teenager!

[Pauline Rackley]

Help. Zeus has a new aghan hound brother and he is starting to drive us all crazy! We got him at 4 months of age and things went fairly well. He learned house manners and is very social to both dogs and people. He really didn't do too much chewing of forbidden things. He has been neutered. In the last few weeks he has been into everything. He chewed a hole in an area rug, destroyed a quilt, tore up the yard and has been constantly harassing Zeus to play (pulls his ears, tail etc). Zeus will growl and snap, but he just won't stop.We have literally toys and antlers all over the house for them.They also have a fenced yard accessible by a dog door so they can go out at any time. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Having had four afghans in the 70-80s, my best suggestion would be work with a trainer you trust who understands how afghans think.

Being a sight hound, if you could find a coursing group in your area it might provide some added interest and a good way to blow off some puppy steam.

One last thing...while pulling ears can be pretty common among puppies, pulling the tail is a big deal. You need to correct him immediately when he pulls Zeus' tail. If he's learned the "leave it" command, that would be a place to start. :-)

[jessica (Rufus)]

hi i am going through the same thing with my dog he is 9 months and just was fixed 3 weeks ago  its like he is going backwords people are saying giving it 2 months for there hormones to calm down i hope so cause wheww he listened  on command before the neuter so ??? i have to start all over again with training  to calm him and now that spring is comingand its a little warmer  i have been taking him on more walks for excersise they past few days good luck

[Adina P]

When puppies get into trouble it is usually a few things that need fixing:

 

1) Less freedom.  If pups can't make good decisions on their own, they can't be given the freedom to make bad ones.  This means crating, tethering, intense supervision.  He's too young to not be directed and supervised or crate when supervision is not possible.  Too young and immature to be given free reign of the yard without your being willing to accept destruction as part of the consequence to his puppyness.

 

2) More directed exercise

 

3) Training.

 

So essentially as my trainer likes to say: "Train the dog, and don't let him do that!"  There's just no magic bullet.  Some pups are perfect at first...and then learn the ropes and start to test boundaries once they feel secure.  DON'T allow him the freedom to do naughty things and start strict training immediately so that by the time he's done with his teenage phase he's a very obedient respectful dog.