The amazing rolled up magazine!
By spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
United States
February 19, 2009 10:38am CST
As some of you know we got a new dog a few weeks ago. Actually, she's still a puppy...5 months old...but she's a large puppy. My small dog, who is around 3, likes her a lot and they play...and play...and play. Unfortunately, they play under my feet or on top of me if I'm sitting on the couch and they just would not stop! They won't play outside, just in the house. My grandkids were scared...my cats are still seriously ticked...and my husband was getting tired of hearing me yell "STOP"...especially since it did no good.
Out of complete frustration last night I took the magazine I had been trying to read while being knocked around by these two, rolled it up and slapped it onto the palm of my hand while telling them to "STOP". It worked! They looked at the magazine, then at me and settled down. Later on when they started up again, I only had to roll it up and they stopped. I've never hit either one of them so it amazes me that they respond like they do.
Does anyone else have a dog that listens better if you're armed with a magazine?
3 responses
@LuckyLadyD (359)
• United States
20 Feb 09
no, but I trained my cats and dog to respond to the word 'no' just by shaking a water bottle.
I used treats when they obeyed, and sprayed them in the face with water when they didn't listen. Now everyone gets along, and is well behaved.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
21 Feb 09
You're good if you trained a cat! My cats are under the impression that I was put on this earth to serve them and they more or less ignore me unless they're hungry. The dogs are doing much better now...except for when my husband caught them playing tug of war with my bathrobe the other day. *Someone* stole it off the bed while we were gone so now we make sure the bedroom doors are closed.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Hi spalladino! I think that is so funny! You didn't even have
to hit them and they were scared! How adorable and great! I
think it is a combination of the noise and the stern "no" that
they realize that you mean business! Sometimes that's all it
takes! At least you found a way to get their attention! It's
great that they are so "in love" and happy with each other!
Now they will be calming down when they just see the rolled
magazine! Hey, whatever works! I wish I could do that with my
crazed kittys! Nothing makes them stop! I can yell, scream
and I haven't found anything to get them under control! They
are 5 years old today! Please tell me how to make them behave!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Hi Opal! I hear ya about crazy kitties! When my two were younger they drove me up the wall! At 5 years old you would think they'd be tired by now but I guess they really have a good time with each other. 
@Patrika952 (156)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Its not the magazine, they are not afraid of being hit. Especially if neither of them has been hit in the past. It is simply the unexpected noise, it snapped them out of the play zone. They stopped and looked at you to try to figure out what the heck was that. There are little buzzers I guess you would call them that people can carry to ward off dog attacks that work the same way.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
21 Feb 09
It certainly did get their attention and it's still working. Actually, now that they're getting used to behaving themselves I haven't had to pick up the magazine as much and we're all a lot happier around here.
