Losing my resolve

[Diane Denney]

OMG my Doodle puppy has been so hard to handle the last few days (he's always been a challenge, but I thought I saw a light). I knew he was getting better because I wasn't constantly talking about what I was going to do almost in tears!!! I'm back to that point again. Is is normal for his behavior to go up and down? He's biting like crazy again, and testing me constantly. He's into everything. I have everything blocked off. He was biting me out in the yard again where I couldn't get control of the situation, and so I fled running yelling "NO BITE", and left him out there to stew, but I don't think that had any affect!!! He's been having separation issues as well even when we are only a few short feet away where he can see us in the living room. We ignore him as much as possible but it is so ear piercing!!! When he's quiet I give him a treat and tell him good quiet. I'm doing everything in my power (I think). I work with his training and he obeys so well for food. He's even learned drop it because every time he gets something he shouldn't I ask him to trade it for a treat and tell him to drop it. This has been a challenge and I find myself losing all resolve, and questioning myself why I got another dog, and I hate feeling that way!!!! Oh and he never stops scrapping with my older dog when I try and let him free (on a lead). I can hold on to him too well anymore as he is so much stronger than I. Thanks for letting me rant!!!

[Diane Denney]

Thanks for your help today Kendra. It is much appreciated!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It sounds like Lincoln needs more activity to tire him out. I don't know how you can accomplish that where you are, but I do understand about the getting so dirty part being difficult. I know we limit some of my dood's activities because we don't want to bathe him. Sometimes my husband and I stand in the street and call the dogs back and forth to us just so they can run hard for a while.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We did this a lot with Lucy and Sophie as well. It is a great way to practive the sit, sit/stay, and come! Make him sit, give him a come or come front, and then sit when he gets there for a treat. Up the quality of the treat to be sure you have his attention if that is a problem. Get further and further apart so he has to run further.

[Julie B.]

I agree with the posts about training... Lincoln needs to learn how to learn and to work for you! The fact that he doesn't want to retrieve is a good sign that he is not willing to work for you at the moment. The Guide dogs foundation program will immediately reject a pup that does not retrieve because it usually means they are predisposed to not wanting to work for a human. If he is food motivated, use it. I use cat treats and some doggie treats for regular training but then I use string cheese for the important lessons like recalls and stays. I would really concentrate on downs with him because he appears to be a dominant personality and the downs will help him to realize his place in your life. Also make training as fun as possible. My dog knows that after we do her CWAGS obedience stuff I am going to throw the ball for her... she really works hard for me because of that I think. Exercise is important but I really think the training time is what you have to do the most of. Set up a plan where you train for no more than 10 minutes 2x a day. Have a goal for each session whether it is to have Lincoln hold a down for 30 seconds, or to change positions from a sit to a down and back to a sit. During the day, make him work for everything you can. I assume you are making him sit to get his food? Make him down to get his food. Call him to you whenever you can in the house and treat him profusely for coming to you and sitting in front. I would guess that Lincoln is pretty smart, he bores easily and then gets into trouble. Granted he does have a high energy level which makes it tougher, but he needs a job. Teach him to work for you. I find that doing my 2 training sessions each day helps me to relieve the frustration. I am doing something proactive to make my dog a better dog... Best of luck with Lincoln--I know you can do it!

By the way, I am a member and use a lot of the training information from Dog Scouts of America. Here is the link to their training articles. The one about heeling is especially good because I have used this with my son's goldendoodle pup and it really worked.
http://www.dogscouts.org/Article_links_page.html

[Diane Denney]

Yes I've been making him sit for his food. He does retrieve, but not outside very much for some reason. I can throw his toys in the kitchen and he'll go get them, but not so much outside. I throw his Kong toy with a treat in it, and he likes to bring that back because he can't get out the small bits so every now and again I pull one out and leave it at the top of the opening. So he retrieves and hopes a treat comes out. Thank you for all of the information. I'll check out the website.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Reply by Diane Denney on November 7, 2009 at 11:26am
Thanks everybody for your advice. My dogs know the difference between off and down. Lincoln has had one class of training to learn the basics, and he is very smart and knows what they mean, but listening and doing it without a treat it more his issue right now, but we are constantly working on it. Lincoln does not have free roam of the house right now.

I guess this is where I got confused on Lincoln's training, it sounded as if he learned the basics in one class. I would check into more obedience classes for Lincoln and also work with him during the day, this will also get him out with other dogs and help teach him how to react around other dogs might help to stop the scrapping so much. If you work maybe a pet sitter could walk him and this would help to get rid of some that stored up energy, or doggy daycare which I see you stated you don't like, maybe there is another cleaner one in your area? Dog parks are great if you go early mornings not to many dogs...so they can start out slow getting use to being around different dogs, but they can come home dirty and smelly from them also. Exercise is always your best option to get rid of pent up energy. Have you considered trying doing Agility with Lincoln...this is also another way to work on training, allows him to use up that energy working out on a supervised course, and also bonds you with your dog because you are working as a team.

[Diane Denney]

Thanks for the tips. I meant one full puppy training course. I have been taking Lincoln to day care, but he comes home filthy, and he's really big and hard for me to get into the tub so it's not that I don't like it it's just that it's a lot of extra work.

[Corinna and Krimmi]

Oh Diane, I so know where you're coming from. There were many a days I was in tears because Krimmi was simply out of control, nipping, barking and just plain going ballistic. I am happy to report that the time span between these outbursts is now getting longer. yippee. Hang in there!!!! Krimmi is 13 month old and a few month back I was ready to rehome the bugger. Your biting in the yard situation, been there too, fleeing from my own dog yelling NO BITE. I have had other dogs but the doodle raising has been a totally new and different experience, much much harder than I anticipated but you'll get through it. Don't get me wrong, just this morning my 8 year old was screaming at him because he was in her room trying to get at any stuffed animal he could possibly get his mouth onto. But I guess my point is, that it has gotten ALOT better and I am confident that it will get even better as they mature.

[Diane Denney]

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone. You give me hope!!!! He is always going after my recipe books in the kitchen as they are on a rack on the bottom shelf. I blocked it off with his food container (huge plastic one), but it's on wheels so he just wheeled it away and went in and got them. I now have a chair up against the food container. My kitchen is no longer mine!!!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Totally normal. After two 6-week long obedience classes and hitting the 7-month mark, Peri is MUCH, MUCH better. We do not have those roller coaster days anymore. She still gets a wild hair, but all in all, I am not getting as frustrated anymore (maybe one time per week versus multiple times per days). I cried quite a few times the first 2 months Peri was home. Anyone that says a puppy is easy is fudging the truth or they don't remember ;). Unless they have a toy breed that is just plain easier in my opinion (my chihuahua was the easiest pup ever).

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Oh no - you mean Sherlock wouldn't like my Tacky? That's sad...:(

[Diane Denney]

I know what you mean. I cried the first couple of nights. I just can't remember Scottie (my older dog) being this difficult. I know he chewed a few pairs of shoes etc.., but wasn't as mouthy as this guy is. He is a clown really. I was so mad at him last night!!! Best to walk away when we are that frustrated, but he starts yipping so high pitched when I leave him on a time out that it's hard to regain your perspective!!! lol I know he was doing better before because I wasn't stressing about it, and then bam he went backwards. Somewhere I lost him, but I'm determined to get him back on track.