[Nicole74]

I thought I had a little bit before this happened. Bailey is driving me crazzzzzzzy lately. She is sneaking and eating all the cat food, going DOWNSTAIRS, running out the door behind us and running free outside, always asking to go outside for no reason, not wanting to come in we ask, trying to get free when she is on the leash outside, biting when playing again, not listening to commands, ect.... Wow, I've been very lucky and she has been very good up until the last week or so. Here she is from this morning with Madison. My two youngest girls had soccer games and they wanted to show Bailey her first snow before the games.

 

[depill]

My Frosti is a week younger then yours, and I don't want to believe he is becoming a teenager. But I have to admit today and yesterday he has been rather annoying. Begging to go outside when he dosen't need to ( we still go out with him very regullary and do fun things ( try to go swimming, meet other dogs e.t.c every day ) ), but he is like I am very very awake, got in the cat food at my uncles place ( not happy since Frosti is very protein sensitive VERY ) and I just have to say it ( although I don't completely mean it ) being a very annoying dog ( I HAVE TO STUDY FROSTI, I DON'T HAVE TIME 24/7 ).

But I don't know if this is teenager stuff or just a temporary set back ( GOD I HOPE SO, I had hoped for this to arrive around 10 months ). So funny this started almost immediatly after the last tooth fell out.

Was Baily glad to see the first snow ( Frosti saw his last Sunday, and was very happy ) ? Hope this all goes well though.

 

[Nicole74]

Bailey absolutely loves the snow. She's been begging to go outside every 2 minutes! She is much slower going potty today. It's sooooo cold outside and I'd wish she'd hurry up.LOL

 

[max935]

Jesse is about Bailey's age as well and has also been pretty frustrating for the last 1-2 weeks. I am hoping that it's to do with the teething rather than teenage stage (which I was really hoping would wait for a few more months!!). The most frustrating thing is that she has now decided that she doesn't really have to come when we call her at our (enclosed) local park...so she's back on lead for the time being which makes it much harder to tire her out and is not as fun for her as she can't run around with all the other dogs. She has also started to jump again, pick up things she knows she isn't allowed to have, will run away from me if she has something she shouldn't, and will not come back inside after going potty before bed (it's much more fun to chew on her stick). So, we are gritting our teeth and trying to stay patient while we practice, practice, practice all of her training commands regularly!! At least it's good to know that we aren't the only ones going through this phase!!

 

[Oaklys Dad]

I remember that phase well. It is very trying. Hang in there and double up on all the basic puppy training that got you this far. It will all be over in a month or two if you keep up the training. Good luck to you.

 

[kira]

Murphy is just entering that stage too.. UGH!! he is almost 7 months and has been so completely perfect up until now. I know we've been spoiled. But it sucks to have a pup who goes crazy and doesn't listen when up until now we had a mellow perfectly behaved angel.

At least we can all go through it together!

 

[Nicole74]

I am hoping that it's to do with the teething rather than teenage stage

Bailey has lost all of her baby teeth, even the ones in the back. The kids gathered the ones they could find and saved them for the tooth fairy. However, the tooth fairy has been very busy and hasn't come by the house to drop off a treat yet.

 

[MelandEl]

omg..where is it snowing already???? i wouldn't be able to deal with that!!

 

[Nicole74]

I live in Minnesota. It's really early to see snow and it's suppose to snow again tonight.

 

[Nicole74]

Hang in there and double up on all the basic puppy training that got you this far.

I'm doing this now, especially on our walks. When Bailey decides to go in front of me and pull, I start training with her where ever we are at. It seems to help a lot and then she realizes who is in charge. I've also started to hand feed her again kibble by kibble most meals and loves it.

 

[kira]

OK guys I think I may start using this thread to keep me sane

We actually had a good day today. I brought Murphy up to the ski area/mountain where I work for the first time ever. He will be coming with me most days in the winter so I wanted to test him out there before things are in full swing. Since it was a weekend there were a lot of tourists/hikers and I kept him on leash a lot of the time. When I did let him off he was good at coming back when called which is always a relief to me anytime I take him somewhere new. Every time he came to me I gave him one of the Zukes mini training treats, which he loves.

I am so embarrassed whenever someone wants to meet my adorable puppy and he jumps all over them and goes crazy biting at their hands (of course some people say "oh I don't mind" and then stick their hands in his mouth...ugh!) . A month or two ago he was meeting & greeting people perfectly. It's so frustrating to see this regression in his training. If he is excited now he will not even calm down and sit for me sometimes, something he's been doing since he was 10 weeks.

I know this will all pass and right now he is exhausted from the day and passed out on my feet, but it feels good to vent.

How are Bailey, Frosti, and Jesse doing?

 

[kira]

and here are a couple pictures from the day (sorry I took them with my phone)

 

[Heidi36oh]

Oh the teenage stage how much fun..LOL

Hang in there she will get better in a month or two, keep up the training..they are just testing how far they can go!

