Tasha's morning theatrics

I'm rather at a loss on how to handle this problem I have with Tasha. Tasha and Tommy have their own area to sleep in at night. In the morning when I first get up and come out of the bedroom, Tasha goes into an elaborate frantic "OMG THERE YOU ARE!!" mode... which includes jumping on me frantically, which ends up in me getting raked by her claws.

I can't get through to her when this is going on. She's crying, trembling, her whole butt wagging, her eyes wide.. she acts hysterical. I've tried scolding, with "Tasha OFF!" or saying no when she jumps. She jumps down fast but then it's like she can't control herself and leaps back up again until the next "OFF!" command.

I have tried just ignoring her for awhile when I first get up, walking right past her, not saying a word or really looking at her, until she can settle down. It often ends up in me getting claws raked down my back as I'm walking away and she jumps up. Ow! The ignoring doesn't seem to have much effect on her behavior at all.

Most recently I have been trying immediately to have her SIT when I come out of the room. She sits... for a brief moment and then begins jumping frantically and crying. I have her sit again, she sits again but it's like the floor is a hot potato, she just can't seem to contain herself.

She's the same way when I come back from being gone anywhere, whether it's for 5 minutes or 2 hours. She does not do this nearly as much with David.

I'm kind of at a loss here. She's super sensitive and very submissive with me. When it happens, she is leaping and leaping with the seeming ultimate goal of licking my mouth. It reminds me of the way wolf cubs will react when their parents come home from a hunt, crying and all. If I kneel down I'm very much in danger of getting claws swiped down my face.

These episodes are fairly short, maybe a couple minutes before she settles down. I'd really love any suggestions or insight anyone has to offer on this problem. I've had some pretty nasty bruises from her claws raking my arms and legs before.

I would continue on with the ignoring even though its not having an effect yet. Just ignore her 15 min before you leave and 15 min after you get home.

Also, I'd work on desensitizing her to your arrivals and departures by spending this weekend leaving the room frequently. Start out by leaving for just a few seconds then come right back to where she is. Try to gradually extend the time you're out of the room. Never come back in the room if she's barking, whining, digging at the door, etc.


Does she seem to get anxious when you're getting ready to leave or does all the anxiety come out only when you get home or let her out in the morning?

Is she stuck to you like glue while you are home?

I had a couple other questions and suggestions but I have to run now. I will be back soon to finish my post :)

To answer your questions, she really doesn't act anxious when I'm getting ready to head out somewhere, the only problem is when she first sees me from being gone for awhile.

I work from home so she is generally with me the majority of the time, but she's not too clingy, I'd say Tommy is much more the clingy one, but then he is just normally happy and not hysterical when I return from anywhere.

Now that you have me thinking more with your questions, I find this part odd: I can go downstairs or go outside and leave her gated upstairs with Tommy, and when I come back in or back upstairs, she's totally fine. She will wag and be happy to see me again but it won't be that panicked frantic state. She will only cry if I take Tommy with me somewhere and leave her.

So maybe it's when she doesn't know where I am? I would think she would know I'm in the bedroom though.. it's where I am every morning! I'll have to think on this some more to try to find more clues.. Odd how someone else's perspective on a situation can trigger me to think more clearly on it.

Hehe, she loves you! I can totally relate. Dusty was that way forever. And he has this earpiercing bark too. It wasn't pleasant to wake up to.

I just kept ignoring him. It never really worked. I think he just finally grew up. lol.