devil dog!

[diane silver]

Emma is really being rambunctious and I'm wondering if I'm doing or not doing what I should. She's nipping at my pants, biting and drawing blood, and just being so crazy! I've tried spraying, holding her mouth closed and growling "NO", and just about everything I can think of to inhibit these behaviors and am just hoping that she'll be able to grasp my corrections very soon (she's 10 weeks old tomorrow). I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and frustrated right now and welcome your suggestions, comments, support, etc.

[Adina P]

If you decide to get the videos...let me know and I'll hunt down a trainer recommendation for someone near you from others familiar with this method!

[1knme66wzgv4k]

I was going to suggest a trainer that uses the "videos" techniques, too. Adina recommended a trainer for us here in Idaho and we just started Puddles there this week. (Adina we are using Paula from Precision K-9) IT'S AMAZING!!!! He's 7 months old and very dominant. The training is not hard, but is a commitment, but after just a few of our training sessions he's showing more respect. I HIGHLY recommend this method of training. We tried the treat training, voice commands, bopping on his muzzle (which was horrible!) and honestly training with a choke chain is what is working for us. It does not hurt Puddles at all! He has learned after two session of training how to follow us and last night he had a happy tail the whole training session! The nice thing about using a local trainer in your area is that they are there to help with all the little questions that come up and can really assess your dog. Our trainer, trains search and rescue dogs, and I can't thank Adina enough for suggesting her for us. The method is so natural to the dog and is not harsh at all. It's just a lot of repitition and control. The few times that Puddles gets a little feisty with us, he goes straight into our downstairs bathroom for a "time out." This works for him and helps us regain control. Good luck! I think if you really want to train your dog, you will do well with a local trainer supporting the Koehler method.

[Adina P]

See Natalie's response above!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Hmmm. Doodles tend to be very active and energetic dogs and need to have a release for all this energy. We try to get our dogs out every day for a run and to play with other dogs. They need this, even though they have each other. Emma may be trying to tell you she needs more outings and interaction.
I think it is harder with one dog because an older dog provides entertainment and limits to a puppy. But without another dog to help you, you need to provide a lot of stimulation to Emma and that is probably what she is asking for when she nips and runs around crazily.
I have a thing about crating puppies in the house. I don't like the looks of crates and it seems like a jail to me. I use a baby playpen for my puppies and Hondo even had one with a vibrator on it. It would put him right to sleep. As soon as I welcomed him in the morning, it was outside. I would carry him to the spot where I wanted him to do his business, and he was always ready. He never soiled his playpen. He was only allowed out of the playpen when he was actively involved with someone, and was never allowed to wander the house on his own. He did have free time to play outside after eating and napping. We did the same with Groucho Too, although he started jumping out of the playpen and it had to be bungy corded with a top cover for him.
I have a choke collar for Groucho Too and use it when he seems to be too rambunctious, especially when taking off for a walk in a favorite place. He never misbehaves when he has the choke collar on, one reminder is all he needs to know that he is under control from a choke collar. Hondo never needed one because he is so responsive to verbal commands. Our dogs have never had any type of reprimands, nor needed them. If they begin to misbehave, we change their setting. A car ride is their favorite change of setting and they are always ready to go anywhere. Of course, we live in a climate that is great for the dogs as they can be left in the car for a short period of time while running errands, but most places need to be real careful about that.
Include Emma in all activities that you can and provide lots of stimulation for her. I think both she and you will be happier and more relaxed.

[Sophie & Molly:)]

Thanks, this discussion helped me a LOT. Molly will be calm at times, and then as soon as someone comes in the door she jumps, nips, tears at hair, runs like she's on speed, and then starts over again. The yelping bit really seems to work:) She almost looks guilty after it, as if she really hurt us. Thanks agin!

[katherine willis]

What a relief! Sandy, now 10wks, is our 4th puppy and by far the most mouthy. I was beginning to think that we were facing a big problem. The responses here, though, let me know that he is within the "normal" range of doodle behavior. We, too, have the evening mania. He's like a Dr. Jekyl and Mr Hyde but with crocodile teeth.

I've tried the screach, holding the mouth, and vinegar spray as a I command "no bite"--all to no avail so I've taken to the crate. That is the best solution for me since that keeps me from being frustrated and I think he is beginning to make the connection.

Thanks for the "Catch it" toy tip. I plan to order tonight.

[nfu7f0foes3r]

Thanks for sharing information on how to handle the "wild" little puppies.
Lexie is 9 weeks this week and she is a little "crazy" at night. Angel during the day, but another puppy comes out in the evening! Calming her seems to make her worse. The isolation technique, by turning away seems to help, that is... if you can keep those little teeth from piercing into your achilles!! LOL!
Thanks again for sharing ~

[Sandy]

Oh...my...word. You just described my day with Toby. Angel all day - complete devil this evening. Has Lexi grown out of this? I am starting to despair of ever spending an evening like "normal" people again!

[Mindy]

Paddy ( will be 6 months old on December 2nd) is apparently hitting the "devil dog" stage. He has been (still is) a wonderful dog, weighs 18 lbs, 17 inches tall to the shoulders. Now, he is playing a game when I call him...I say "Paddy come", he runs to me and just before he stops he vears off and runs off. He always stays within sight however is playing this game during our recall class. 6 dogs have been doing the recall perfectly, and Paddy and I are good examples of what NOT TO DO. Until about 2 weeks ago, Paddy's recall was quite good, so I am hoping this is just a 6 month old stage he is going through.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Aaaaahhh! My 6 month Tigger waited to turn sassy too. He is making up for lost time, by grabbing clothes ( sometimes skin), not coming except for "cookies" and leaping unexpectedly straight up into the air - all four feet at once. Honestly, if Roo hadn't even been much worse and began earlier I would think I was the worst owner in the world. Roo at one though has turned into a sweetheart, albeit an extremely energetic one. Adina's advice to remain calm and non physical is excellent, it only fuels the fire. Doodles hate to be ignored unless they are asleep. Both have also become mountain goats. All the furniture was piled (literally) in the first room you enter in our house as we had the floors refinished. Unfortunately to get almsot anywhere in the house you must pass through that room. My hard work of keeping them off the furniture is totally out the door as they navigated chairs, tables, footstools and even the back of a couch as though they were born to it. Ah well tonight we put everything back on shiny floors and hopefully with a few well timed offs they will remember that they are floor dogs.

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Hi Diane. We're going through the same thing with our 9 week old pup right now, and I know what you mean about being overwhelmed, sheesh, even though you know it's a short-term thing. I see this post is now a few months old, how are things now?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am going through this too, Kevin. We are at 10 1/2 weeks. She won't bite me - only husband. We are going to try the crying thing and walking away (act like he is really hurt when she bites). Let's keep in touch and see if they calm down!