At My Doodle Whits End..... Need Help

[Roni Wise]

Max is 6 months old and I'm at my Doodle whits end. We picked the calmest puppy in the litter and I took a breeder with me to be sure that I picked a puppy with the calmest temperment possible - I know it is in there somewhere I saw him with my own eyes.... but what I have now is Terror Puppy!!  I've had dogs before and even aggressive dogs but having a Doodle is way different - it's like nothing sinks in their head!!

He steals EVERYTHING, jumps on counters, kitchen table, people - despite knowing basic obedience commands, sit, stay, down, leave it, drop it (we've already been through puppy class).  If we are playing he can do any of these commands.  As a little pup he loved to snuggle and now he hates it and it is all my daughter wants to do with him.  He beats the snot out of my 6 year old daughter - jumps on her and when he jumps he is as tall as her, bites her hands, legs, long hair etc. So I have just started to keep him on a leash in the house to be able to correct him which has created new behaviors - he HATES the leash now and grabs and pulls and fights the leash and get very nasty with the leash and will bite my hands if I grab the leash from him when he is pulling on the leash.  He also seems to be VERY attached to me and my daughter and flips out when we leave the room - cries paces around the room and then when we come back into the room he jumps on us (more her than me he rarely jumps on me because I turn my back on him).  He seems to always be so VERY excited.

 

Are they always this excited?  I owned an agressive dominat lab before my Doodle and I trained him to be a great loving pet so I am certain I can do the same with this Doodle if I could just find what works - I just can't seem to find what works - nothings seems to sink into his head especially when he is excited he just goes wild and listens to nothing.

 

Can anyone help this new Doodle owner with some tricks that might work to get him focused?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Roni, you sound like a fantastic doodle owner - you are taking the right steps to get Max to be a wonderful part of your family!

 

Good work, it will be hard, but it will pay off IMMENSELY in the end. 

[Roni Wise]

Went right back to work at it already today and Max still is not a happy boy!  6 year old home on a snow day so what a perfect day to start using time out! Felt like I was back having a toddler again.  Every time Max bites either me or my daughter I tell him "no bite" in a firm voice an put him in his crate.  I did this all morning while we were in the kitchen for breakfast.  He must have went into his crate 20 times.  At one point I thought he was getting it b/c he picked up a bone and just laid down with it until Emma got up to leave the room and he went over and jumped on her and bit her butt - I grabbed him by the collar told him "no bite" and back to time out.  I let him back out to play and stuck to the 4 on the floor rule even when he put the toy and his front paws on my lap he got nothing this made him really mad and he grabbed my arm - a tantrum I am sure but all he got "no bite" and off to his crate and I left the room.  He his a VERY smart doodle so I know he will catch on, I also know just like a toddler his behavior will get WORSE BEFORE it gets better, what he doesn't know is that I had a dog way worse than him (my alpha aggressive lab who we lost in March 2010, thus why we got Max) who I trained until the cows came home - took me a long time to figure out what worked with him but I did and turned a corrner with him too and he was a GREAT dog in the end so I know this guy will be too - being so cute doesn't hurt either!

[F, Calla & Luca]

He is cute. Keep up the good work.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think it's really great that you are following through on your plan and staying consistent.  I'll bet Max doesn't know "what hit him".  I'd only add that because of all this "tough love" (which I completely agree is important at this point), always remember to catch him doing something really good and give lots of praise and rewards.  The point where he picked up the bone and laid down with it would have been a great time for some really positive reinforcement.  You're probably already doing this anyway.  Nice Job!!!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

He is just so darn cute!  Great looking doodle!

 

I agree with Jane - be sure to really cuddle with him and praise him when he is calm or obeys you.  Making a clear distinction between them being good = mama is happy vs. being bad = not happy helps.  You don't have to yell or anything, but a firm "no" coupled with saying "Max" in a less happy, lower toned voice will help.  I can say "Peri" in a high pitched tone and she wags her tail and knows I am happy.  I can say "Peri" in a low, slower, you did something wrong voice (again, not yelling) and she will look at me with those eyes of "I know I screwed up".

