Acts up when I'm on phone

 Is it just you on the phone or is it the ringing? Sounds like he wants your full attention at all times. Do you do NILIF with him?

 Sounds to me like your big baby is spoiled!!    Acting like you're on the phone, i.e., talking on the phone with no one else on the other end seems like the perfect plan to correct him!  Great idea!  Good Luck!

Gibby does that too and its definately because he is spoiled. He does it when someone comes in and I am talking to them too. OR when talking to DH.  I have not been good about NILF with him....and will start right away. He didnt' do all these things except once in a great while....now I can see what I have created....THAT will change.

Good luck to you....start NOW!

 Sophie used to act up all the time when she was a puppy.  Now that she is almost 3 years old, she has calmed down a lot!  I never did NILF with her, she just learned what was expected over time.  But she is also only 4 lbs., so she's easy to just move, so maybe it's different when you have a really big dog!  But I believe some of their behavior is just puppy playfulness that they will grow out of as they get older.  Also, make sure they get plenty of exercise!! 

Me thinks it has become a game to him, and one he is winning. I would not encourage it anymore. Kord gets like that when I pet one of the cats.

This is such typical "kid" stuff.  My sons did it too when they were little.  Oh yeah, the dogs have too.  You quite literally have to completely ignore him when he does this, since like a human child they are more than willing to take whatever attention they can get, be it good or bad.  Try flat out leaving the room, putting a closed door between you and him.

Try teaching an alternate behavior for when you are on the phone.  Practice when you aren't really talking.  I never hesitate to correct behavior when it needs correcting, if I'm talking to someone, I just say "sorry, had to tell the dog to sit or down or quiet or whatever".  Dogs learn pretty quickly that if you are distracted you won't require good behavior. 

glenmar

Try flat out leaving the room, putting a closed door between you and him.

This is the way that I've dealt with my dogs acting up when I'm on the phone.  If it's happening in a room where their crate is, then I send them to their crate, & then leave.

 Am I the only crazy that will stop the conversation to yell at the dogs? LOL

 Yeah, I stop what I'm doing, and send them away. Kennel, kennel, kennel, good dogs is generally enough to cease all the madness. Three dogs, in crates, and they know better than to act insane in crates, because that just gets them left til they're calm.

jennie_c_d

 Am I the only crazy that will stop the conversation to yell at the dogs? LOL

I rarely yell, but I will stop a conversation to get things under control.  DH swears that it is the dirty look that I shoot at the dogs that stops their behavior. 

 LOL, I have a look of death, too. And I really don't yell at them, unless they're in serious danger of bodily harm. I just speak sternly, and tell them all to go to their kennels before they end up in even MORE trouble

Beejou

and then I make a call or get a call. He gets up, whines, jumps on me, mouths, pulls my ponytail, etc.

So what happened with this?:

Beejou

He's completely stopped when I put a lead on him

Nope..your not the only one......I HAVE to yell first before doing anything else that makes sense!!!