Free to good (or even mediocre) home: one a**hole adolescent puppy

[Bridget and Lupin]

Ok, not  really.  But man oh man Lupin is stepping on my last nerve lately.  The bratty barking, snatching pb&j's off the counter, shredding kleenex, staring at me blankly when I call her and then turning and walking away, she's even started clamping her jaws around my ankles again.  She bolts out the front door given half a chance and if it weren't for helpful neighbors I'm afraid we'd never get her back.  Does she hate it here or something?  Hard not to take that one personally.  The only time she's good is for like an hour after a walk or two-ish hours after a trip to the dog park. Brushing her is like trying to brush a crocodile, so she started to get all matted and had to be shaved....so now she looks AND acts like a neurotic poodle.  Round 2 of puppy school starts Oct 12, so hopefully that will help.  *sigh*  Thanks for listening to my rant.  Any words of encouragement would be appreciated.

[Debbie and Belle]

Belle always wants to chew on the brush while I'm trying to brush her, so the only thing that works is two brushes - one I brush her with and the other I hold and let her chew for the time I'm brushing her.  Occasionally she wants to switch and chew on the other brush, so I just switch.  It's the only way I can brush her - it's crazy but it is working.

Last night I started re-directing Belle when she starts jumping and biting clothing/skin - I immediately began commanding sit (and treating when she sits), then stay, down, etc.  It worked so far last night and this morning.  I definitely need to have treats on me at all times.

[GBK]

LOL Buddy had two brushes too just like that!  One brush to chew and one to brush his hair with :)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Add us to the list of the 2 brushes needed in order for Enzo to be brushed properly.  She chews on one...a crappy plastic one that came free in a bag of dog food one time, while I brush her.  Hey, it works!  If it ain't broke.....

[GBK]

And now it's a race to my lap when I ask who wants to get brushed first....  There is hope, they do grow out of it!

[KLN]

Great idea! I'm going to buy another brush today! I've been giving him his collar... :(. What is with our doodles and their "chewing"?!

[Carrie king]

Oh my, Lupin & my Chester should get together and go bowlin. Chester was the most insane 2 month old puppy ive ever met & hes now a slightly less insane 5 month old wildman. Hes stubborn, high strung, nippy & just generally difficult. What I would say about the running when you open the door, dont take it personally. It may just be a poodle thing, or an energetic dog thing. I dont know, but my 2 poodles did that the first 5 years of their lives & only recently have gotten better about it. Its just an energy & exploration thing.. Im at a loss to correct most of Chesters terrible habits so I dont have much advice. But I feel your pain!

[Judith and Griffin]

So it isn't just Griffin?  Sorry you are going through it too.  Griff has eaten more food off my table and countertop, zoomed otu of the house and won't "come" - just wants to play chase, tears up tissues and trash ( and kids toys, socks etc.) if he feels he is being ignored... I haven't felt very loving toward him lately! Then again, I've hardly done any training since the puppy class ended a few months ago so I know it is mostly me not "parenting" him. I guess.  He just gets exhausting.  And then he looks so darned cute later that I forgive him. Especially when he walks himself to his crate at bedtime and flops down for sleep :-)  Was very relieved to read the replies here.  And I will try to have the energy to start up the training again... 

[Dyan Brisson]

Lol ! I feel your pain . Murphy is 14 months old, and trust me , if he wasn't so damned cute he would have never have made it this far . He ignores his name totally , steals tissues right out of your pockets , has destroyed every toy and pillow in the house . Chases the cat ( who after a year of him being here still absolutely hates him ) down the street any chance he can . We also live near an airport and has to bark at every plane , car , dog , person , squirrel , leaf ...need I go on . Our lives were so pleasant a year ago . Even so , I wouldn't change one second . He makes our lives crazy fun . I just keep saying to myself " this will pass " . It will , right ? Lol . Wishing you luck .