So I went from having the best dog at puppy school last week to the WORST this week!

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Last week we started puppy training classes and our labradoodle, Percy was just great. Did everything asked of him, sat beautifully while we were listening etc. Other dogs were barking, interested in what was going on etc. I felt uber smug .

Cue this week's class. Properly exercised and eliminations done beforehand but as soon as we got there, he knew that was where lots of dogs would be. He was almost beyond controllable! Didn't do a thing we asked, barked continuously at other dogs (wanted to play and responded to their barking) and kept barking at me because I was trying to do training with him . When we were trying to do various things with treats, he kept biting my hand because he didn't care about the food - just wanted to go off and play .

Just had another short training session this morning in the quiet of our home and he's barking and biting again ... but this time it's because he just wants the treats - doesn't actually want to do anything to get them .

A little despondent today.

Keep at it - the lab in him is probably playing up. Our chocolate labrador is finally settling down @ 3 years. But just when it is going fine, he likes to mess with you and misbehave out in public. That said he sat beautifully outside the Post Office today on a busy street.

Our last labrador did brilliantly in puppy classes, except for Down! Every time all the other dogs lay down and he thought it was a command to jump excitedly all over me. We failed , but still loved him to bits.

Oh dear, nightmare when they do that. He is very young still and learning. Labradoodles can be rather er spirited and are generally very sociable which can be a bit of a problem until they've learned the ropes. Mine is coming up for her first birthday and is significantly calmer, hang in there, it will improve.

Consistancy is the key and making doing what you want him to his best option. So with training at home, if he starts grabbing treats, calmly stop and do something else for a bit. Have a go later, if he does what you ask he gets his treat, if not again no reaction and end session.

With the other dogs at class, gradually he should get the hang of learning that it isn't playtime. There was one very painful session I had with Plog at class where the class over ran by 15 mins to cope with the 20 mins it took to get her do do recall without going off to pester the other dogs, she'd been perfect the week before.I

Write the last class off as a learning experience and keep going. The smug feeling you had at the previous class will return again, just not today!

sdr - like you, we love him to bits but I don't like failing at anything - everything has to be done to my very best and this is frustrating me a bit . It's the biting and barking that gets to me. Usually it's mouthing of hands but today was a proper jump up and bite (not mouthing) of my upper arm . I wonder if we have been giving him too many treats? It is just reserved for training - or when he's doing something unwanted, distract to do a command and then treat - kind of thing. He is just getting way over excited when a treat is involved and will do anything to get them, without actually being good IYKWIM!

Don't worry about this - it shows you have a happy and sociable dog. It does show though how all dogs need to be trained in different situations. If you can (and you will) get control in a situation where he is really excited you are on the way to having a perfectly trained dog!

I bet you will be top of the class next week

If he gets excited just stay calm ignore him and turn away. You could try him with a slightly less interesting treat - maybe a bit of kibble. Sometimes do not reward - he will realise that he has to work harder or you could reward with a toy and a game, sometimes keeping them guessing means they think a bit more but on the other hand he is probably just a happy puppy....

Thanks Minimu. I was hanging around wondering what you would say . My DS who does most of the walking (early mornings, after school and later evening) is away this week, so is my DH and I'm left holding puppy, 5 month old baby and 7 yr old DD!! Was feeling a little despondent I must say. Anyhoos, have been for 3 walks with him today with all LOs in tow and he behaved just beautifully walking alongside the buggy instead of trying to bite the wheels and wander every which way

Yay progress - it sounds to me like you are getting on fine. Honestly how dare your DS be away and leave you with all the dogwalking . Although sounds like you have it sorted.

My puppy was the opposite to your one.
At out first puppy class he was given time out
But at every single class since, he has been a star. I reckon it's because he is quite a bit older than the rest of the class, but he is doing great.

He seems ti pick up every trick instantly and responds 100% of the time. I am such a saddo so proud of him

Minimu - are you there? Pup is driving me a little insane this week . Just cannot pet him - anywhere - without him attempting to mouth/bite. Can't effectively do training as he's jumping up and trying to get to the treats, just really a bit of a nightmare.

He's always been "mouthy" but this week it has totally stepped up about 10 phases. He's biting everything. Even his play with toys has got uber energetic IYKWIM. He's 14 weeks now.

Now - I did buy him some chewy bone things from the pet shop (rawhide or some simiar thing) - they said it was fine for pups teeth. His behaviour seems to coincide with when he's retrieved one of these from the garden and had a good session with it. Do you, IYE, think it might be related? Or is this just a phase of the teething perhaps?

Sorry - sound very naive about this. Could phone the trainer I suppose but figured you might be around for a quick answer? TIA.

Not naive but he is really approaching the manic teething stage. Get him loads and loads of chews. Fill a kong and put it in the freezer and let him chew on that (the kong not the freezer!)

