Slightly Depressed Doodle Mom

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Where have I gone so wrong?  I feel like a total failure at this dog training stuff.  Stuart is out of control at the moment and despite my best efforts seems to be getting worse.  I want need Stuart to not jump into the pool whenever the mood strikes him, it needs to be invitation only as he picks the absolute worst time to drive in.  He goes berserk whenever he sees another dog or a human, jumping for joy - he will be 6 months soon could this be a stage?  He has started pulling on leash.  Rooney who is so very well behaved is losing his ability to keep a down stay due to Stuart's bad example.  Rooney walks around with dripping wet ears because Stuart is constantly licking them, what is up with that?  I'm having trouble handling them both at the same time.  I hang my head in shame as I know that it is I who is the problem.  Back to the "in home" sessions with the trainer but I think I'm losing the battle.   Then to top it off - someone didn't give mom the message that they had to go out and I woke up and then stepped in diarrhea on my dining room carpet.  Granted someone was sick but still.  I used the little green machine but I am going to have to round up some help and get the carpet out from under the 300 lb table (I just had to have that marble border - insert eye roll), roll it up, try to fit it in the puppy hauler 2011, drive it 30 miles to the rug store and have it sent off to be cleaned.  I'm so glad at this point that NONE of you live near me - so that no one can see how poorly I am doing at this.  I'm usually so upbeat but I just am so down in the dumps - haven't sent in any photos for the calendar - what is my problem?   :(

[Jo and Beamer]

Beamer is going through a rough time now also. Barking, tugging on the leash and just not paying any attention. I think they are going through the teenage stage I hope.

[Dori & Rua]

Crap...I had a comment posted, was adding a picture and the whole thing went away.  To make it short...you are a wonderful Doodle mom!  Don't sweat it...it will work out.

[Adina P]

Jane you are a perfectly good doodle mom.  Don't let yourself believe you are anything but that.  You're having a hard time right now because Stuart IS young and is at that fabulous testing stage as everyone else has said.  That said just about all of us here need the help of a trainer so that we are good TRAINERS for our dogs even if we aren't bad dog owners. Because training does NOT just come naturally to most of us.

 

I don't think that Stuart's example is influencing Rooney, dogs don't get trained or untrained by other dogs.  However, with you feeling harried and frazzled and overwhelmed by the demands of two dogs, it is possible that you just haven't been able to be as consistent with Rooney and he's learning he can get away with NOT obeying or holding his stays. After all dogs aren't just robots that you program and then are 'perfect' forever. 

 

I think with the guidance of your trainer and some individual training time with each dog (as well as some Rooney + Stuart exercises) and your consistent attention to their training needs, they will do fine and you'll get past this overwhelming stage.  Hang in there! 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Jane, I can't believe I am reading these words. How can you say these things about yourself? You are an awesome doodle mom! You go above and beyond for your guys! Everyone has low moments when they get the blahs, but you have to just dust yourself off. You have two young dogs so of course it is a handful. It sounds to me like you are doing an amazing job with your guys. Have patience with yourself.

What a pain about the rug. I would be totally frustrated too. Winston peed on the kitchen matt his first night, and Sophie threw up on an old rug when she got into some of Winston's food. Lucky for me I could just throw them out since they were old and needed to go anyway. I really hope they don't ruin my nice new area rug for the living room.

I hope you are feeling better today!

[Doris]

Sorry about the poop in your dining room.  Bodi threw up in our bed (right between our pillows) at 2am.  My mess is easier to clean up, but I do feel your pain!! 

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Giggle - O.K. Shelly - big girl panities are on - and thanks EVERYONE - today is a new day and so far so good as I have not stuck my bare foot into runny poop - lol.  Thanks for the wise advise and encouragement!!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

@ Nancy - your are so right - Stuart is normal - it was Rooney who came to us almost trained and made it look too easy.  Stuart is going to be a BIG boy compared to Rooney and I just need him to behave, mostly for right now I'd settle for no jumping.

@ Linda - part of my promblem is that until the weekend - I'm left to handle it alone - dh is only here on weekends.  I will work more on training seperately.

[Kate]

Oh Jane...hugs to you. I have never had two dogs at the same time before. But I can tell you about a friend of mine who rescued two puppies from Shelter from the Storm a couple of months ago. Different breeds, different ages, different everything. What she has been doing is training them separately since the older one knows way more than the younger one. This seems to help a ton - just simply separating them when she is working on training with the younger one especially. She will even take the younger one on a walk and work with her alone while her hubby takes the older one for a walk. You may have already tried this, but just a thought... :-)

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Jane

I just want to mention the "licking Rooney's ear" for now as I am trying to clean up a spot in my own dining room......(new foster....girlfriends over.........wine......:O)  Last summer my Jake had a major ear surgery with strict instructions on after ear care......fast forward....we babysat a friends dog that same week and all she seemed to do was lick my dogs ear and thankfully Jake's ear turned out fine.....it is something some dogs do but it was a rough week for me! :o)  All I can say is "this to shall pass" and it will.......until the next hurdle comes along.  Life is too short to not have a dog(s) around!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I wanted to drown Webber in the pool when he was six months old!  He is a good boy now.  Somehow you have to live through the teenage years.  I found time out in the crate helped me with my frustration.  You can do this!  Take a deep breath and figure out if you need to call the trainer.  I am trying to train my youngest and re-enforce the oldest's training by making them both do the same obedience things at the same time.  I wish I could do it without saying things more than once, or raising my voice! It takes time and persistence and gets so much easier when they turn 2 years old.