Crazy in the evening!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Gracie is not a calm sweet puppy. But, she is a very energetic ball of fur with teeth. Even though we would like her to be a lap pup - she's just not into that! We have really upped our own energy levels to keep up with her. When I say we, I mean me. I'm home with her all day and we work on training and manners continuously. I've come to the realization that this is who Gracie is. She has settled nicely into the schedule we have.
During the day she sleeps, eats, takes daily walks (10-15 min x 3), annoys her big brother, and trains with mom. After her 4 pm meal, she is a different puppy! Usually we have to crate her to get supper prepared and so that we can eat w/o worrying what she is doing. Afterwards, she goes out and comes back in a wild Tasmanian Devil (we are even considering changing her name!)

I feel bad for my husband and son (who is a young adult) that they don't get to see her at her best. I cannot do any training either in the evening because of how high strung she gets - when she becomes an alligator and will not stop biting no matter what. We've tried all sorts of things even letting her chew on us as long as it is not hurtful, but sometimes she just isn't calm enough to trust her to be nice.

She terrorizes Barkley more in the evening and he will give in and play with her a bit until he tires of her. Then he even becomes more agitated at her.
My husband would like to be able to interact with her, but she's so wound that it's no fun for anyone. We do a lot of treat trainig. (Using her dog food) and she's expecting treats because she seems to lunge towards my hand if I ask her to do something.

The evening is when we just want to wind down - but she is winding up! We would like to be able to spend a little time with her in the evenings without being attacked by a furry alligator Tazmanian Devil hybrid. ;)

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thank you for the suggestions. My Barkley gives me the look too!

My husband works from home most days and my son is older so basically he walks by and gnomes her until he's ready. Kind of like how he treats me when he comes home. ;) Teenagers! Ha.

Barkley is a schnoodle and was very excitable as a pup. He still has fun energy. It was really cute. Yeah. Lol but, now everyone calls him a dumb dog because he does the same thing he did when he was little. I've told them he feeds off of their energy - it's a good thing he's only 14.5 lbs. If only I had the time then and knew what I know now. Sigh. Anyway, I'm going to train my guests when they come over because who wants a 70lb dog jumping on them because they can't keep calm? Boy can she jump! I'm nipping that as well. But, I want her to do it for fun so might try some agility stuff once the weather warms up.

[Jamie and Jinx]

This  sounds exactly like my puppy!! We had all of the same issues and we don't have a fenced in backyard either so taking him out to run exists on a retractable long leash (which he loves).  Taking Gracie on walks 3 times a day is a great commitment and it sounds like you are honestly trying your hardest to get that energy out and it does get really difficult in the winter because it is freezing out or icy.  

Honestly I remember being so frustrated in the evenings because I was so tired myself and here came Jinx energized and ready to play/ bite! We waited till he was 6 months to put him in Obedience classes and honestly I think we should have gone a little sooner because it really did make a large difference! When he gets really crazy at night we start with commands and drills and he will listen (for the most part).  He still is a bit crazy but not as much. (I don't know if it's an age thing or a training thing) Jinx right now is 8 months old and he still gets a little crazy before bedtime.  It's almost like a toddler fighting his sleep! If he gets too crazy I have been isolating him in one room for 15-20 mins and he normally lays down and then he is tired for the night!

Basically my message to you is that it gets better! I remember coming on here when he was 16 weeks old thinking what am I doing wrong!! And then loving it when I saw I wasn't alone! But my advise is Obedience Training classes (whenever she is old enough) are a must and keep up the dedication to getting all that energy out!! (Once Jinx learned the command Heal at Obedience walks became a lot of fun instead of a constant struggle!) 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thank you. I'm definitely going to take her to obedience classes. I've been working with her, but I think a professional would polish it up for us.

I've got a 30' lead coming that will allow her some playtime outdoors. So, I can't wait to use it! Even if she is loose I'm sure I can catch the tail end of that lead. Of course I will also be working with her come, sit, stay commands too.

My husband got a chance to walk her this afternoon because I wasn't home and he said she did really well until a certain point. It's really good to hear that she can do things w/o me. :)

[Laura and Angus]

I agree with what everyone said here...Angus was Gracie at 3.5 months - we used to refer to him as a furry land shark.  Angus is 6 months and has by no means calmed down, but getting time to "run" was the main suggestion from everyone about high energy breeds. Not just take long walks, but really run around to get the "zoomies" out. I completed feel your pain since I am always home first I got to deal with all the puppy crazies from 5-7pm and my boyfriend gets home and Angus immediately passes out! No fair. But if you go back and search through past posts on this site and say "zoomies" or "puppy crazies" you'll get a bajillion responses about puppies just like Gracie. There's a reason they called this group "Puppy Madness" haha. But seriously, you're not alone. Just hang in there! And get a place for Gracie to run run run her energy out. The dog park was a life saver for us. When Angus gets to wrestle around with his fave puppy friend, Frances, for a half hour he is exhausted when he gets home.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Will do. Thanks.
I don't mind the zoomies as much as I mind the fang attacks. ;)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned got the zoomies more in the evenings than during the day, but not exclusively.  We really enjoyed watching him.  He would race outside, jump in the sprinklers, race back inside, do vertical leaps onto and off of furniture.  They began and ended without any warning.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Awe. That sounds pretty fun to watch. The zoomies don't bother me as much as the "attacks" do. Ha.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

So, today I took Gracie and Barkley outside at the same time. I decided to hold onto Barkley's leash and drop Gracie's. Hoping she would do what I thought and chase after Barkley and me. She did! We were in the backyard so pretty safe for all of us.
Before when I would try to play with her it didn't turn out good because she was on the leash and then would jump and bite me. So, we would have to stop. But, with me running Barkley or just letting him do circles around me, she could chase him. I was exhausted! Lol
Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions!

[Laura and Angus]

Yayyyy! Great idea :)

[Mary Hall]

Wow...she sounds like our Cowboy. He's 6 months old now and so much better than the little monster he was, but I can honestly tell you that I was sooo very close to sending him packing. Seriously, I was ready to give him back to the breeder, and that made me feel horrible; but he was a difficult puppy to love.

We used lots of "Times out" in the evenings when he was at his worst, and it seemed to help. He would come out of his crate in a much more calm state. Eventually, as he got older, the behaviour improved. He hasn't "arrived" totally yet, but almost...And, I no longer want to give him back. So, hang in there. :-)

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

What a sweet looking boy he is!
Weird enough since I wrote this Gracie has been a little milder these last two days. Still biting, but I think it's because we know it's normal that we've become ok with it. :)

[Mary Hall]

:-D   lol... Thank you.  Sweet looking is what saved him!  I think you'll find, as we did, that some of these little ones just need time to grow up into the good dogs we had hoped for.  Now that we have 6 months under our belt and have seen what a little maturity does, we're excited to see what the next 6 months wilol bring.  Best wishes.