Puppy update: that's not gone well.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
06/09/2016 at 16:26 • Filed to: puppy

We’re days from hitting six months, and she seems to be turning into a total brat. Today, when playing fetch with my wife in the backyard, she just up and ran across our property, out to the street, jumped on a stranger, ran around until our neighbor wrangled her in. She did not reply to any of my wife’s commands (even the emergency recall). My wife is of course shaken up because she could have easily been hit by a car, or ran off and lost. She typically would never leave her side, up until recently.

She had also been especially emboldened with me the last week or so. Looking at me side-eyed before obeying a command, if it all. Hopping, leaping, lunging at any given opportunity. And whining. Lots of whining. Although admittedly less.

I always felt my wife was a bit too soft with the dog (SHE IS!!!), and I was perhaps much more firm (but only in comparison — I still do the praise, treats, encouragement stuff whatever). It always seemed like she did not respond well to a firm hand, but maybe I should have just stuck with it. But I kind of wondered if the baby-ing from my wife was just undermining what I was doing...?

She wants to look into a personal trainer and I’m on board with that because I certainly no answers. In the meantime, I was considering a sort of zero-tolerance approach. All this dog doing is testing her boundaries, or perhaps more accurately pushing them. This is to be expected, I’ve been told, but lately it’s like and all-out rebellion.

So please, do chime in with your experiences or advice. I’m a cat person who has a puppy and I’m just ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

DISCUSSION (15)

JGrabowMSt > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 16:30

Back off from treat training and be strict.

In the end, you need to be the bigger dog. Thats how you get a loyal dog. It doesnt come from treats and praise 100% of the time.

Set the boundaries and enforce them.

Noah - Now with more boost. > JGrabowMSt
06/09/2016 at 16:33

This. Dogs are smart. If you are inconsistent they will interpret that as “ok I don’t have to listen most of the time.”

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 16:40

My friend’s pitbull/lab mix used to the same thing, escape the house and run around the neighborhood when she was a puppy. I think they just kept training here with treats but also crating her when she was bad, no professional help. After a year or two she became much more mellow and obedient.

The one thing that they always impressed me with is that their dog won’t bother people when they are eating. My friend has never given his dog human food, and she behaves so well in that respect.

Alfalfa > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 16:51

Upon mid to late puppyhood, it’s not irregular for them to start testing their boundaries. They want to know how serious you are. Which of course makes it all the more important to maintain the discipline until the phase passes.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 16:51

Your wife needs to not baby it. The trainer will tell you that right away.

I’ve never been a fan of trying to keep a dog trained into the yard without a fence. No fence = no dog for me.

yamahog > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 16:58

Somewhat paradoxically, my advice is to get a trainer (who doesn’t buy into dominance theory), *consistently* follow their instructions, and don’t get advice from the internet.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 17:00

Consistency is the key. Get on the same page with your wife on all that. And only reward tricks or obeying to commands. Don’t give treats if she just hasn’t done anything bad.

As far as a trainer, we had a German Shepherd that we sent to a Police dog trainer and the results were immaculate. For the first week or so afterwards he acted totally strange, but then snapped out and was a back to normal but much better behaved behaved.

vicali > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 17:01

Keep up the training, ease off the treats, don’t give up.

Our Bella turned 7 last month, she listens, comes, goes, sits, doesn’t eat people food.. I’m glad we made it through the first few years of training - it’s paying off now.

jkm7680 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 17:08

Cats are awesome and don’t do that shit.

I'd say bring her to obedience school or something.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 17:10

First you’re cheif, you never move out of the way of your dog. Dogs have a interesting way of showing respect, not crossing in front of you and things they want is one of them.

When theyre small keep them in controlled environments (in doors). This way they cant get away from you, and you’re not running after them like a crazy person.

The real key is never let them experience bad choices, and then when they’re grown it wont occur to them.

For my dog, off leash time was rare if they didn’t understand that come means come. (also never punish them for taking their sweat time, it will make them more reluctant based on you tone of voice)

Only ever punish them when their in the act, again: ONLY PUNISH THEM IF YOU CATCH THEM IN THE ACT . Dogs dont have memories for things they did, and dont draw conclusions from you shoving their face in something they did even just minutes ago. Think of a vinyl record; the only the loudest sounds get recorded, doesn’t matter if its good or not. So things you dont want remembered dont respond to.

Never forget: you are the boss, and in close quarters is the only way you can show that. Speak once, and then correct, you want them to react to your commands, not respond. (there’s a difference).

Oh when my dog was little I was very non verbal at first since she had no concept of language, so I’d growl, or gesture etc. As they get older they will associate gestures with commands. The rest is rinse wash repeat.

Also make the puppy sit before anything, you want to go outside? Sit while I open the door, only when I invite you should you move forward. Same goes for anything else, food, toys, etc. They need to understand you are the gate keeper to their enjoyment, and that they must listen to you first before they get what they want.

Also wives are always soft... if it werent for me and my hard-ass methods we wouldnt have as awesome of a dog as we do. (some on OPPO have had the privilege to met Mika. If you’re on insta her hashtag is # mikakittypeanutbutter )

Currently redoing all this for my cousins dog who stays with my during the day. If you lived in NY id give you a visit even.

PS: After my dog understood the rules of engagement I reinforced that with a field collar (she is a hunting dog after all but you can use a field collar on your wife even).

The field collar greatly shortens the obedience learning curve, and that gets you into leashless territory really fast since you can influence them from a distance. But its only effective if the dog knows what you expect.

Funktheduck > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/09/2016 at 17:13

She’s testing/pushing. Set clear boundaries.

Make her work for everything. For example: she has to sit and stay before going outside. I make my dogs sit and wait before they eat. No treats just because. No off leash until she's back to coming on command. Lots of constructive exercise like walks or mentally stimulating games. Work with her at least a few minutes everyday doing basic commands beginning and ending with ones she knows and does reliably

Your boy, BJR > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper
06/09/2016 at 17:15

Mika rules. Such a cool dog.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > yamahog
06/09/2016 at 17:17

+1. Consistency and lots of training. Lots. Having just had your experience six months ago, there will be setbacks, but stick with it. Also, check out Patricia McConnell’s books , very, very helpful for positive reinforcement training and context. It also helped a lot to move to a personal trainer from a class setting at six months for more specific help. And exercise the dog a LOT.

RPM esq. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
06/10/2016 at 13:13

First heat cycle? They tend to go nuts, and often get out, when their first heat arrives. Some boundaries-testing during adolescence is normal but straight running away is unusual (except for certain breeds).

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RPM esq.
06/10/2016 at 13:15