This is Bernard . Bernard is 6 months old and the size of a small horse . And yes he's a puppy but he's also a total dick. He pulls everything off the work tops , he reacts really manically to other dogs when on the lead, he chews everything he finds, we're not stupid we understand puppies are puppies but holy shit he is hard god damn work , and he's bright white. Who . Buys. A. White. Dog . 
Just wanted to moan and see if we are alone in this .
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The doghouse
anyone else got a massive puppy that is just a dick head?
113 replies
cbigs · 28/03/2016 09:40
OP posts:
PinkPjamas ·
29/03/2016 18:57
Luna is five months and to be fair, after reading this thread, I can see she isn't actually that bad! Some of you may remember my thread and how I acquired her, I'll link to it.
The issue with massive puppies is, puppies generally are a PITA a lot of the time, but when they're huge it can be so much more a problem!
When people come to visit (and she has more visitors than me!), she naturally wants to jump all over them and she's bloody huge. If she was a 'normal' sized puppy it would still be annoying but not as much! And I've had issues with stopping this mainly to do with the fact that people are all 'Ahh she's alright aren't ya' when I'm shouting 'Down! NO!' etc. So she is encouraged-the humans need training as much as she does!
Generally though she isn't bad, she's house trained 90% (still does the odd excited wee), has only ever chewed one thing she wasn't supposed to (my expensive shoe! ) and doesn't tend to steal food or anything.
She knows sit, jump, speak (the latter two I have taught as I learned teaching them to do this on command can be useful for them learning to NOT do it 'just because'), but I've had training issues regarding her pulling on the leash. That's been difficult and I hope it will just come in time. People have recommended a halter for her and I am still undecided on that.
When we're out and about, I have only had one person react badly and all she did was sniff at them and they were apparently petrified. Her recall is okay, but I agree It's so difficult, 'don't let them off until they've achieved 100% recall' -how the chuff is one meant to do that? You can't practice properly at recall until the dog is off the lead. Mostly, she comes and I've utilized a whistle and clicker which has helped. She's nervous of other dogs and sometimes when she's nervous, shackles come up and she snaps.
I had a funny incident last week when she went to play with a staffy about 1 year old and it was a lot stronger than she thought , I think. He jumped at her and she rolled about 20 feet down the hill. Since then, I've noticed she's more reluctant to growl at other dogs. The owner was apologetic but I understood not his fault no harm done.
I'm not sure what is 'normal' recall wise for a pup of her age? I taught her it in the house first, and then in safe, quiet areas but you have to teach them to recall from unusual situations too, dogs can't just take a learned behavior and apply it to a new area/situation like humans can.
I would recommend the book 'total recall' I learned a lot from that. I was a bit worried about aggression at one point but I am not now, it seemed to be just a bit of a stage for her, she's not quite past the nippy stage, but she isn't doing it often at all, haven't had any more issues with growling or anything.
One issue is, people tend to think she's much older, even an adult dog, because she's so huge! And look at me funny when she's bouncing all over the place. And I've no idea how big she will end up being as she's basically a mutt, but her Granddad is best described as effing enormous. (Small horse, anyone)?
I didn't expect to have a puppy, and I share care of her with my friend as we live together, which was essential, couldn't have had her on my own. But as for a long time it was touch and go and had I not taken her, she wouldn't have survived, I sometimes look at her being a complete dickhead 
and forgive her!
She is actually quite a bit bigger now, than these pics. I must get some more recent ones.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2536673-Genuinely-dont-know-who-is-being-unreasonable-here-Puppy-related
cbigs ·
29/03/2016 20:18
Awww luna is beautiful! Dog agility would be right up Bernard's street . The trainer we see said he's vocal one word for it because he's very bright. 
Not why springs to mind when one of our cats is in his mouth or I'm wiping shit off the couch ...
We're going to try doggy daycare one or two days a week.
I totally think he'll end up less of a dick head but still a bit of a twat as a pp so beautifully said
OP posts:
WhoaCadburys ·
30/03/2016 09:52
Me, me, me! My God, this thread is like therapy!!
Have huge, I mean wollopingly huge, floppy, gangly, dyno-puppy of five months - he's like a bloody muck spreader once he comes in muddy. Charges like a rampaging bull through the house looking for food.
Haha - you got a WHITE dog . our other dog is nearly white - gits that we are
Shall we keep this thread going? I started the puppy support one pre-nc, but it's now just loads of people posting cute pictures of baby pups looking innocent and behaving. We need something for the retrobates!
cbigs ·
30/03/2016 19:11
I was hoping it wouldn't just be Bernard that is a total dickhead. the day we got him he jumped through a pain of glass in the front door and cut his leg open. £300 out of hours vets bill.
Day 1!!!
OP posts:
YouveCatToBeKittenMe ·
30/03/2016 22:01
I had a dog called Sadie
We had to call the coastguard and cliff rescue out for her once whilst on holiday 
So beware all you Sadie owners
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