Puppy problems

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Our 6 month goldendoodle is really putting us to the test these days. He loves to grab shoes and clothes and just chew away. He has never ruined anything, but we usually don't give him the opportunity to. When he prances in with a shoe or a pair of pants in his mouth we firmly tell him NO and take it away from him. We have tried the apple bitter spray, but that only fends him off for a couple of minutes.
Our trainer has told us numerous times not to put him in his kennel when he is bad. How else are you supposed to "punish" them? Sometimes it's just too much and he ends up in his kennel (right now for instance). Any tips and tricks on how to stop this bevaior?

We are also still very much struggling with him mouthing our hands. Almost all his teeth have fallen out so I believe the "teething" stage is pretty close to being done. He has SO many toys and various bones, however our hands are the object of his affection. Once again we tried Apple spray without much luck. We also have tried the ouch which doesn't work for him. He looks at us like we're crazy haha. We also have tried the ignore or get up and walk away method with no such luck. Are we doing something wrong or shall we just hang in there?

[Amy and Annabelle]

They do test our patience at this age, good thing they are cute. I always put Annabelle in her big cage for time outs. It never made her not like it. I don't know, maybe she is just weird. She will still go in there on her own when she is tired and wants to rest. That is why I haven't packed it away. I tried to keep clothing and anything else she wasn't supposed to have, out of sight. But sometimes things got by me. Annabelle chewed up a good leather purse once. That was the worst thing she ever did, besides putting holes in our clothes when she jumped on us. Even things I never thought about, like the rubber ring on her water bowl, she chewed up. The good news is, he will outgrow it soon and be a perfect little angel. Annabelle was a naughty puppy for the first 8 months or so. Once I got her in a training class with other dogs, she finally started to behave more. She got better with "off" when she wanted to jump on us. She eventually quit wanting to use us as chew toy.

[Sam&Bella]

That is when it starts! It ends when they are about a little over a year. We put Bella in the crate when shes bad, and she doesn't even care.(I also know that we are not supposed to do that) Its more of a time out for her. When she is really bad she goes in the bathroom. She hates it in there, but I don't know if it works or not. I am still trying to figure it out too:)

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Thank you guys so much. It just seems so repetitive day in and day out. I'm going to make a conscious effort to exercise him more. I know a tired puppy is a good puppy however it seems like me yeti never tires!

[Amy and Annabelle]

At that age, the whole tired puppy is a good puppy never really worked with Annabelle, unless she went to sleep. Usually it just wound her up more and made her worse.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Is there any way you could keep the shoes and clothes in a place where he can't get to them?  During puppy stage I was careful not to ever leave things out that my guys could take and chew....other than their "approved toys".  When a puppy finds a pair of shoes and takes it to chew it's because he has no idea that this is "wrong" or that he's being "bad".  I really don't think putting him in a crate does harm...but I also don't think it helps.  I did use the crate when they're over-excited and jumping or nipping...not as a punishment but as a chance to calm down.  I didn't use it for chewing because I don't think they're capable of relating taking the shoe and then going into their crate.  If my guys did find something they shouldn't have I would give a really firm "NO", take it away, and show them what they could have instead (a toy).  Today they would never put their mouth on anything other that their "approved" toys.  It takes time, patience, and consistency...but they really do learn.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is great advice.

[Diane and Alma]

When Alma was a puppy, we gated off certain rooms so she wouldn't get our shoes, the kids lego's, and into the laundry.  When we needed to give her a time-out, we would short leash her to a chair leg.  She is 7 and it's been years since we needed the gates or time outs.  We laugh at her now when she brings us a shoe or sock because it is her way of saying, pay attention to me.

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi, As most of you know, my beloved labradoodle, Paz, crossed the rainbow bridge on May 31; I'm getting a new labradoodle puppy on November 12, and as I look at all your comments, I can vividly recall Paz's puppy antics, which included chewing 1 shoe of every pair of shoes I owned when I forgot to close my closet door, as well as his being a very mouthy, rambunctious, although an incredibly adorable, lovable character.  In spite of all Pazzie's puppy antics, he developed into a remarkable, gentle, calm therapy dog who helped countless young victims of violent crime.  I guess what I am saying is that all these puppy antics are normal developmental milestones which are truly to be anticipated when raising a puppy.  The good news is that for the most part, labradoodles are inherently lovely dogs who respond well to consistent training that is founded in positive reinforcement. Paz's trainer, Jane Kopelman,who began training Paz when he was 4 months old, fondly recalls her first meeting with Paz which included his attempting to sit on her lap, chew her shoelaces and mouthing her hands; Jane is a certified Pet Partner's trainer and she was responsible for Paz's basic obedience and subsequent therapy dog training.  Jane says that Paz matured into one of the best therapy dogs she had ever trained, and uses his development as an example of the normal stages puppies experience as they progress towards maturity.    I already anticipate the challenges of raising a new puppy, and I am so very fortunate that Paz's trainer, Jane Kopelman, will be guiding me throughout the process, with the hopes that the new puppy can continue Paz's amazing legacy.  On this go around, however, I will try to remember to close my closet door so as to preserve my shoes.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Luckily Annabelle wasn't into shoes, but she did chew up a shoe that belonged to my granddaughters American Girl doll. So maybe she preferred the small appetizer size. She loved socks, so we really had to watch that. Now she is happy to just sniff an lay on the dirty laundry and not try to eat it. On the few times when I have left the house with her not contained, I think all she does is lay by the garage door and wait my return. I could not have done that a year ago.

[Sam&Bella]

Socks where Bella's life! That was partially our fault  since someone told us that socks where good for small puppies if you tie them together.(not true)

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Confinement to an area with "approved" toys is your best bet. We are very lucky and have a sunroom on the back of our house that have puppy gates separating it from the great room. That has become the kennel with all of their toys and crates. Only when we are in the great room or bedroom are they allowed to come into those rooms. But their room is 16 x 33 and has a doggie door leading to a huge fenced in back yard so I don't think they are underprivileged! Casey had a "thing" for remote controls. Even with us being in the same room with him, He managed to eat or or chew up at least 6 remote controls before he finally outgrew that.

[Erin]

So glad to read my pup isn't the only mischievous one around here. He will be 6 months on 9/4 and I thought he was getting better but lately he is really testing things. He chews on clothes, toys, paper, and steals food from the counter. He also loves to mouth hands. When I try and pet him or give him attention I sometimes think it's the only way he knows how to interact. It doesn't hurt, but I know it's a bad habit. We have to keep him gated off to a smaller portion of the house. I look forward to the days where he can interact peacefully with the family. Now when we are together I feel like I have to watch him like a hawk so he doesn't take something to chew.