap entirely around by face. Ahhh, love the doggies. Hope you feel better soon.

[hlthe2b]

5. I made a mistake with my dearly departed Labrador..

of letting her ride on my lap on short drives as a young pup. She never realized the problem with trying to do so when she was 75 pounds and I always had to drive ready to push one arm back if she made a 'try' for it! Some of my best pics were of me sitting in one of my parents' big recliners, dwarfed by her sprawled all over my lap (and leaning back to give me a big 'ole wet kiss). Dogs can display such absolute and complete joy. It makes me smile just to think about it!

[MuseRider]

8. Ahhhhhh

I am on my 3rd Labrador. They are so painfully sweet and they would crawl inside of you if they could just to be closer. Nothing is like hugging a big Lab. I am waiting for mine to get old enough that I can do that without getting knocked to the ground. He is just 2 so it still may be a while. Ahhhh, your post made me smile and now I will go let my doggies in and try again for a little hug.

[Catshrink]

13. My sister bought a bigger bed....

There wasn't enough room for her, her husband, two cats, and Jake the 85# lab "puppy". They sent a photo of Jake on the sofa and when I looked carefully, I saw my niece's arm and leg hanging over the side. I want a dog!!!

[Ivan Zero]

18. I know THAT feeling

My brother's 100+ pound lab mix does exactly the same thing. Gets on your lap and applies a gallon of slobber to your face with his giant tongue.

I usually just block him by raising my leg and then giving him some affection, cause he's such a big affectionate lug.

[Donkeyboy75]

4. Very carefully

[tedoll78]

6. I have that same problem.

Jake, my 85-pound akita, insists on putting his big front limbs across my lap on the couch while I'm playing video games. It looks goofy to anyone who sees it, and he drools once in a while, but he's too sweet to turn-down!

Mystique sounds like a sweetheart!!!

[ProfessorGAC]

7. That's A Little Doggie!

I have a 110# yellow lab that likes to snuggle up, lay across my MS riddled legs, or on my wife's arthritic feet. (Or squeeze between the two of us on the couch.)

Big thug, and a little nancy boy all at once. I don't know how you break them of it, since they get that way if you show them affection. It's their desire to be loyal and loving back, i think.

It's just one of the byproducts of being the owner of a big dog.
The Professor

[hlthe2b]

9. That warm furry body probably feels good to sore limbs I'd bet....

I know when I had a bout of severe lower back pain some years ago, I thought I'd die with appreciation when my lab would snuggle back to back, right up next to me!

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Not On My Sore Limbs

The pain in MS isn't muscular or osteopathic. Nothing really works at all. So, having him there doesn't help.

But, i really don't mind, since i luv my doggie.
The Professor

[hlthe2b]

15. well, I guess "'misery" really does love company!

I'm sorry for your pain, but glad you have the love of your best bud....

[underpants]

10. Viagra

No on second thought that might not be a good idea..........

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. 50 Pounds? Pshaw!

Our Pyr is close to 100. And LOVES to call shotgun on the couch while I'm trying to surf DU on my laptop. It gets a little rough after awhile.

Ever heard of the "Pyr Paw?" It's a funny thing they do, kind of like "shaking" when they want more attention than they're getting. They just come up and drop this amazingly heavy paw in your lap.

You have a new buddy! You have reason to be joyful. Mystique sounds like a helluva pup!

[Karenina]

14. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!!

Get her to lie down at your feet and slide those tootsies under when you want to warm them. Good for the circulation! ;-)

[PopSixSquish]

16. Well, She Might Have Been Trying to Make You Feel Better

Animals know these things.

True story - While still in college, my ex roomed with a guy who had a ferret. One afternoon, the ex has a bad cold, takes Nyquil and goes to sleep. Roomate comes home to find my ex sound asleep in his bed with the ferret lying across his neck like a scarf also sound asleep. The roomie swore up and down that the ferret was trying to keep my ex's neck warm so that his throat wouldn't hurt.

[Kool Kitty]

17. She sounds like my son's dog.

She's a rescued pit bull and a real sweetie. But she thinks she's a lap dog, too, and she feels like she weighs a ton (she's actually about 75 pounds) when she sits on you.

[geniph]

19. Time to teach the pup what DOWN! means

and always reinforce that petting is only done when the dog is lying next to you, not ON you. I've had to reinforce that with one of my cats - she only gets pets when she lies down; otherwise, she'll just circle endlessly on your lap, which is incredibly annoying. She knows she will get petted if she lies down, so she's pretty good about settling when you tell her to LIE DOWN.

The dog won't mind reasonable boundaries, but you need to learn how to communicate them to the dog and reward the dog for staying within them.

[Logansquare]

20. She's actually demonstrating to you that she's dominate

I had a friend who married a guy with a Rottweiler, and he would sit in her lap whenever her husband left the house. She was puzzled by this "friendly" behavior until a trainer told them to make it stop ASAP. The dog was thinking, "OK, the top dog is gone, and I'm going to have to let this other dog know that I'm in charge."

[Shakespeare]

21. Yup. And here's a timely read....

Be very, very careful, Night Train. :-(

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/06/BAG0C7H3811.DTL

[Padraig18]

22. When you find out, let me know...

I have a 90# Lab-mix who does the same thing!

:P

[LWolf]

23. Here's how I did it;

I have a 50 (or so) lb aussie that would like nothing better than to spend her days in my lap.

First I taught her "sit" and "down" (laying down), and "stay." With treat/rewards. Then with just voice and stroking rewards.When she approaches me, she has to stop and sit. No eye contact, petting, talking to, or attention until she is sitting. If she wants to jump on me, I just say "sit." She sits. All done.

When I'm sitting on the furniture, I tell her to "down" and to "stay." Then I put my foot on her; she gets actual contact as long as she stays "down." If I'm in bed, I "down" her, and let my hand fall off the side of the bed to make contact when she is lying down. If she doesn't cooperate with that, she goes outside for awhile.