Help...Dood with attitude...it does get better, RIGHT????

[Julie Mison]

I posted this on the main board but thought I might get some good responses here too.

We have written about our Chewie (now 19 weeks) and his "bratty" and assertive type behavior. There has been some improvement with his growling yet he still tries to talk back a lot. For instance, if he doesn't get his way or is getting wild playing and we try to correct him...he will bark at us like he is talking back. He sometimes does it while he is snapping at the air...he really seems like he has attitude because he is mad that he wants to play or something. I actually made the mistake of barking back at him (thought that might help and show him who was boss) but it seemed to cause him to escalate.

Also, when he was wild last night and quite nippy (playing....trying to use mouth), I took him and held him (kinda on his back) and he licked me in the face. My 8yr old leaned in to get a "lick" and he kinda snapped at her instead. I have to say...he seemed excitable but is this "normal". He didn't break any skin but she said it hurt her face and it upset her.

For the most part, he has really improved and we are working with him. He starts "formal" training in 2 weeks. I guess I am looking for your thoughts, feedback, insight, and suceess stories.

Thanks...we LOVE our Dood ...just not his "tude!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

If you still use a crate, he needs a time-out for bad behavior. Not long, but enough time for him to calm down. One he is calm, let him out but ignore him for awhile. Just don't make a big deal out of it. Getting the "zoomies" and playing is ok, but barking and nipping is not. He is still young but he'll figure it out. Consistency, consistency (just like our "real" kids) is super important.

[Lori]

I'm sorry, but I am SO glad to read this tonight! And the following post about a short time-out crating for bad behavior is also comforting. I have a 10-year old with the flu and Leo is being a complete brat. I don't have any great advice for you, but you're not alone! (And now our Harmony remote has a loud rattle in it that wasn't there before I found it in Leo's mouth. Sigh.)

[Libby & Bentley]

Bentley..our 15 week old doodle..acts similar during the evening for about an hour or so. We tried tying him off in a time out, and he just pulls until he gags and freaks out..might work for you..but didn't work for us...so what we do, is put him the kennel for a 5-10 minute time out..and usually within that time he either settles down or sometimes falls asleep (bad behavior probably related to tiredness in those situations).

I've found that scolding or saying no and pointing a finger escalate the situation..so what works best for us is that..I guess you'll havta find out what works best for you..but I hope it all works out!

[Marilyn Polacci]

This sounds sooo familiar! Our Clancy (who is now 7 months) did this exact same thing. Your description is spot on. I was growing crazy with this behavior. After speaking with her dog class teacher, and a dog walker, the message they gave me is STOP IT! This is much easier said than done. I don't know if you've noticed (LOL) these dogs have quite the stubborn streak. These are the things we tried. The minute she starts it, remove her to a small contained place and close the door. Leave her in for about a minute or so (any longer and they forget what they are in there for). She will eventually understand that when she behaves that way-, she is removed from her fun (you). The easiest way to do this is to keep her on a short leash so you can grab and control her quickly to get her into the other room. Another way is when she gets excited and jumps on you or starts to play bite, immediately pull your hands/arms into you body and turn around so you are not facing her. ALL FUN STOPS when she misbehaves. I wish I could tell you this is an immediate fix. It takes many times and being very consistent to make the change, and your daughter must learn the procedure too, as my grandchildren did. Now that Clancy is seven months I see her behavior improving daily. Puppy's are tough, but YOU are tougher. Hang in there.
Marilyn Polacci

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I will echo Marilyn's comments in that it does GET BETTER! Peri is 6 months tomorrow and is finally getting much more enjoyable. We have taken down the baby gate that keeps her near us when we are home. She is still crated when we are gone, and we do use the crate for additional "time outs" when needed. Last week was the first week DH and I could get ready for work at the same time - didn't have to watch Peri 100% of the time!

