View Full Version : How long will this last???
Nikki56
08-05-2006, 01:18 AM
I have an almost eight month old german shepherd mix who is just being sooo bad all of a sudden!! He has had obedience classes and was doing fine for a while. Now he does not listen to commands, he is biting and barking at my husband and I when he gets frustrated. He is chewing up everything in site. Stuff he knows hes not supposed to chew on. I know he knows this because when I catch him doing it he'll get up on his own and go to his crate (which is how I punish him). He has been neutered, so I thought he might calm down.
I have read that dogs his age are considered "adolescents" and this is just a phase. But I am telling him "No! Bad Dog!" Every time he does something wrong and then I put him in his crate, and he gets out and does it all over again. He's not learning or listening at all!!!
I thought maybe he doesnt get enough exersize, but he is still like this on days that I take him to the dog park-where he gets tons of exersize!
Someone please tell me youve gone through this and that it will pass.:confused:
SPCAEmployee
08-05-2006, 02:03 AM
It could very well be a stage he's going through but most of the problem is lack of proper training. A crate should NEVER EVER be used in a negative way. It should never be used as a punishment.
Now what I was going to suggest to you won't work because you have used the crate in a negative way. What I was going to suggest would be to crate him every time you can't watch him and give him a Kong. You stuff the Kong with his favorite treats and it will keep him busy for hours. You however cannot do this because as soon as you put him in the crate he will think he is in trouble. I just wish people would research stuff ahead of time. Good luck!
rstowe
08-05-2006, 07:40 AM
He could be trying to establish dominance as well. Patience and persistence with a stubborn dog is hard to do but it will work.
I think everyone who has raised a dog from a puppy has been through what you are going through. I always thought of it as the "terrible twos".
What I do is make sure my puppy has plenty of things that are meant to be chewed on. I recommend antlerz (naturally shed deer antler), Ocean Chews (dried sting ray tail), and bullstix. You can get these, and other tough chews at www.petextras.com It took my chew monster 2 days to get through an antlerz. She simply got tired of chewing! I also found some toys called Combat Extreme. They are made of ballistic nylon and they come with replacement warranty "even if they are attacked by a pack of rabid wolves". They sent me a couple of new toys. You can find these things online with a google search.
Remember, your dog is looking for attention, even if it is negative. It is hard to ignore your sofa being eaten, just try to remember that this is only a phase. Shadow chewed a hole in the drywall 2 inches from an electrical outlet after I had the nerve to need to use the bathroom and leave her alone for 2 whole minutes. One day you will be able to look back on this and laugh.
Hang in there!
dlaura
08-05-2006, 02:51 PM
Sounds to me like you & your dog are trying to win Alpha status and that is the status that you must have. To a dog, Alpha, means top dog who directs the pack. You might try keeping a leash on him while in the house and if he snaps/barks at either one of you the other one should take the leash and give it a pull (firm pull) and say NO in a firm voice. You might want to stop using the crate as a punishment area also. As someone said above, the terrible twos or teen years are comparable to what your dog is going thru now. You mentioned having taken him to obedience classes, some dogs need a repeat or even need to go on to the advance class for issues like these. Call the teacher who gave the class and explain the situation and ask what he/she would recommend. This is something that you seriously need to take care of, as you do not want to spend the years of your dogs life in this type of situation.
Nikki56
08-05-2006, 03:36 PM
It could very well be a stage he's going through but most of the problem is lack of proper training. A crate should NEVER EVER be used in a negative way. It should never be used as a punishment.
Now what I was going to suggest to you won't work because you have used the crate in a negative way. What I was going to suggest would be to crate him every time you can't watch him and give him a Kong. You stuff the Kong with his favorite treats and it will keep him busy for hours. You however cannot do this because as soon as you put him in the crate he will think he is in trouble. I just wish people would research stuff ahead of time. Good luck!
As far as putting him in his crate as a punishment I was told to do this by my trainer. I was told to tell him "NO!" and put him in his crate.
And I have tried the Kong and putting a treat in it. He's not interested. Im not sure why, he just doesnt like the kong. I got him the correct size for his mouth he just gets bored with it really quickly.
Your trainer was wrong. The crate is supposed to be a place the dog can go to relax and be in a den like environment. You are not alone. I think alot of people use them in this way. I have never crated my dog. I think it is a wonderful thing, I just never did. We have a 9 mo. lab mix. She is a handful. We have to keep EVERYTHING up. She eats and chews on anything she can get a hold of. She is not a biter though. I am for sure the alpha around here. I think the chewing is something you will have to go through. Puppies can be very destructive, but you don't want the biting and barking at you. You will have to change that behavior. Good luck. I am sure it will all work out. Don't get too stressed. Pick everything up and that will be one thing you don't have to worry about. Chew bones have been a life saver for me. :D
Cat&Dog mom
08-06-2006, 09:12 AM
Ditto, i'm really surprised your trainer has made his crate a punishment, that a a big no~no. Have you tried bitter apple on things he's not supposed to chew on?
petty_sue
08-06-2006, 09:57 AM
I have a 6 months old English bulldog and I hope I won't have such problems in the future.
He is my first dog and I really love him !
marneo1
10-11-2006, 04:49 PM
Please click here to read about Why Dogs Bark. (http://www.acornpetco.com/WhyDogsBarkPage.htm)
Hey Marg,
I read you have a 9 month lab mix, I have a 6 month old lab mix, any ideas on keeping/training her to not jump up on people, whether they are standing or sitting? I just lost a mix lab of 14 yrs, and we have a yellow lab that is 8 yrs old, and I never remember either one being so bad, cuz this new puppy chews like crazy too, and our front yard and living room looks like Romper Room, so she has plenty of toys! (Maybe I am just getting too old for a puppy, lol)