Today, Toby is an Idiot. A Complete Idiot.

[Sandy]

For some reason, today, Toby has lost all his manners. He is acting like a stupid, untrained little puppy. He is almost 17 months old, and today, he has been running at me, jumping, barking, refusing to behave.....just awful. He hasn't acted like this for months, literally. I've had to crate him three times for misbehaviour, and that is very unusual. He was groomed yesterday....could that be it? I just cannot figure out this huge change in behaviour and attitude. I was almost in tears tonight. I just don't know what else to do today. I've crated him, tethered him to me, sent him outside, played with him, given him a bone....nothing is working. Thank goodness it's almost bedtime and tomorrow is a new day. Any suggestions for the reason behind this would be great. I just hope this is some sort of last hurrah as far as severe puppy stuff goes. Full grown, 70 pound dog acting like this is NOT okay.

[Stella]

Hey Sandy. I am 100% certain that she wouldn't medicate the dogs. I just don't think she is like that. And as you say, as soon as he (Chase) came out of the van he was completely normal. I think Toby was just having one of those days!!

[Sandy]

Yes, Toby is an F1. We try and get together for play dates with another dog at least once a week. He gets two walks a day. We play ball in the yard. We're trying. :)
The reason I don't think the groomer would medicate is because she comes right to the house. She walks him out to the grooming van, grooms him, and he comes right back in the house. He doesn't seem markedly different when he comes in, as in tired or dopey, and wants to play as soon as he's in the house. I suppose it's possible though.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would suspect Toby was given medication by the groomer. I would ask her in a non-threatening way and offer to give Toby something yourself telling her you wouldn't want him over=medicated by getting something from her and you. We used to give our Springer Spaniel a pet store herbal soother as a puppy because he could not stay still. We only had to do this until he matured enough to settle for the groomer.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

With my big dogs, they would go through jags of spring fever. I almost always stepped up the exercise and the problem was solved. Not on leash. Running, retrieving, playing hard. It sounds like you are trying . . . and being tried. My large dogs always took two trips to the park a day for retrieves, walk/play with other dogs. Is your dog an F1 so that it has alot of retriever instincts and exercise needs?

[Sandy]

Yes, Toby has been light years better today. It has to just be the bounce in his step from being groomed. Stella, you had Chase done by the same groomer. No chance she would use a sedative, I think, since she comes to the house, and gives you the dog back right away, right?

[Stella]

Hopefully you had a better day today??!! Perhaps he was feeling all free and airy after being groomed!! Chase was crazy after we had him done, he was obviously enjoying the light feeling of having a shorter coat. After spending the week up north where the snow is deeper than Chase, I am glad we got hime clipped. It would have been a nightmare coping with a wet dog with hair that long!!

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Is it possible your groomer administered a sedative. Sometimes sedatives have a rebound effect and act the opposite. If he is back to normal today, that is what I would suspect.

[Sandy]

Actually, from the sit we've usually been going to down. We've been having him hold it for upwards of five minutes, just to settle his body and mind. That DOES seem to work the best. Onwards and upwards....

[Adina P]

I dont know WHY he is acting that way, but I think it's GREAT that he'll respond to commands. Obedience training was made, in part, for times like these when you want to get control over a dog that feels like being naughty or unruly. I think sit stays and down stays (a down stay is easier to do for a longer period of time) would be better than crating so that he is forced to practice some self control. If he has a hard time with down stays, then even better to practice it then...in short bursts.
I'm SURE he'll be more settled down today =)

[Sandy]

He isn't breaking commands. In fact, the only way to settle him down is to tell him to sit, and stay, But he is honestly acting, otherwise, like a 4 month old puppy. SO strange. Almost like he is "on" something. It's a new day....maybe today will be better. When I think back to when my kids were small, I would almost say Toby was acting like he was incredibly overtired and had no way to settle himself down. Fingers crossed for a better day today.