Not sure how much longer I can take it.

[Scott]

I want to start by saying our tenth month old Goldendoodle Toby is an awesome dog, and our family truly does love him.  With that said he is also driving us all insane, and I feel like he is spending to much time in his crate because of his behavior.  If we let him out in the living room he eats everything but his toys, if I let him play in the backyard he gets into everything, if company comes over he jumps all over them and pees from the excitement (he almost broke my friends nose the other day when he leapt at him while holding is daughter). He knows the leave it command, and will perform it when he's not hyper.  It also seems like he is unable to calm down, if I take him for a run he comes home exhausted, but wont just lay down, it actually seems like the more exhausted he is the crazier he gets. So he has to go back into his cage.

I know a lot of people say they don't calm down till 18 months, but another 8 months of this seems like an eternity.  He has been to puppy training, and is fine on a leash outside the house.  Our problems are all within our house, and in our own backyard.  We have never had a puppy like this before, our Weimaraner was already sleeping outside his crate by now, and we only crated when we went out.  

I know this seems more like a rant than a question, but I am just hoping someone out there can offer some sort of training ideas, suggestions, advice, or share a similar story with a happy ending.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Couple questions, Scott.

* Is he neutered?

* Have you had him in for a medical workup at all?

In general, this time is the "terrible twos" for most pups. One of mine ate an entire couch at this time. If he is neutered and there are no medical issues, my best suggestion is lots and lots of exercise, daily. Maybe if you have had him to puppy training, a trainer or behaviorist who comes into the home would be helpful in showing you how to show him proper home manners. He is behaving like he's in charge in the house, and you have to be in charge. 

After a lot of running around, maybe try bringing him right in and give him a marrow bone or other high value chewing thing, if he is food motivated. I am sure others will chime in with other ideas, too.

[Scott]

Yes he was neutered a few weeks ago, and they did a work up on him before the surgery.  The Vet even prescribed sedatives to keep him from hurting himself after the surgery.  Needless to say they had little to no effect.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Since he was so recently neutered, he still has those hormones in his system and hopefully as they start to diminish, he will calm down.

How much full out running is he getting each day? After a good bit of exercise, try leaving him on the leash when you first come home and sitting with him, with that marrow bone and calmly pet and soothe him. Show him that being calm is good, too.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You need to find a good trainer and you need one now. Training can't end when puppy class does, it has to be ongoing for the life of the dog, especially a very active energetic sporting breed dog. You have to work with them every day, and you have to be consistent. That means Toby is in a "down-stay" before the guests enter the house, and he stays there until he is released. He sits before he gets food or a treat. He waits before he goes through a door or down the stairs. There is no "he knows this but he won't..." He does, period. I would start implementing the "Nothing in Life is Free" program, or a similar one, ASAP.

The wild running through the house and yard tells me he is not getting enough physical exercise or mental stimulation, too. Training helps with both of these things as well.

I would start getting trainer recommendations from my vet, groomer, or friends tomorrow, and set up an appointment ASAP. You should also join the Training group here.

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I agree with everything said here.  It sounds like Toby is running the house and you need to turn that into you are running the house and Toby!  I would also suggest if you are both working all day and Toby is crated that maybe some Daycare would help him as well.  That first year is tough.  Go join the Puppy Madness group and you will see where just about all of us had these problems at one time or another.  However, they WILL NOT just go away.  They don't just grow out of them.  Every puppy is different and that is because every home is different.  If you find a good trainer you will be amazed at how much you learn about why he is doing the things that he is doing and how you can stop them.  Our girls are now 4 y/o and we are still training!  Granted, it is much better than it was, but there are always things we can fine tune!  You can't compare Toby to your Weimaraner, they are two different dogs!  Just remember, the more you put into him the more you will get out of him!

[Wendy Bell]

Hi Scott and Toby-

Well, all replies so far are spot-on. My doodle, Sport, was and still is, high energy and maintenance- he is now 1.9 years old. When he was ten months old I thought I was going to go crazy, trying to figure out how to think one step ahead of my doodle's "too smart for you" attitude. Yes, he is easy to train and highly food motivated...so, after 3 training classes, two behaviour consultations, daily high impact aerobic exercise (including once a week doggie daycare), people and animal interactions, we finally started seeing results (he was neutered at 5 weeks). I carry highly desired treats with me whenever we go out together and reward him constantly..this really works. He gets bullysticks or rawhides to chew on in the evening for about 30 minutes-this helps with mental release, jaw stimulation and winding down for the evening. When people come over, we trained him to sit away from the door and wait- our friends do not touch, talk or look at him until he has settled. If he jumps, they turn away, and he gets no attention. Also, friends give him pieces of chicken to reward him for good inside behaviour...Sport loves this kind of attention as well. Overall, our doodle is a much happier and settled dog. We have learned that he NEEDS direction from us-clear expectations. We now get compliments on how great Sport has matured and he actually sits to be petted now. Hang in there- it really does get better with constant reinforcement and consistency. As Toby matures he will begin to understand his role in your family. A happy dog is a tired dog!

