11 Month Old Goldendoodle Questions

[Kristen]

Hi All, 

Our baby is 11 months old (almost) I have a few different questions though and don't know if I should post them all here in 1 post or on separate parts of the website. Anyways, here's what I'm wondering

1. He pulls REALLY BAD when we walk him and he chews through EVERY harness we buy for him - Suggestions on training and/or harnesses or collars?

2. He doesn't guard his food or anything, but if he gets to something he's not supposed to have he will. I'm always able to get it from him, but only by offering a treat or being "alpha" and just going right in and pulling him away from it and taking it. Again, do I continue just to swap with a treat or is there a particular type of training that would be best? (I should note: We have SIX children ages 13,11, 7, 5, 3 and 1)

3. He LOSES his mind anytime a child is on a bike or anything with wheels. How do we correct this? 

4. He is a bully when he wants attention. He absolutely drives us CRAZY because he will bring a toy and chew and chew and chew on the toy right up next to our skin - so many times he accidentally bites our skin. We push him off, but he comes right back and is also REALLY strong so the kids aren't able to push him off. How do we stop this? 

5. He jumps on every person that walks in the house including the kids that come in. He literally wraps his paws around them. It scares the kids of course. I always tell him "off" and pull him off of them, but I have no idea how to make him stop. 

Now that I'm typing this I realize most of our issues are training issues it seems. I do feel like he's beyond the typical "beginner PetSmart class" -- but maybe not? What are your thoughts on the type of training that would be good for him. He NEVER goes to the bathroom in the house and he's crate trained so all that is great. 

[Judi Christopher]

Kristen,

I have two mini golden doodles and all of this sounds familiar.  Here's what I have done....some folks might want to hang me.

1. Walking:  I use a metal choker collar. That did the trick really quickly.  They walk like well trained dogs now.  If you stop using the choker too soon they figure it out and begin to pull again.  Now I carry the metal choker in my pocket and change it if they begin to revert.

2. I have never had this problem.

3. Never had this problem either.

4. Sorry, but that's hysterical!  What a smart pup! Can't make suggestions here either.

5. Oh yeah.  I have that problem. I know what you mean by wrapping the paws around the legs.  I began kneeing them in the chest when they did that and telling friends to do the same.  Others are too easy on them and so it has taken a while.  Now when I say "DOWN" they expect a knee and they jump two feet away from me (which I am okay with). 

I took my oldest at 1 year old to a trainer and he kept him for 7 days.  He came back a much calmer and more well trained dog.  Then I got a new mini golden and the bad habits started again.  The older one is better though.  The new pup is one now and about to go for her training. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Checkout  theonlinedogtrainer.com! We have had him give a guest seminar before but its been a while. He uses gentle training techniques that really work. There is a 3 day trial period for $1.00 and that gives you full access to the website.