Stella "hell on wheels"

[Jodi and Stella]

We have only had Stella home for 4 days (she's 9 weeks) and I am already at my wits end. She is very spirited and strong willed. Already showing alpha behavior. Where do I begin? She's very nippy when playing and gets mad and bites more when corrected. She goes crazy when in her crate. I could go on, I know it's still early, but it is frustrating. Our wonderful passed English Lab was sooo mellow and easy from the start. Any advice or words of encouragement?

[Jodi and Stella]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Leslie! I too am reading my puppy "owners manual" over for reassurance. I know I just have to stay on top of her, she is testing her limits for sure. I think sometimes her intellegence makes it tougher. She can be so sweet sometimes and is so funny, it will be worth it I know.

[Candy & Hudson]

I can so relate to all of this!!! We have had Hudson home for 3 weeks now and despite all my reading (on DK and otherwise) and research I feel totally overwhelmed at times! It was reassuring to hear all of your stories and tips, we just need to keep up what we are doing. At times I can definately see the sweet boy he will be; when he is tired he is definately a cuddler! It also makes it hard not being able to go for walks yet. He was chosen for us by our breeder and was said to be very 'calm and submissive'.... I'm thinking, those poor people who got 'energetic dominant' dogs!! haha
Anyways, thanks for the burst of confidence!! :)

[Jodi and Stella]

Candy our breeder suggested Stella for us also, she had two other girls who she said were more dominant. Those pups must be out of control, yeah, same thing, poor people! I love Stella best too when she is tired (or asleep lol)

[Laura Deutsch]

this is really funny, as we had asked for a calm one too. We were and are interested in training Molly to be a therapy dog. Our breeder also said she was calm. Oh well.....I guesss they change alot as they get older!!!!??????????? My sister, who is not a dog person, told me before we got her, that everything she read said that the breed was very hyper and challenging and I thought...oh, our breeder knows what she's talking about and we are experienced with dogs......well, yeah, but....actually, in many ways, she's getting easier, although at just 5 months tomorrow, she's showing signs of puppy adolescence a bit early!!! We need some down time!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri is much much calmer and is just over 1 1/2. It is amazing. Now if she gets a zoomie, we love it. Reminds us of true puppyhood. And BTW she was anything BUT calm when she came home. I would have called her hell on wheels any day.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

That's how Lucca is. He'll be 2 on Sunday. He gets "puppy-ish" when he is at the dog park and playing with a puppy. Still gets the "zoomies" but not 2x a day like he used to. He is an absolutely wonderful dog now. Believe me, when he was a pup, it was pretty questionable. I remember one rainy Sunday and we couldn't go anywhere, my husband was working and when he came home I was in tears and handed Lucca to him and said, "you wanted him, take him" Wah!!!!! He was around 4 months at that point. Once the shots are done and puppy classes begin you will all notice a change. They just want to play, play, play. At this point they don't know they are being bad. Remember, they may show intelligence at an early age but they don't remember yet what is right and wrong. Long term memory doesn't exist yet:)

[Hunter and Daisy's Doodle Mom]

I literally had a melt down on our 5th day. They were at 10 weeks old and I thought I was going to loose my mind. They were both so active and nippy and wanting to play ALL DAY LONG and when it was bed time they were all about playing some more. I didn't remember going through all we went through with these two as we did with our previous litter mates...of course they were puppies 14 years ago :-) I can't remember much of anything from that far back! I can tell you that it has calmed down now, a year later :-) They are still very much active and wanting to run and play, but the "mouthing" has decreased dramatically from Hunter. Daisy was a nipper, but she stopped that at about 4 months. He still mouths a lot of things though...like socks, underwear, pinecones, his ball, etc. I think that is the retriever in him. That's in a GR's nature to go get game and they are known to be able to carry an egg in their mouths without breaking it. So, if he does mouth me, I just tell him no and he stops and kisses my hand or arm :-) It'll get better, this is just the tough part! :-)