 

[max935]

I love the photo's - looks like Murphy has a great winter ahead of him!!
Jesse is a mixed bag. I took her to the dog park yesterday, and after a few practice recalls on lead, I let her off to play with everyone else. She came back every time I called her!! (although I did take hot dog pieces with me - I was the hit of the park!). On the way home I had to drop off something to a friend, and Jesse completely forgot any manners she may have known. After 5 mins of my friend studiously ignoring her at my request, Jesse was still pulling like crazy to check out the garden and say hello. She would sit for about 2 secs then bounce back up. Once I heard the comment "puppy training is going well then I see" from my friend I wanted to give up in defeat!! Oh well....practice practice practice. Let's hope friends and family continue to be patient with both of us.

 

[max935]

And to top it off we are in the middle of a thunderstorm here at the moment....a house-bound, frustrated teenage GR - just what I need for a relaxing night!! Think I will book her in to day care for tomorrow.....

 

[Wyatt's Mom]

I'm doing this now, especially on our walks. When Bailey decides to go in front of me and pull, I start training with her where ever we are at. It seems to help a lot and then she realizes who is in charge. I've also started to hand feed her again kibble by kibble most meals and loves it.

I can relate! Wyatt is 5 months 3 days and he has been deciding which rules to follow lately. What do you do to get Bailey to stop pulling on walks? I usually stop and hold a treat next to me until he is walking with me, while saying heel. He usually just tries to grab the treat from me. Any tricks?

Wyatt's also been digging where he knows he's not supposed to. I'm running out of rocks to put down in the bare spots!

 

[kira]

I love the photo's - looks like Murphy has a great winter ahead of him!!
Jesse is a mixed bag. I took her to the dog park yesterday, and after a few practice recalls on lead, I let her off to play with everyone else. She came back every time I called her!! (although I did take hot dog pieces with me - I was the hit of the park!). On the way home I had to drop off something to a friend, and Jesse completely forgot any manners she may have known. After 5 mins of my friend studiously ignoring her at my request, Jesse was still pulling like crazy to check out the garden and say hello. She would sit for about 2 secs then bounce back up. Once I heard the comment "puppy training is going well then I see" from my friend I wanted to give up in defeat!! Oh well....practice practice practice. Let's hope friends and family continue to be patient with both of us.

I hope this winter goes well! We have gone through a lot of schedule changes already in the months since we brought Murph home but this next one will be the biggest. We will get up at 5:30am, drive an hour and a half, then have playtime in the snow for half an hour or so, then he will be in the car while I work (hopefully he'll be ok not crated because I think he's outgrown the crate that fits in the car!) unless it's mellow enough I can bring him into our office, he'll be let out periodically by me or a friend or coworker, then around 3 or 4 he'll get playtime in the snow again with the other dogs, then 1.5hr drive home, then a few hours of lazy time then sleep and do it all over again!

I think he will do well Hopefully he loves it and I'll bring him everyday. Otherwise he'll stay home some days and spend more time crated

I am nervous that we will be going through the crazy part of the year (I work 7 days a week through the holiday season) right at the "worst" age, 7-8 months!


RE: Pulling. I have not had to deal with it much to be honest because I got the EZ Walk harness early on. Murphy does not pull with it. We will transition at some point, probably in the Spring or Summer when we have a lot of time for leash walks again and we can work on heel with a flat collar.

Do you have a harness for Wyatt?

 

[Wyatt's Mom]

"Do you have a harness for Wyatt?"
_____________________________
Hi Kira, No, we don't have a harness, but sounds like maybe we should get one. I find it impossible to get him to heel until we're almost done with the walk and he's tired. It's supposed to be a fun time of exercising together but I end up frustrated. What kind of harness do you recommend? - Valerie

 

[Goldenmomma]

Been there!

Sully, my twenty-nine month female, still drives me crazy with her independent attitude and misbehavior (ate two trees her first year). Of course, she is smart enough to know when to show her big brown eyes and look up adoringly. Her brother Scotty, my fourteen month male, has been perfect up to the past month. He has started jumping on people; however, the people think he is so cute that they think it's okay. I forget all of the bad behavior each night when they snuggle up to watch TV on my lap.

 

[kira]

"Do you have a harness for Wyatt?"
_____________________________
Hi Kira, No, we don't have a harness, but sounds like maybe we should get one. I find it impossible to get him to heel until we're almost done with the walk and he's tired. It's supposed to be a fun time of exercising together but I end up frustrated. What kind of harness do you recommend? - Valerie

The E-Z walk has been great for us. It attaches in the front and if he pulls it tightens around his shoulders. I think any harness that attaches in the front like that would work well. I know the EZ Walk is made by the same company as the gentle leader.