Doggy teen years perhaps - I am going slowly crazy.....

[Sandy]

Toby has recovered completely from his neutering, and is now driving me nuts. He is just shy of seven months old. He's big (50 pounds) so when he's naughty, it makes life difficult. He just pesters, and pesters, and pesters. Jumps at me, darts around, spills food and water (seems to be on purpose), etc. He gets PLENTY of walks, and does not like to play ball. I don't think it's pent up energy, but he is driving me batty. Will this pass? We are heading back to obedience school in two weeks, and I'm hoping the timing is exactly on for fixing this insane behaviour. Grrrr. (that was me, not Toby....)

[Sandy]

I know - I love my idea. :) But....I can't find anything around here, and I'm not sure I have the business acumen to open one myself. I do think it would be a highly profitable thing to do, and Toby would be good and tired!

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Dexter was a very naughty doodle from about 9 to 13 months. I think they go through an adolescent phase. We just did a lot of correcting, time outs, etc.

I know this won't help you, but he did get a lot better once we adopted Kirby so I think all the added stimulation/exercise helped too.

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

Just relax Sandy. It will pass! It will still take some time until the hormons are out of his body and of course he has still a lot of energy from not being able to play as usual during his recovery. My Benny was exactly the same after he got neutered and after a few weeks he settled down. Also you should be aware that you are going through puberty now with Toby and it happens that they forget everything that they have learned so far. We had a hard time with Benny's puberty as well but if you stay patient and consequent everything will work out. Benny is now turning 10 months next week and finally he is calming down.
I can feel with you but you will get your "old" Toby back after a while.
Good luck!

[Sam]

Hi Sandy! We have started back at obedience class (we have had two classes now - three to go) and I must say Ollie has been much better. I think it reminds you that you have to keep on top of your training..... This lady we have now is so relaxed and seems to want to train a good family pet rather than a show dog which is much better for us.
I have to agree with the others that exercise is our big thing. If we take him our for a walk or run in the evening we have a great night - if he walks in the morning its not quite the same. I would love to take Ollie to dog parks but I am really worried that he will run off and not come back so we have avoided them for a month or so now. We have had a couple of times where he has just bolted off and its made me very nervous....... We have started taking him to the oval and he has a very long piece of rope attached to him so we can still practice fetch and come and he gets a bit of a run. He is certainly much better.
He is almost 8 months now. If we could sort out the çome'and not jumping up on people he would be a super dog!!!!!!!
Good luck - and remember you're not alone - I'm in Australia probably yelling out the same things as you....lol.....

[Sandy]

We are heading back to obedience training on the 20th. I'm hoping this gets us over the rough patch. If you hear a loud noise down in Australia, it may be me losing my mind. :)

We actually walk Toby in the morning, usually sometime in the mid day, and then in the evening again. So it's definitely not a lack of walks that is causing the energy outbursts......

[Gail & Max]

I believe it was during this period we gave Max the name of Maxbastard! Exercise was a huge thing in helping this behaviour. Try using a flashlight or a laser pointer and see how he likes chasing the light. We also put Max in daycare this past Saturday and boy was he EXHAUSTED when he came home. 6 1/2 hours for $20.00, best money I've spent on him!