I couldn't leave her, love her to bits, have got her to health but

[TheLadyEvenstar]

now my pup (10 or 11m) is being aggressive.

Suddenly DS1 cannot sit on the sofa, I can't have a biscuit or any food without her barking constantly and jumping at me.

She has gone from being house trained to weeing constantly.

I take her out 4-5 times a day but she won't run around as soon as she has been a toilet she wants to come home and sits by the gate to leave the park.

I love her to bits but for DS1 and my safety I am considering her being rehomed.

Yes I know this is a failure but it has been going on over a month now.

she has also started chewing anything and everything. Post, toys, shoes anything she can get hold of.

I love her so much an she is such a huge part of our family.

you need to get tainer in to see whats going on, this is not normal behaviour and I bet an expert could identify a trigger really quickly.

She is entering her teenage years. I find thid stage harder than puppyhood.

Diva, she has been trained by a long term trainer previously. He see's her when I go to my sisters as well as they are neighbours.

I am going to see him this week with her and see what he says.

An example is I am sitting typing this and she is pulling my jeans but really hard, and when I pull my leg away she starts to snarl.

Misdee, seems funny to think of her having teenage years this young - but yes i know what you mean.

It's difficult to say without seeing the dog but what you describe sounds like a bored teenager and not an aggressive dog.

Try the following:

• loads more exercise which can include mental exercise like learning new tricks or intensive physical work like agility
• react the right way. E.g. if she pulls at your trousers do not pull back this turns it into a game (I would guess that she is not growling at you aggressively but that she is growling at you to play with her), instead say your word for 'no' and remove her mouth from your trousers. Then give her something good to chew like a treat or a tug toy.
• use a crate so that you can contain her and she is not destructive/weeing when you are not paying attention, but if she's not used to the crate introduce it properly and make sure you leave her with loads of interesting chews.
• if she barks at you for attention, fold your arms, turn your back on her and ignore her.
• for the weeing, take her to the vets to make sure it's not a physical problem, 100% clean the area she has weed on and re-start toilet training, i.e. out after food, play, every 1/2 hour, never left unobserved, etc.

Good luck!

I have got a crate but never could get her used to it so I folded it and put it away. I was going to sell it but think maybe i should reintroduce it from today.

I have cut and pasted the second half of a puppy development calendar our breeder sent us in case you find it useful. If it's any consolation our puppy displayed some very challenging behaviours around that age and is now a -mostly lovely 14 month old. Have you tried removing her and using time outs when she's jumping up on you? Does she obey basic commands and do you and the kids still practice and reinforce these with her? Are you giving her bones/kongs/other chew toys to keep her occupied?

Good luck with everything. I know how difficult we found that 'teenage' doggy period.

? Selective deafness? (5-9 Months)
The troublesome period! Your puppy is a teenager, and like all teenagers will be selectively deaf at times! Persevere with training regardless. Dogs often chew & destroy things that have your scent on them at this point too, many pups are dumped before 9 months... why? Because they now have strength, they getting bigger, faster & less reactive to a simple "no"? By now they have either been taught to walk on a loose leash or pull on the leash.

? Second Fear Period (8 - 16 Months)
Hormones are going through and your puppy is maturing ? often in a very gangly, long legged manner! Along with the growth spurts, hormones may trigger a second fear period, so your puppy may suddenly react to strange sounds, new sights they were fine with a week ago... It's at this time we need to be good leaders, when your dog baulks at a stairway, keep walking at full pace to show your pup all is ok. Do not comfort or coddle your puppy if he or she reacts negatively, and remain calm and confident. Training is crucial to behavioural development.

? Maturity (1-4 Years)
Depends on breeds, they tend to come into maturity anywhere between 18month and 3 years, although some take a bit longer! Dogs approaching maturity need firm handling & discipline ? and above all you must remain the leader!

Thankyou thats very informative.

I don't want to rehome her, I want to keep her as I love her dearly. She is funny and cuddly and loving but has this side to her which is not very endearing.

I managed to get her to play in the park now for 25 minutes before she gave up and sat y the gate just now.

TBH I have never known dog like her, she won't go further than the park unless it is in the car and refuses to walk near the road yet she goes out a lot through the day and has to cross a road she is scared of cars it seems.

Am going to read up again on crate training.