[Jenny and Chester]

I agree with everyone about a tired doodle being a good doodle and that he is vying for the Alpha spot.  Continue with your obedience and be assured that there is a splendid animal in there.

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

 

Exercise, Training and Play =)

 

Sounds like a young doodle who needs more things to do. Try to find a way to integrate him into your every day activities - take him with you wherever possible to stimulate his mind.

 

Don't think that puppy class is enough. I am still training regularly with my 3 yr old doodle. We both LOVE training.

 

Find actvities you can all enjoy. Good walks - trips to the park/ pet friendly areas.

 

Make sure he gets adequate time to burn off some energy EVERY day. Two walks a day is ideal for a doodle. As he gets older the exercise can become more demanding - cycling or running for example.

 

Don't despare - he sounds like a typical doodle to me =)

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

It sounds like you have gotten some really good advice and you have the ability to implement it and stick with it.

 

I would just add one thing.  A pain I know, but it will be worth it.  Every time he comes out of the crate on goes the leash.  Every time.  This sounds like one smart doodle and it won't be long until he will figure out to stay out of reach after he bites.  He will have created a new game!  He will be thrilled, you not so much.  The leash can just be a lightweight piece of rope with a snap on it. make it at least 10 feet long and he is never out of the crate without it.  That way you can step on it and end the chase before it begins.

Max sounds quite a bit like my Roo.  Smart, hyper, and a handful.  Be prepared for him to get a lot better fast and if you let up even a bit he will be right back at it.  He is just super smart.  Roo is 3/12 and really a good dog except for greeting people at the door.  He is very attentive, minds and comes well.  The only time he throws the switch that turns off his training is the doorbell or a knock.  We have even conquered barking at the gate.  When Roo was 6 months - I thought this would never happen.  Smart, hyper and energy - awesome combo.  Awesome dog if you stick with it.

 

You go girl

[Holly Doodle]

Good for you at cracking down on Max. Our doodle is 1 1/2 years now, but at 6 months I was tempted to return her (I would never have actually done it)!! She did everything bad that you mentioned and then some. We had her in her 2nd obedience class and it didn't seem to help at all, she was actually terrible during our class which added to the stress. Since then she has done a complete turn around, thanks to a lot of persistence and training on our part. Like everyone else said, we make her work for EVERYTHING, going in and out of doors, getting food, water, toys, before getting on the bed, before getting affection if she's excited, etc, etc.

She's also a very smart dog, and we've figured out it's going to be a lifelong process of training. I don't know if Max is the same way, but if we give her an inch, she takes a mile. For example, we have a baby gate up so she can't go down to our finished basement. For a couple of weeks we decided to leave it open and let her go up and down as she pleased. Within a few days of having more freedom, her tantrums and bad behaviors started all over again, ecspecially if she was downstairs and we made her come upstairs. We took that privilege away and she was our good dog again.

One more suggestion to add to everyone's. Have your daughter give Max commands just as you and your husband do. This will teach him to respect her more and will also teach her how to control him better. You can also teach her to play "tree" whenever he tries to jump or nip her. We taught this to all of my young neices and nephews, we have them stand still, fold their arms across their chest, and look up. When they do this Holly quickly gets bored and moves on to something else. Sorry I just wrote a book but I want you to know many of us have been there and there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Good luck and keep up the good work :).

[Cathy w/Shiloh~Cody]

I just finished the Dog Whisperer book titled "Perfect Dog" and you described exactly what happens at 6 months. The dog is entering his adolescent stage. He zooms around and does not listen, runs from you etc.

The dog thinks he knows more than you at this stage-he says it will pass.

[Bonnie and Kona]

This is not encouraging me when my pup is 4 months and behaving the same way. He doesn't bark at us, but goes on barking sprees toward his big brother. We shake a soda can with pennies in it. That at least gets his attention. sigh. Two more months before he is his worst? EEK.

[BG and Gavin]

Maybe he's an early bloomer? :)