[iamswiss]

Bailey is for the most a really calm dog especially if she gets her daily walks (two walks and we are usually gone for an hour each time). But on our walks she's a little difficult, first she doesn't want to walk and stands still every 2-4 steps and I try to convice her to keep walking, then finally after 20 minutes or so she walks steadily but keeps eating everything interesting to her on the ground (I am always with my son in the stroller on the walks).

Now and then she wants to attack me and jumps on me and bites holes in my t-shirt, it usually always starts with her biting on the leash. I try to make her sit and calm down and most of the time it works fine and she will walk fine until the next attack.
Most of the time she attacks when we are on our way back and always on our street just a few houses before our home.

Today when we came in she run to the water and when I got my son in the living room (which is gated, I have to separate them most of the time) and walked back to the kitchen area she came running towards me and bit a hole in my son's sweater which I was holding at that time.

How can I stop these attacks... I must honestly say sometimes I am almost scared, especially the thought that she's still growing and will get bigger (she's now 30 pounds) I really want her to stop this behavior.

When I tell no bite in a firm voice she sometimes gets even nuttier. At home she usually doesn't jump and bite that much but goes after my feet and ancles, ignoring doesn't work and she will just keep biting until it hurts too much for me.

I can't really leave the room as she is without in the common living area, so I have a tie down or I put her in the crate for a few minutes (both in the same area).

Is this mouthing and jumping up still normal at 4 months?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[iamswiss]

Are your dogs at 4 months "behaving" on the walks? Do they walk continously or are they also stopping all the time? Bailey stops so many times, whenever she sees someone on the other side of the street or kids playing close by etc. So a route which would take maybe 30 minutes takes us most of the time 60-70 minutes. Are they also biting on the leash and then trying to bite you?

 

[Oaklys Dad]

Mine sure didn't behave at that age. It was just as you described. If my memory serves it wasn't until 6 months that we actually had anything close to what you would consider a half way normal walk. It certainly doesn't hurt to start getting him used to the leash but don't expect much for results at that young age. There are a gazillion threads here on jumping goldens so I won't repeat what I've learned and haven't been able to make work myself. :doh:

 

[Daisy and Rita]

Jumping up and Biting

Hi, our Daisy is just coming up to 4 months old now. She is very similar i.e bites at the lead just as we leave the house and just as we approach it on our way back. She doesn't jump up me, but I try my best to stop that at all times around the house, and I've made it clear it's not allowed, she's like a magnet to children especially, and I've always been worried she would knock a child down in her excitment (she Loves people!!).

And yes, whilst walking if there's anything on the ground, her nose is straight to it, and what ever it is, is usually straight in her mouth (If I don't see it first!).

From what I have read and been told, I think being a bit naughty on the lead is fairly normal at this age, and they 'eventually' grow out of it.

Regarding the jumping up, perhaps whilst she's on the lead, be very firm with her and tug the lead down as soon as you sense or see her about to jump up, and give your command strongly and clearly 'no' 'down'.

I find a pocket of treats for good behaviour a blessing, but they must be given immediately as she is being good, so one or two in your hand ready will help.

Also try doing lessons with her around the house and garden, but keep them very short, simple and often (two or three times a day just for a few seconds) - sit and lie down, rewarded with yummy puppy treats and cuddles and saying how good she is. And if she jumps up at you in the house, just gently nudge her down with your knee turn your back on her totally and firmly say your command 'no' etc, and when she doesn't jump up, give her a treat and cuddles.

Also try big distactions when you sense/know she is going to jump up - immediately throw a favourite cuddly toy at her and loudly and happily say 'go play' and when she does reward amply. Our pup does things from sheer 'habit', break the habits with total distraction.

Hope that helps, that's just the way we've been doing and it's working -no more bitten toes/legs or torn clothes etc for weeks now though we know we still have a long road ahead of us for many months to come yet.

 

[iamswiss]

I am working with the clicker with her, so when we are on our walks I always reward her when she walks a while straight or when she follows the command "drop it". Most of the times she drops whatever she has in her mouth, but two times she had some type of big berry and she just wouldn't drop and I couldn't get it out of her mouth...

When I walk I always keep an eye on her and I can often see the nutty phase coming and try to give her some sit and lay down commands to stop it. Most of the time it works, but sometimes I am just too late and she already jumped up to bite my shirt.

At home she's rarely jumping up on me, but every time when she sees our 3 year old, she goes right after him and tries to bite his clothes and tries to jump up. So I end up, separating them almost constantly which is of course not always so easy. Good we still have the gates around in our living room, so my son is most of the time in the living room and Bailey in the kitchen/diningarea.

We have our former dog trainer stopping at our house today, I hope he can give us some tips too.

 

[BeauShel]

When she gets crazy like that then I would put her in her crate or a place away from your son. One thing is puppies can get overstimulated and become little heathens and need the down time.

 

[Ladyinblack]

I can totally relate my little monster just turned 5 months and trust me they get better! I recently started talking him on longer walks because he was so lazy and would decide to lay down every few steps, I always kept him on a short leash, so now he is a lot better so he gets a longer leash and he gets to go on longer walks. He has never gotten jumpy with me during our walks but definately on other people, but I always I have to step on the leash to prevent him from jumping and make him go to a down. When he gets naughty at home, I take his freedom away and give him a 10 minute time out in his crate, but I don't want him to think his crate is only for pushment so I always feed him and give him treats inside.

I think he sees your son as his littermate and he wants to play with him... but he should only be given supervised limited time with him so that he can place nice. When my 1 year old niece is around my puppy I give him a kong treat or a nylabone, so that he can ignore her and let her be around him without attacking, he eats his excitement away with the treat that even after he acts like she is not around...

 

[LibertyME]

Normal...
Not fun and not to be encouraged...but normal
When they hit this stage it is like a big flashing neon sign that says TEACH ME! This is a puppy that is eager and ready to learn!

Tricks...long downs....leash walking....all give the mind of a nutty puppy something productive to do with their brain cells.

A leash, baby gates and crates are all perfectly fine managment tools.

 

[MelandEl]

sophie is just about 4 months and doing all of this!! our walks always start w/ her biting the leash, jumping, and picking up everything in sight, but eventually she gets into the zone and starts walking really well. so glad to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel

 

[Minnesota Rosie]

My Rosie is doing many of the same behaviors. She is almost 5 months old. My youngest child is a 3 1/2 year old boy, so I share some of your struggles in that regard, too. Rosie LOVES going on walks...we go twice per day. I have a horrible time getting the leash on her at the beginning. She jumps all over the place, and I think it's because she's so excited to go for a walk. If I can walk her by myself (doesn't happen very often), I keep a pretty fast pace and she does pretty well. If any of my kids are with me (esp. my 3 year old), we go slower and Rosie has more time to get herself into trouble. She'll bite at the leash, and try to jump on me. I cross my arms and turn my back on her. She calms down immediately, but when we start walking again, she'll go right back to the crazy behavior. I don't have advice for you, but I wanted you to know that you're not alone!

 

[Adriennelane]

When she gets crazy like that then I would put her in her crate or a place away from your son. One thing is puppies can get overstimulated and become little heathens and need the down time.

We always call that the "cool off" time.