The snarling when you move your leg sounds like play. I wouldn't worry about that. Devil Dog makes some horrendous noises when he plays. I am sure the neighbours must think I am giving him live game to play with.

Regression in toilet training is common. Just go back to basics, takig her out and watching her five minutes every hour/just after a meal/when she starts sniffing about for somewhere to go. Treat when she goes outside, ignore when she goes inside. I'm sure you know the score.

Re: Barking when you're eating - personally I don't like dogs in the room when I'm eating and they're definiately never allowed when the dc are eating. DH likes them being with him always so I ahve to cope with it at supper time. I've found they never pester me for food because they never get any. They always pester DH as he might give them some scraps, so I'd stop feeding her titbits from your plate. Maybe try giving her her dinner before you sit down to eat.

Swap anything you catch her chewing from something she is allowed. You spray door frames/furniture with that anti- chew spray.

Would she retrieve tennis balls on her walks for some extra exercise?

Finally if she is going to be possesive over the sofa, then she is not allowed on it. Ever. Get her a nice bed for in the sitting room. Make a huge fuss when she goes in her own bed and have tasty treats on hand. Put a house line on her and if she gets on the sofa silently pull her down and walk her to her own bed. I know it's nice to have them on the sofa to cuddle. I was bereft when I had to stop Devil Dog getting on the sofa, but it's really not worth it. I sit on the floor with him now if I want to cuddle him.

And see your trainer asap.

All excellent advice and I am sure it will be a major help.

Now with crate training is it not too late?

I shouldn't think it's too late. Just start slowly with it. First feed her meals in there with the door always open. Then start closing the door but stay in the room with her. Then close the door and leave the room for just a few seconds, make sure she has food/treats/a favourite toy and always come back before she gets distressed. Build up the time she can be left very slowly. Hide treats in the crate and/or tie a favourite toy to the back of the crate so she can only have it when she is in the crate. She needs to think of the crate as the best place in the house to be.

I have just bought a new mattress for her cage, a clicker and 2 kong toys large ones.

Am off to read more online about training her, after that 25 play in the park she has been asleep since - she is such a baby

It sounds a bit like she's playing you tbh.

She's working out what gets a reaction from you and what doesn't.

I agree it doesn't sound as though she's being agressive, she's being far too exuberant with her behaviour and trying to treat you like she would a doggy playmate.

I think you have to decide what behaviour you will find acceptable in an adult dog and stick with it. Don't allow her to jump at you for food - either put her on the other side of a stair gate when you eat and ignore all fuss or put her in a crate. Be firm and immovable with whatever you decide. The dog is never going to work out that behaviour that was OK as a pup suddenly isn't so as an adult. You'll end up having to train her twice.

Why can't DS sit on the sofa any more?

It also sounds as though she needs a bit more mental stimulation. Take her somewhere different or arrange to meet up with a doggy friend for a walk. Do more training - it sounds as though her brain needs more to keep it occupied.

I don't think it's a failure - it sounds like a very bright dog who is pushing the behaviour boundaries inch by inch to see how far she can get. Toughen up with her - of course not physically - but don't let her get away with anything. Decide on your acceptable behaviours and work to them.

Oh - the noises dogs make can be very scary indeed. Have you ever seen young dogs playing together? It's all teeth, snarling, leaping on top of each other and noise. If you didn't know what it was I think it would be very unsettling.

And pop to the vet to eliminate a UTI - take a sample with you if you can, it'll save time. Pop a baking tray underneath her when she has her first morning wee and catch a bit. A sudden change in weeing needs checking out.

ok, the weeing has stopped. I have an idea it ws because she was in season (I had missed her appt at vet to be spayed as ds's and I were all ill)

I have put the crate back up in the living room, bought a new rll for it and put her food in there - she has learnt in about 30 seconds that if she pulls the bedding then her food travels down towards her far too clever for her own good!!

I am taking her out more frequently but she still does her business and sits by the gate to come home. I throw balls and sticks and end up getting them myself as she sits there looking like I have lost the plot.

She also won't walk in the rain and will sit under a bush or tree!!

I have one quite lazy dog (a collie funnily) he will run for upto half an hour at the park/woods then lie down and refuse to do anymore, so I walk him on the lead and he will trot along happily for a few hours. He's much easier at home if he's had enough exercise.