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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Help! 5-month old dog difficulties!

26 replies

lainiekazan · 07/08/2013 13:25

I have found my golden retriever quite a challenge, but I'm hanging on in there.

But... he wakes every three hours during the night. I have tried taking his water away at 6pm, but still he needs to go out to the loo. He is in a crate. I can't leave him to bark because a)dh has stressful job b)dcs usually at school and c) vile neighbour would complain (he threatened to call the police when ds had a party - a Star Wars party for his 8th birthday...) I am delirious with tiredness after 3 months of this.

He still bites. His adult teeth are now coming in and his bites hurt. Every so often he seems to go into a trance and leap at us and snarl and bite. Dd is particularly a target, and she gets hysterical which incites him all the more. He goes into "time out" when this happens, but I wish it wouldn't happen in the first place.

And how do you know when you can let them off lead? Dog is pretty good at "Come!" in the garden, but how do you know when you can trust them? A park is obviously infinitely more exciting than the garden and I can't see myself ever feeling confident enough in his recall to go for it.

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lainiekazan · 08/08/2013 16:30

Thanks, Lonecat, useful info.

I have taken dog for two short walks today.

I felt his training course was too reactive, rather than proactive - it wasn't really about showing the puppy desired behaviours, more bribing when it has done the wrong thing. I don't think I've explained very well - but, eg, they said if a dog is on sofa, tempt it off with a treat. Now, I have taught dog "Off!" and now I only have to appear and he slides off, and never gets up if I am on it. If I just gave him a treat whenever he committed a misdemeanour that seems a bit back to front. I treat the dog when he does the right thing and, famous last words, he seems to be getting the hang of things.

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