Adolescent Mischief

[Traz, Karen & Dale]

Traz is 7 1/2 months old and getting into more mischief than ever.  There are days when he goes after things; shoes, trinkets on the shelves, extension cords, etc. that he never bothered before.  Lots of "No" and "Leave It" are being used when he is in these moods.  There are days when I wonder "Training, what training?".  We are starting into Advanced Training with hopes of testing for his CGC Certificate.  Will he pass the test?  I don't know.  We are having to supervise him more than ever now when he is not in the same room as one of us.  I tell Traz that I am "saving him from himself".  I have been told he is a teenager now.  Any helpful hints as we venture in to the Teen Months?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It sounds like Traz could maybe use some extra exercise to burn off some of that crazy teenage energy. A tired doodle is a good doodle, lol.

[Traz, Karen & Dale]

Thanks, Karen.  Hopefully the weather stays nice for a little while so we can go back to the dog parks.  Traz's recall is not good right now, so he can only be off lease in a enclosed area.  We were going to put him in a doggy daycare, but ran into a snag because he is not neutered (due to being part of a breeding program).  That would have been our saving grace.  We'll think of something.  Thank you for your suggestion :-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I have to agree, it sounds like he could use some more exercise.  The only time either of my girls ever chewed anything was when they had missed outdoor exercise time because of rain or snow or something!  By exercise I mean he needs some off leash, run and go crazy time, not just a walk or two each day. 

[Traz, Karen & Dale]

It's been raining a lot here so we haven't been going to the dog parks which really tires him out.  We have been doing the rain walks because he really drives us crazy if we don't get out.  He likes the water.  Thanks for your suggestion.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Karen, We don't take our guys to the dog park any more. We go to a fenced park early in the morning... not when there are hordes of dogs in a small enclosed area which is how our local dog park works. It's in a baseball diamond. We pretty much have the park to ourselves and one or two dedicated runners. It has been pouring rain here, too. We take them out if it is raining but not pouring.

People have suggested fetch running up and down the stairs or hide and seek in the house. When it gets too bad even taking the dogs for a ride in the car gives them something to occupy their minds and helps. I have big treat balls that I use to feed them if they haven't had a run. That keeps them occupied and forces them to work for their food so uses brain power, too.

[Donna Ross]

Have you read the book Water Dog by Richard Wolters? We read it when training the lab. It has great insight to the developmental years-teenager mischief-great recommendations for dealing with it. Your doodle may not be a swimmer, but the info in the first half of the book pertains to all dogs and their developmental growth and acting out. Highly Recommend It!!!

[Traz, Karen & Dale]

Thanks, Donna.  I'll get that book.  Sounds like a good one :-)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Donna! I've had that book for at least 20 years and loved it! Maybe 30 years! It's so simple and easy to follow. 

[Donna Ross]

I love it too!!! :-)

[Bonnie and Kona]

I agree with Karen and L&S's mom. Our Owen is a dog that must be off-leash and running his legs off part of each day or he gets into trouble. If you can find a park where he can run or as others have suggested usually school yards are fully fenced, tennis courts, etc. We run the dogs at 6:15 am. If Traz will fetch that is a great tool to get him to run hard to get the ball and back again. Owen happens to be squirrel obsessed and we have a fenced park where there are plenty of squirrels to keep him going. Good luck! Karen is right, a tired doodle is a good doodle. (BTW Owen passed his CGC before he was a year old and he is the most "challenging" dog we have ever owned. sigh)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with everyone.....it sounds like he needs more physical and mental exercise.  I would do training drills a couple of times a day for the mental challenge.  When the weather is bad we use a treadmill for Murph.....I don't know what we'd do without it.  He has a huge need for full out running exercise and there are many days when that's just not possible outside.

[DJ & Chance]

Chance in only 5 months old, but he is already exhibiting similar behavior.  I've notice this happens when he is bored or has not had a good run or some other form of vigorous exercise.  So I've been intentionally focusing on getting the little guy totally exhausted through exercise during the early part of the day.  With heavy rain for the last week, I've converted an indoor hallway to a puppy run (no-skid runner over tile, all breakable object removed, etc.) with some success.  Chance gets his exercise and I don't get totally soaked!

I've also had some success in forestalling boredom by rotating his toys.  A toy he hasn't seen for 3-4 days suddenly seems new and exciting!