Some dogs do learn in a roller coaster sort of way or so it seems to us. DOn't worry stay calm and consistent. Say the ow and turn your back on him and then distract him. You may need to have a toy on you constantly for a little while so the minute he nips you say ow turn away and then distract with the toy.

DO you clicker train?

For the jumping up - get the treats in your hand and I guess he will jump about like crazy trying to get them - let him. The minute he pauses or preferably sits (wishful thinking) click and give him the treats. Timing is everything on this but he will learn it. Then you can even tease him with the treats and see if he will jump up and you will be amazed he will not.

I was doing this in a puppy class yesteday with a very lively 16 week lab who was jumping so high we were having eye to eye contact! By the end of the session I could not despite teasing him and luring him get his bottom off the ground!

Hang on in there and remember the mumsnet phase This too will pass.

Oh Minimu you are such a star and a massive help. Thank you. Percy is labradoodle and is now jumping very high indeed. He bit the top of my arm the other day because I had treats in one hand, clicker in the other and he just did not want to do anything - just wanted the treats, greedy tyke!

So, in answer, yes, I am doing clicker
training. In fact, the thing I am trying to perfect over next two weeks is the touch to the hand no matter where it is so that he learns to walk to the side nicely when on a leash. Actually, he doesn't walk too bad at all on the leash, but trying to get him to touch one hand when treats are in the other is a no-go at the moment .

We have Kongs, peanut butter, kong liver stuffy things, Coachies treats, Kong biscuits, Puppy meat strips, some other kind of teething biscuit, knotted rope toy, various nylabone type chews, Kong chews, treat ball - you name it. He has destroyed 3 rawhide type chews I bought on Monday - makes me giggle when he hides them in the garden, tail wagging like crazy and then retrieves them. Nature is amazing isn't it?

Think I need you to move in for oooooh about 18 months .

It may be you are moving on a little too quick for him. Make him touch the hand with the treats in it for a while longer. Click and treat I bet he can do this no problem.

(I tend to get them to touch my index finger rather than my whole hand as they are less inclined to bite my whole fist off but that is just personal training).

Then later on try to move to the other hand -you can cheat a bit by holding treats in this hand to start with so your hand is lovely and smelly!

It is very satistfing in a few weeks time when you can just lift your finger up and the dog will come running to touch it - no verbal command at all. Always impresses my neighbours!

Sounds like the house to be in if you are a teething pup great collection of toys. Do rotate them and do not allow him to have access to them all of the time. Amazing how interesting a nylabone chew is when you have not seen it for a week!

I was training a labradoodle this morning - she is great very willing and full on but so happy.

Minimu - you obviously do training. Where are you based? Anywhere near Herts/N London per chance?

No down south - Hants/Surrey and West Sussex. Although I do do behavioural referals in a wider area.

FYI - I removed all of his toys from his playpen earlier and am just giving them at appropriate times now, so he just has one or two to play with - and then remove them when he sleeps. When I read your post, I realised that he has a whole playpen full of things.

Also went and bought a whole new stack of proper chewy bones (rawhide style). He's been really good today. Still mouthy/bitey but for the most part is catching on when I yelp ouch and immediately have to hand a toy or chew.

Although really I should have learned my lesson by now - I should not speak too soon!! Let's see what tomorrow brings. Today has been really quite pleasant.

Minimu - another question. Sorry - but you are soooooooooo knowledgeable. The past couple of days we've been out on lovely walks and of course come across other dogs. I've noticed that as soon as they approach, he crouches down to the ground, tail between his legs - almost like a lion/tiger about to go for its prey IYKWIM. Then, when the dog approaches, tail wagging, he jumps up and of course is all over them trying to play.

I've never noticed any other dogs do this. Have you? What does it usually mean? Is he, trying to ascertain whether they are friendly or not and if not, adopting some kind of submissive behaviour?

Don't worry Minimu - I just googled it. How clever Percy is! He is lying down to calm the dog or situation! When he jumps up and zig zags side to side he's saying come on, chase me, play with me, it will be fun!!

Woohoo - I have a VERY clever, happy and playful dog. Happy CTOFN and wondering what these strange behaviours are no more.

Sorry only just seen this. Yep you are right he is clearly telling the other dog I am no threat lets play but I would also stay close to him while he is doing this as it can be a sign of uncertainty. Watch his ears and head.

Yes totally understood. At first, I thought it was perhaps a fear or uncertainty. Indeed, he is still on the lead so no worries about being far from me at all. He was attacked a week or so ago by another much bigger dog who pinned him down on the floor by his neck and was not playing - quite aggressive in fact. The other dog owner, a teenage lout by all accounts, had lead and a MUZZLE in his hand and did nothing at all. If he was carrying a muzzle, I wondered why the hell was it not on his dog! As you can tell, I was furious. Pups need to socialise and learn behaviour from older, wiser dogs - but irresponsible owners like that make me so mad. I do not want Percy learning that kind of behaviour. Lord, it's just like kids.