Struggling a bit..

[Carrie king]

Let me start by saying I feel bad even typing this.  Our Chester (3 month old mini goldendoodle) is just a baby and I know it can take a great deal of time to see the dog that he will be emerge.  I just need some encouragement at this point as I am having a hard time connecting with him because of what i see as aggressive tendencies.

Chester has his sweet side.  He can be very sweet, and loving.  But just as often he can launch at your face, scratch, bite and destroy everything in his path.  We recently had a get together over here and no less than 4 people went home with injuries :( I had been convinced that this was an energy thing.  As a result, Chester gets 3 walks a day, 2 30 min play sessions and sometimes more.  I am home all day with him.  I have noticed that none of this makes the situation better, in fact, many times it makes it worse. ie. I take him for a walk and when we get back he becomes the tazmanian devil :)   A situation that often happens is when I let him out to do his business.  He will go and then immediately afterward proceed to tear up our yard.  Digging is his number 1 obsession!  Im not so much worried about our yard, but worried about the behavior.  I do not want him tearing up other peoples yards when we take him out to my parents or friends houses. I am not sure what to do in this instance because if I attempt to remove him from the area he is digging he immediately goes into rabid mode (thats what i call it :).  He bites and scratches and does anything he can to get away.  He does remind me of a wild animal that has been caught, just completely crazed. If i put him on the leash he goes even more crazy and im afraid he will get hurt since he pulls and rolls and freaks out so much. He also loves to pick on my more submissive little toy poodle, though I have seen a little improvement there.  When he is in "rabid mode" I usually give him a time out.  2 minutes or just long enough to settle.  This works really well, sort of like a reset button for his mind, but getting him to time out is usually a very dramatic battle.  I am not sure what do when he is like this. I try to be very calm, but I cant help but get upset by it.  Everyday I know it will happen, and I dread it. Ive never seen this in any of my other dogs..  And this is where I feel bad, because I know he is so young...but it just make me worry that he is going to be aggressive and out of control.. It also makes me feel like I am a terrible doodle parent. 

I have signed up for puppy class with starts next week.  I am hopeful this will help with the socialization part at least...Anyone else been through this with their doodle?  Any suggestions about how to approach him in "rabid mode"?

[Kandy Kunzman]

we had a large golden doodle that had a lot of energy. I took her too class at 7 months. the instructor made me buy a head harness. sound scarier than what it was. went around back of head and on top of nose.. hooked it on a leash. she fought it a little but never pulled again when walking. instructor also told us to use it if she was naughty in the house. just gave a little tug , she would quit. just gets tight over the bridge if the nose. it called her down, also

[April S.]

My puppy goes a bit crazy when people come over - jumping and running around - we grab her collar, tell her "watch me" to change her focus and then "down" and she immediately goes into a submissive position on the floor.  She learned this at puppy school.  My husband and I always say she's full of "teeth and claw" she doesn't realize how big she is.... My puppy hasn't done what you are describing... what has the vet said about this behavior?   Is your dog aggressive to other dogs?  We started taking Luna to "puppy play time" at Petco a few times a week from the first few weeks we had her- this helped a lot with socialization and it was free.  We also do doggie daycare one day at a week for the socialization aspect... she also comes home completely exhausted which we love....   I'm sorry you are going through this - it sounds very stressful.   Is it possible that there is some health issue going on - vision issues - or hearing problems?  Sounds like your puppy doesn't seem aware of whats happening... I hope you find some relief soon... 

[Carrie king]

I wouldnt say he is "aggressive" towards my other dogs, to me it just seems like rough play and my other two want nothing to do with it.  He does try to mount our submissive male from time to time..usually starts a fight. But our chief (8 yr old toy poodle) Daisy backs him down.

[Erin & Maizey]

First of all - chester is adorable. Second of all - i direct you to my very distressed posting last year -http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/aggress...

All of the stuff you're going through is exactly what I went through with maizey.   Maizey is now 1 year 8 months and is now the sweetest, nicest, cuddly, laidback doodle.  Exactly what I was hoping she would become, but I was extremely doubtful it would happen.  The responses to me were to hang in there and that's what I'll tell you - hang in in there - it really does get better.  This is just a really awful phase.  You're not a terrible doodle parent - we all went through this.  I discovered that sometimes when she went in to crazy zoomy rabid mode it was because she was super exhausted.  The nipping and biting thing is just a phase (a very destructive painful phase - i still haven't fixed the kick molding maizey chewed on).  The class will help with the learning to walk on a leash and being more attentive as well as learning to play with dogs vs learning to play with humans.

[Carrie king]

Thx! He is too cute, just a ball of fluff right now:)  Also thx for the encouragement.  I have definetely noticed he does this when he is tired too... Many times right before bed.  Im glad to hear that it may just be a phase.  I am so hopeful he will move on from this and become the dog I know he can be!  

[Julie and Charlie]

It's the puppy phase. Charlie did this too, it drove me absolutely nuts! 

If you can't catch him or he won't come, he needs to wear a leash, all the time. Some of it you can train, others he will grow out of.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

First off, you are NOT a terrible parent. The fact that you're on here proves it. We get this situation a lot here. Almost always it's not actually aggression but the result of a high energy puppy and owners that haven't leaned to communicate with him properly and provide the right kind of emotional and psychological energy. If that is the case the solution will be different than with an aggressive dog - and frankly easier, because its all within your control. I'd have to see it to know for sure what is going on, though. Are you able to post a video of some of this bad behavior. Sorry for any typos - using iPhone.

[Carrie king]

I will try to get some video of it...Im sure it will happen again tonight as he usually goes "rabid" at night at least once.. 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Please do ... I'm headed to the store now so I will pick up some popcorn.  JK.  Seriously though, I have an 11 month old girl that is very dominant and high energy - a "hard" dog in the true sense of the word.  I had never had such a hard dog before and it took me awhile to get the hang of it.  But now that I have, it's great, I wouldn't have it any other way.  So much easier and more fun to work with her and teach her new things.  I understand now why they look for dogs like that for the movies, military, etc.

I really don't think this is aggression, I would bet you just have a very dominant and high energy little guy on your hands.  But I was worried that you said he hurt people?  How did that happen?

In any case don't worry, there are are lot of really great people one here, we are all in this together to learn from each other's experiences and we will get it under control.

[Carrie king]

Im sure they were all accidental injuries..because his teeth & claws are like razors at this age. He doesnt have any manners yet, but people think because he is cute & fluffy he wont launch at their face!

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Okay, that's good - that's pretty much what I thought but glad to hear it.  Little guy was just being a puppy sounds like.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Also keep in mind that as inconvenient as it is for us, nipping is a very good thing in a puppy that age.  That's how they learn bite inhibition - and as they say puppies that nip don't often grow into dogs that bite.  It's inherent in retrievers because it's how they develop the soft mouth that lets them carry birds overland without damaging them.  One time when Lola was about 6 months I was unpacking dishes.  She actually got two raw eggs out of the carton and took them into the bedroom.  Then she pulled all the pillows off the bed, made a little nest and put the eggs on there.  True story - there is a picture of it on here somewhere.