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

So far, all the advice here is good. In my opinion, the MOST IMPORTANT THING mentioned is GET TRAINING NOW. Do not wait another day or week. Call someone today who can help you. A good trainer can show you a better way to communicate with your dog, how to give him boundaries in a positive way and how to grow the dog you want to have.  Six weeks of puppy class would be a good start - just for manners, but you need to practice/reinforce training at least 10 mins, 2x/day. Remember, too, sometimes puppies can get overstimulated, just like little kids, and the harder they push, the wilder they get.

If your dog is a wild man, maybe he doesn't have focus. Not seeing your dog, I can't tell the exact problem. But you need to contact someone to help you NOW. I would say avoid a trainer who promises results using an e-collar (shock collar) or strictly aversion training (teaching the dog what NOT to do vs what TO DO). Don't try to be Cesar to get your puppy "in line." In untrained hands, this can make bad matters worse. Look for someone who uses positive reinforcement and someone you are comfortable with. A good trainer can observe you and your dog interacting for 5-10 minutes and start to identify problem areas. Being an engaged owner and working properly with your dog can turn things around faster than you can imagine. :-)

Even in the midst of all the craziness, please try to remember your dog is still a baby in the midst of adolescence. English is not his first or even second language. If we, as humans, could see ourselves through our dogs' eyes, it would help us to understand that even with the very  best of intentions, we can be sending the wrong message to our dogs. And your dog is responding to what he/she understands the message to be. A lot can get lost in translation. A good trainer can be your mirror to understanding how to get things back on track.

If you don't know where to look for a trainer, you might start by visiting www.apdt.com (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and see who might be listed in your area.

I wish you the very very best.

[Julia Bibbee]

If you can afford it, I suggest taking your pup to doggie daycare at least once a week or more in addition to training.  Finn just turned a year a couple weeks ago and he is one great dog.  If you were to asked me when he was eight mos old  right before he started going, I would have been beside myself.  He was one brat.  I wasn't a first itme dog owner.  My pup was in advance training and he could barely focus and my dog walker and I were being nipped to death because he wanted to play with us and with other dogs and he would become a punk when he couldn't. .  I started him into doggie daycare and from day one, there was a big change in him.  He became a calm dog, a star in training class and a respectful walker.  I only take Finn to doggie daycare twice a week.  Before he started going,  He was crated most of the day including when I got dress.   I just could not trust hime.   Now I rarely put him in his crate, even on days I work..  He is doing well.  (He does have a dog walker who takes him out for 30 minutes on those days.).  Having said that he still will be tempted by socks or paper, but I keep those items away from, but the point is he needed more exercise, playtime  and socializing than I could provide.  Once I took the hint, he became a really good dog.

[Scott]

Thank you all for all the excellent advice.  I guess I should have stated above that Toby went through a six week obedience class, and did extremely well.  He also attended puppy socialization every weekend for the 1st 8 weeks we had him.  We are waiting to register him for the intermediate class in the fall when it begins.  With that said Toby does not eat until I tell him to, he does not go through a door, until we tell him to, and when he is on a lead outside the house he follows every command.  We are working on commands currently when visitors enter to help him get into a routine, and the way he reacts when he is greeted by people.

The biggest thing now is just his inability to "chill out", he just cannot lay down at our feet, or anywhere else and calm down.

[Wendy Bell]

Scott and Toby-

Great news! Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress. It sounds like he is growing stronger every day, as are you and your family. One day at a time!

-Wendy and Sport

[Debbie Daniels]

I had the same thing with Miss Beasley , we did good on all other things but she wouldn't relax outside her crate , I also worked so she relaxed for 4 hours in her crate. And even on my days off she would want to go to her crate for those four hours I watched a video that taught a dog to go to it's place, so I used a mat from a baby pack and play ( Miss Bea would eat her bed ) I put the leash on her and say go to your place when she would go there I'd give her a treat the first 100 times :) now I say "Go to your place!" and that's where she stays until I'm finished eating, after me, she eats. For the first three months I fed her first and then she would drive me crazy while I tried to eat. Now it's the other way around. Also I sometimes stand in front of her food so that she knows I'm the giver of all good things and she is not my boss. Miss Bea is a VERY strong willed puppy. I wish you luck , you can tell that you love Toby. In this pic Miss Bea is waiting very relaxed, I now think she thinks of this mat the same as her crate, she also gets no toys until we are both finished, they make her to excited for her to focus. Hope you and Toby have a great day !  

[Lynette Main]

Shea is still Happy at almost three. A bundle of energy. and  I have two other Doodles to get some of that energy out of him. I think it depends on the dog. My other two are girls and very laid back. Shea ate my deck ,well not all of it ,but there were knot holes in the wood that drove him nuts and now there are just holes where he chewed them out. He doesn't chew anymore but if you lay a People Mag. down like I did ten min. ago its shredded.  I used marrow bones,they are about $8.00 but they lasted Shea,and I put peanut butter in them and out on the deck they go. These last for a long time and keep the doddles attention from chewing something else.Shea will shredd a tennis ball with in 5 mim.    GOOD  LUCK   they are wonderful dogs though.