Looking for a little advice from dog owners

Unless your roomate is willing to take the dog for training and really enforce the "leave it" when it comes to you, perhaps your best option would be to move.

Since I share my home with SIX german shepherds and three cats, I guess I find it really hard to understand not liking critters, and most of us would likely have that some difficulty.

The dog needs to be trained not to jump on people, lick them or lay in their laps.  It doesn't matter if you're a dog person or not.  That's rude dog behavior.  It's not really that hard to do but many dog owners are either uneducated about the need or not interested in spending the time and effort to teach a few basic doggie manners.  I assume you pay rent and are therefore entitled to some say in the living conditions so I would sit the dog owner/s down and tell them you need them to address the problem.  You might compare it to you bringing in a two year old child who was allowed to run amok to the annoyance of the others.  It's just not fair.

  I would certainly ignore the dog as much as possible and avoid talking to him.  Especially if you are saying "off Fido, I don't want you in my lap" and ineffectually pushing him off.  To dogs this is a form of interaction that many enjoy. You also might suggest that the dog get plenty of exercise and mental stimulation but I'm not sure these owners are interested in their dog's welfare any more than yours.  Good luck to you and the dog.

Oh, good point Jackie.  Just like a child ANY attention, even negative, is better than NO attention.

My advice would be to ignore it completely. Do not give it food or attention (good or bad, including eye contact). If the dog jumps up on you turn away from it with as little reaction as possible and walk away ignoring it. Try to make yourself boring to it so it won't be interested in you (no yelling, clapping, etc).

Good luck!

 I agree, that completely ignoring (inlcuding avoiding eye contact) should probably work. be aware though, that it will take some time, until you see the dog loosing interest in you.

For the record, even as a dog lover, I think it was very inconsiderate of your roommate to get a dog, dispite your feelings, and then not even making sure to have the dog leave you alone!

janetmichel3009

For the record, even as a dog lover, I think it was very inconsiderate of your roommate to get a dog, dispite your feelings, and then not even making sure to have the dog leave you alone!

I agree.

 Frankly, I can't abide it when dogs do these things, and I AM a dog person.  Perhaps you are not a dog person because you have been around too many rude dogs, and owners who don't train them properly?!

Here is the day's lesson.  Animals (that includes us btw) do what works to get them what they want.  

Let's run by that again: Dogs.  Do.  What.  Works.

So of the dog jumps on you or nudges you, lick you, tries to climb in your lap.... He is likely asking for attention.  Give him attention (by looking at him, talking to him, saying NO, shouting, pushing, etc) and he will do it again, either immediately or later, when he wants attention again. 

So, make his unwanted behaviour "not work".  Ignore the dog.  This is easier if the dog is small, or a puppy.  If the dog is large or boisterous or persistant, it may be necessary to just get up and walk away the first few times the dog comes up to you and tries to get your attention without being invited.  If you are rock-solid-consistent this will work.  It will be slower if other people in the house do not lay down the same rules but it will still work.  The dog will realise where YOUR boundaries are and learn to leave you alone.

Have a chat with the roommates.  Whatever you do, don;t get their backs up by saying "I don't like the dog", "I didn't want him", "I don't want it" or a variation on those themes

Make like you WANT to like the dog.  Say you are not normally a dog person, but this dog is pretty nice and may well just win you over.  It's not REALLY a lie - liking the dog would mean you wouldn't have to move house, which is stressful.  As long as you and the dog give each oter a bit of space, it should be hard to co-exist peacefully.

So, tell them you've been doing a bit of research and read how important it is to have house rules, and maybe everyone should agree those early on (like, ideally before the dog arrives!) so that the poor wickle Pooky doesn't get confused, or start acting up because he doesn't understand what is expected.  So, where can the dog go and where can't he go?  Is he allowed on furniture?  What sort of behaviour is going to get him ignored, (try to get EVRERYONE to agree to a four-on-the-floor rule.... NO attention, whatsoever unless all four feet are on the floor.  This makes for a polite dog who doesn't jump up at you or try to climb in your lap.)  Is the dog going to go to a training class?  Who is going to do the lion's share of the training?  Ditto walking - bored, frustrated, exuberant dog is not pleasant to live with for ANYBODY, least of all someone who is not keen on dogs to start with. 

Lastly, if any dog can win your heart and make you see dogs in a new light.... a well-bred, well trained Rottweiler is the dog that will bring you that epiphany.  You are, if only you knew it, a very lucky person. 

janetmichel3009

For the record, even as a dog lover, I think it was very inconsiderate of your roommate to get a dog, dispite your feelings, and then not even making sure to have the dog leave you alone!

I have to agree with this too.  Perhaps roomie would be open to the suggestion to take the dog to obedience classes.  Once the dog is nicely trained and isn't jumping on you anymore, you might find that he'll grow on you a little.

Joyce

General Kooblah

 First off im not a dog person in the least, don't care for the beasts, and big dogs are the worst... but my roomates decided it would be a good idea to get a rottweiler (Despite my opposition) :S soo im kinda stuck with it at the moment.

 

 im sure few of you understand my frustration, but really, i dont hate the dog, i just have no need or want for the animal to be around me. (im sure some of you feel the same way about cats, which i absolutly adore)

Hi, General...I understand where you are at.  My mom is in her 80's and has never been a dog person.  She was good with most of my dogs or fosters, but not sure what to expect when the rescued Pit came along.  Can't blame her.   When I first got him he was pretty excitable when someone came to visit.  So on her first visit (she's from out of town), I wrapped a leash around my waist and kept him with me at all times.  I then introduced them little bits at a time but not allowing him to touch her.  I allowed him to face her and sit but not to touch her and then after a few seconds, rewarded him.   Soon he got it that she was not up for play and soon I was able to let him off leash around her.  Now, after a few visits, he curls up beside her on the couch, but doesn't touch her. If you have only one roommate, this might be helpful for them to try.  You can get a long adjustable leash cheap so if your roomate is cooking or something, the dog can still lie down and relax.

As previously mentioned though, all dogs need to learn at least the basic commands and your roommate owes it to the dog, and to you, to get some daily training happening right away. At the same time if you learn the same commands at the same time as the dog, the dog won't get confused when you tell him "off" or "down" or "leave it."

EDIT:  I just realized that this is an old post but left my reply in just in case the story about my mom helps out somewhere.