Are these the "teen" years??

[Theresa & Duncan]

It's hard to believe, but our Duncan Doodle is 7 months old. We have been through a ton of phases with this guy during his short life - some were obviously worse than others. We have overcome the puppy nipping, crating drama, potty training woes and more.

Now I come to you for advice on what I hope is "typical" doodle behavior for a doodle of this age. It seems as though Duncan had finally realized how big he is, because he is getting into EVERYTHING. He jumps up to steal from all surfaces (tables, counters, mantels, etc.) he makes a beeline for the trashcan whenever he enters a room so that he can pull paper products from them and zip through the house. He doesn't really "listen" to what he is told to do.

We did basic obedience with him when he was younger, and we have recently enrolled in an intermediate "adolescent" class. I am wondering though if others have gone through similar a experience and if it was more of an "age" thing, or some tips for handling these nutty behaviors?

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Duncan looks like he is quite the curious doodle.  Welcome to the next stage in puppy to adult development.  We have the same issues with Hurley and he just turned 9 months old. He goes for the car food whenever he can make it there before we catch him.  He gets disciplined but he just looks at us with this "I can bear the pain of discipline to keep getting the cat food.  Oh, and his next phase started at 8 months old.  He found his voice and I do mean he found it.  He has quite a ferocious bark.  He barks at everyone that goes by the house and he barks at anything he sees on TV that he considers a threat to us.  He has just started barking at people walking their dogs as we drive by.   I can only suggest you continue with discipline reinforcement. Hurley has been through Phase 1 of his obedience training and will start the 2nd phase in a couple of weeks.  We continue to reinforce and don't let him think what he is doing is okay.  Duncan will get it soon enough.  Just hang in there.

[Cherri Lynn Kading]

Duncan is ADORABLE!!! Jacki (9 months) would probably do all of those things too but every since I started working with my trainer she is actually pretty good about stuff like that. There are times when she still goes a little crazy but it is getting easier to control her. How can you get mad at that precious face :)

[Shirley Ames]

My Abigail has been reading the same book, I think. She has done all of the above plus more. When a new undesirable behavior shows up I try to work with that. Right now she is back to the chewing. My family room drapes had a sheer overlay. HAD is the right word, one panel is now minus the bottom half of the overlay.

Yesterday while in the computer room,she was in the dining room, when I noticed it was quite (you know like when you have children) I went to check on her, and she had pulled the draperies down, bent the decorative rod they were hanging on 'and tore a hole in the lining. Good thing I have a sewing machine

You find new and better places to put things out of her reach. I baked a cake last week for a gathering, and I stored it in the microwave to keep it safe.

Abigail is also 9 months old, and I can see some improvement in some ways. She hated grooming with a passion, always nipping, always struggling and squirming. today she was laying by my feet, and let me brush her, without protesting, I know it will all work out some day, and until then I just keep loving that sweet little face.

[Shirley Ames]

.Theresa, Duncan is a beautiful little guy.

[Debbie]

How adorable!  We have the same problems with our 6 month old labradoodle.  He's constantly stealing food, clothing and anything else that interests him. He loves to chase the cats! He doesn't seem to get upset when reprimanded like our last dog. Everything seems to be a game.  We are starting Phase 2 of Puppy Classes soon!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Duncan is absolutely adorable.  What a darling face and so loveable I'm sure:)   Our Doodle did all of the above too and is finally learning her manners.  She is now eighteen mos., she would run with the best of them when it came to taking things off counters, tables, and beds.  We worked and worked with her and finally she came around. I think a lot of it is just growing up!   Once in a while she gets a "naughty' streak in her and she will go for something, but we look at her and say her name with a different tone of voice or we say "leave it"  and she will drop it.  

[Traz, Karen & Dale]

Duncan is adorable!  How could such a sweet pup get into mischief?  I know, Traz is adorable too and does the same thing.  I "think" we have the counter surfing (stealing food off the counter) under control now.  With the help of our trainer and the "leave it" command, we have managed to curb this behavior.  He still tries to do it (and you can see it in his big brown eyes that it is about to happen) but we anticipate and act before he does.  Along with the trainer, the product that really helped in this area was the citronella motion detector sprayer.  It is used for cats and dogs.  [We set it up when we weren't preparing our own food and made sure any food on the counter was clear of the area that would be sprayed].  You turn it on and bait it with a favorite treat (ie: milk bones) just out of the reach of your pup, but close enough they can see it.  It didn't take Traz more than a spray or 2 and he stopped counter surfing.  The beauty is the motion detector sensor goes off even when you are out of the room.  Our precious pooch thought that if we weren't in the room, all bets were off, and he'd go for it.  Wrong!  It was quite funny when he'd come running to us with the guilty look on his face that he'd been busted.  Even though we've made it past this hurdle, we are continuing our puppy training so we will be prepared for the next adventure.  The name of the game is to stay one step ahead of your pup.  Good luck :-)