Puppy growing up or changes post kennel

[Cooper's Mommy]

We were out of town for a little over a week and left our Cooper (now 5 months) at the kennel last week. He had all the necessary shots and we are really comfortable with the facility--had been once before overnight and for doggie day care earlier in the week. Anyway before we had left he was exhibiting all sorts of standard puppy behavior lots of nipping and mouthing, running all around the house, constant jumping up and occassional resistance to the crate.

We picked him up on Tuesday morning and he's mellowed a lot, for the BETTER hardly nipping at all and generally much easier to be around. He seems healthy (though he does have an occasional sneeze) so I'm not sure if this is just good news that he's getting past some of those puppy behaviors or if there is something to be worried about or if he'll revert back in a few days. We go to the vet next week but am curious about others experiences about when they felt their puppy started to "grow up"

Thanks!

[Chris & Boys]

TOO FUNNY! We did the same thing. We were gone 10 days, and picked him up Monday nite. He seemed so grown up, very well behaved. But he seems to be getting back to his old self more and more. This morning he was jumping up on the boys, nipping at their ears as they walking to breakfast. So I am not sure, why the behavior changed, but I don't know if it is maturing, because Fozzy just turned 5 months on Wednesday. Or if he thought he should be good so we don't leave him again!!! It should be interesting to hear the feedback from others.

[Mommy2Max]

I don't have experience with this but, I would think it has something to do with the other dogs and socialization. Did he get to romp around with other dogs during the day? Other dogs will teach him a lesson better than we ever could. I bring Max to socilization classes but they are only 30 minutes long. This has inspired me to take him to a daycare every so often! Please let us know if Cooper's improved behavior continue!

~Danielle

[Karen & Lucy]

Well I can tell you about my exp. with kennels. I will NEVER leave Lucy at a kennel again. She was 5 months old too when we wanted to go on vacation and I left her in a kennel for 5 days. I took all of the things she likes, her blanket, food, toys etc. When I picked her up, she smelled like sewer, her toys and blanket also smelled like a sewer and she was, I could tell, tramatized. For months after that experience she would just pace around in a circle. I think the poor girl was never left out of the kennel. She still, at times, will pace, but nothing like she did then. When we go away now, she either goes with us OR I have someone, a family member, stay here at our house with her.

[Missi]

I kinda had the same thing happen. I left Lizzie for 5 days when she was almost 4 months old with my uncle and aunt. They have 3 grown labs, so she became one of the pack. Before I dropped her off, she was still have 1 or 2 accidents in the house daily and doing all the nipping/puppy behaviors. She also wouldn't eat unless someone was sitting with her! I picked her up and she was perfect! She maybe has an accident per week (didn't have one for almost 8 days), doesn't nip near as much, and eats whenever I give her food now! I thanked them for training my baby!

[Cindy and Mandy]

Do you think they would like Mandy for a few days?? LOL Of course she is only 10 (almost 11) weeks old, so the puppy stage is in full force. She is nipping less and only has accidents inside at night, which is probably my fault for getting tired as the evening goes on and not taking her out every few minutes.

[Missi]

I don't know, they do like labs more than goldens.....might be able to persuade them! haha! The big girls love playing with Lizzie. When she has accidents in the house, they are almost always my fault now for not getting her outside in time. Did you ever get to your appt at Skaer's? How did it go?

[Ginny Nightingale]

My two cents--I agree with the socialization idea. The pup I just got (8 months) was very nippy and liked to jump up and bite at your hands when she got here. I have another doodle and now the new pup gets all her playful behavior out with the other dog and is much less nippy with people. That could be part of it. The puppy wants to play and is nippy trying to get your attention --this is what my two dogs do with each other--but if there are no other dogs, they might do it to their people? Just a guess!

[Cooper's Mommy]

Thanks everyone, we are counting on the additional socialization theory. While boarding he was enrolled in puppy day care too so he had plenty of play time with other puppies, at first we thought it could just being tired out but now hoping it really is hear to stay. We also think he has a (better) understanding of the words "no" etc.