Augie has started some annoying behaviors (he's about 4.5 months old now) and I need advice on how to deal with them. I apologize in advance for writing a novel, but I want to give as much info as possible.
By way of background, we got him at 7 weeks and tried to do everything correctly right from the beginning. We bought him from a reputable breeder whose parents had the most wonderful temperaments. He's had to work for anything he's gotten (example: sit-stay before he can eat). We discouraged play biting. He spent the entire summer being socialized with dozens and dozens of kids, as well as our own. He is not food/toy/bone possessive.
I'm home with him all day. We go for walks, we go to the park, we play, I take him to the pet store, he started obedience classes, we practice our commands. He is a doll! He is friendly and non-aggressive with every person and dog we meet. I take him to pick up my daughter at school and he will sit and not break position (even though he is excited) as the kids file past him. He'll even sit as a whole crowd gathers around to pet him. Everywhere we go people remark on how well-trained he is. He is well-exercised and not bored.
So what's the problem?
About a month or so ago, Augie started nipping at our clothes--pulling at a sleeve or pants leg. He mostly did it when he was excited and/or wanted to play. We of course discouraged it and he would respond nicely to the "drop it" command. In the past week, this behavior has escalated and it only happens when my husband comes home from work or has the day off..
The nipping of the clothes has gotten worse and more aggressive. He won't stop it when you tell him not to, and will only come back at you harder. (For the record, it's not "viciousness"--he thinks he's playing). The only thing that gets him to stop is to tether him in the kitchen for a "time out."
Friday night was the worst behavior I've ever seen. A dog who was the sweetest, most obedient thing all day turned into a psycho dog when my husband got home. His clothes nipping (and he nips at both of us) was accompanied by snapping. Snapping! He was doing it in the air, not "at" my husband, but that's all the same in my book. I think my jaw practically dropped on the ground when I saw this. He got a correction, and a time out. He then proceeded to jump on the couch. He has never been allowed on the couch nor made any attempt to do so before, but there he was. Even more disturbing, he wouldn't get off when I told him to. I had to physically pick him up and move him. He then ran behind the couch and in literally two seconds, ripped a hole in our nice carpet.
I was so shocked by this. Snapping, nipping, not listening, ripping the carpet?? What the heck?? Saturday was no better. He basically spent his whole indoor time in time outs, because whenever he was let off he'd either jump on the couch, bite us, or return to the hole he had made in the carpet. And I mean continuously do these things, like he was possessed. I never even had a toddler who would act like this!
So please, if you can, offer some insights and suggestions. I'd be especially interested in hearing if others have gone through the same thing. We just can't figure out what to do. Is tethering him in the kitchen appropriate? His crate is upstairs, and only used for sleeping. (We don't tether him and then leave. We are right there. But he has to be restrained somehow because he's biting us and it hurts.) Why is he doing this and what does it have to do with my husband being home? My husband is a perfectly nice guy who adores Augie! He has never hit or abused our pup in any way, shape, or form. He doesn't play tug-of-war, wrestling, or other dominant-aggressive games with the dog, either.
Thanks for your help!