Training will be a HUGE help. We are starting Peri's second round tonight. Puppy classes taught us a lot and we even do "training time" with Peri when she is getting wild. That calms her and makes her mind work for a treat. You will see good results if you are consistant with formal training. That is the best thing you can do for him.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Update: spoke too soon. Peri was TERRIBLE at training last night. Barked her head off...wanted to play, etc...
6 more weeks of Basic Family Manners and as of her first class, I would say Peri has the worst manners of all 8 dogs. Hehehe..must work harder (me, not her!).

[Diane Denney]

OMG I still can not leave my 8 mth old without the gate as I have an older dog and they just go at it like crazy. It drives me up the proverbial wall!!! I keep a lead on him so that I can pull him off but Lincoln is now over 50 pounds and bigger than my shepard mix of 80 pounds, and he's a big dog so he's a lot stronger than I. I must keep my eye on him constantly as he steals everything and anything he can get his mouth on!!! I really hope it gets better. He knows the leave it command, but still chooses to disobey. He ends up back in the kitchen or in his crate. Sigh....

[Leslie C.]

I agree with the Love my Dood . . . just not the "tude!!
LiliBear has become quite obnoxious in the last few months. She is doing some of the same things that others are saying. She has gotten demanding and has shown refusal. Her biggest things are biting on the leash and pulling back. This has been horrible and I have ended many walks dragging her inside and then trying to separate from her. I just went and got a lead chank that you use with horses. This one is a rope with about a foot of chain prior to the clasp. I'm hopeful this will help to deter the behavior as she will not want to have anything to do with the chain part.
My trainer had suggested that I turn away from her when she gets wild and bites and to wear layers. This type of planned ignoring has not gotten us very far . . . guess it is a process. I also recently had to turn over on the sofa and tuck my head in when Lili got the zoomies one night recently. She chose to circle around the table and bounce off me as she raced around. I was used as a spring board about 5 - 6 times before she got it out of her. I had found that if I tried to catch her it makes things worse. She definitely needs more exercise and more training so she can become less of LiliBear the Monster. We have been battling fleas since July and it has been a nightmare that has stopped group training and play time with other dogs. I hope to be done with the fleas soon as I have now gone the professional exterminator route and had the animals shipped out for grooming/ boarding . . . the cat came back from her vet without fleas . . . but not LiliBear!!!!! She will go today for a flea bath somewhere else. I think we have a Super Flea. . . .
~Leslie

[Julie Mison]

we've found if we start "working" him ...walking on leash or giving commands...he tends to settle....kinda forgets what he was doing! But, he still has a "tude!"

[Brewster's Mom]

My dood seems to be getting WORSE as he gets older! :( He "barks back" all the time and still bites and jumps. Have tried the pennies in the can, vinegar water (he just licks it off) ignoring, nothing seems to work. I give in and just stick him in the kennel for a bit. I really hope he mellows out soon and does not have to spend his life in there!! I just want a well behaved dog who can just hang out without terrorizing the kids and barking his head off - is that too much to ask?!?!

/grumpies

[Kyoko]

Charlie used to play nip / mouth while jumping on us because she is so excited and wanting to play. But as she got bigger, this was not acceptable any more, and it became annoying. Our trainer told us the following technique, and it was like magic, she totally stopped mouthing. I only had to do this for may be twice.

* Everyone in a family will wear a whistle ( mine was cheap plastic one ) with some sort of elastic around their wrist while with the dog. ( I know it sound kind of silly. But bear with me and keep reading..)
* The second your dog mouth you, you say nothing and blow your wistle.
* Then leash up your dog in isolated location until the dog settle down. Leash have to be long enough to sit but too short to lay down.
Charlie hated this so much, I only blew the wistle may be 2 ~ 3 times. She does not mouth any more... It was amazing like magic. It worked....

[Brewster's Mom]

Thanks, I'll try it! I was begining to think that I might get an airhorn (you know, like for sporting events and such) and just scare the bejessus out of him one day and see if that worked! LOL But I don't want a deaf dood, just a polite one, so a whistle might be better! :)