Golden retriever gone backwards

[itsbritneybeyatch]

We have an 18mth old female who was fairly well trained. She was partial to trying to chew my pants and socks, turn the bin over, jumping up and digging but there was much improvement ...ALMOST sorted. She had menstruated twice on the advice of the breeder and then we had her ‘done’. She seemed fine for about a fortnight afterwards but now she has reverted back to her old behaviour - trying to chew my pants and socks and all the other non desirable acts as well. Is this normal? Do we have to go back to puppy training again or will she calm down ? Any advice or experiences appreciated.

It's the teenage months I suspect (although I've never had a bitch). They all seem to go through it from what I hear - I had a dog with brilliant recall who suddenly developed a dreadful hearing problem and I couldn't let him off the lead for ages. I just did lots of training and games - it doesn't last as long as the puppy months though!

Is she getting enough good quality exercise? A tired doggy is a happy (and better behaved) doggy!

She's into the dreaded 'adolescent' phase of life!

Not much you can do really, other than walk her legs off so she's tired. Keep consistent with your training and just ride it out. She'll be great by the time she's 3!

Fellow goldie owner here- she just become a teenager! She will grow out of it but in the mean time, find a fun dog class for a bit more training, plenty of walks and toys she can chew, Kongs are good.
A couple of mine were sock monsters all their lives - you just have to pick them up or live with odd socks imo. As for bin raiding- can you put the bin where she can't get it or get one that goes in a cupboard? If you can prevent the problem before it starts, you will break the habit.
Jumping up is a pain, for you. For your dog, it's very rewarding as they get your undivided attention. Every time she jumps up, turn away , step back and don't make eye contact. Don't speak or touch her. As soon as all paws are on the floor, praise and reward. All of mine would sell their souls for dried liver!

So exercise and more training is the way to go.

Here is a pic of mine, looking soulful.

Ha ha ha! I know that look! Thanks all... you’ve made me feel better. We do exercise her well (my husband makes her run alongside his bike when he takes her) . This happens twice a day. So it looks like teenagerhood it is! Consistency and perseverance then for the foreseeable.

I have a sock monster too, though she's a jack russell, not a golden (got one of those too but she never chews socks, just carries them around). We solved the issue pretty much accidentally - since socks truly were her most favourite thing in the world and I felt bad taking them away from her, I started giving her our pairless or broken socks tied in a couple of knots. She just recently turned 1 and hasn't touched a knotless sock for 3 or 4 months.
Probably it is not the best way to stop sock stealing since they might not be able to differentiate between socks they can play with and those they can, but it has really worked great with our girl. Obviously don't try it if you are not 100% sure that the dog does not swallow pieces of the socks (ours just tears them apart and spits out the pieces) since lots of dogs, especially retrievers, have been treated for blocked intestines due to ingesting socks...

Mine is 3 and has grown out of sock theft recently. I rather miss it!

I like the idea of giving her knotted socks... might try that if things don’t improve soon. My greatest fear is that she pulls out some of my pants to chew whilst we’ve got guests I don’t think I’ll miss her chewing socks when we hopefully get rid of that habit BUT I will miss the cheeky ‘look’ when she gets caught

My goldie reverted to puppyhood at the same age...she's brilliant (for the most part) now she is three, but she still jumps up occasionally, especially if she thinks someone is carrying food. No sock stealing though!

Don’t count on her growing out of sock-stealing... our retriever (Toller not Golden) very quickly learned that we’d swap things like socks for a treat. He’s now 4 and when he feels he’s not getting enough attention he will go sock-hunting - he’ll get them out of the toes of wellies - and then bring them to you in triumph he never eats them thankfully and will give them to you if you hold out your hand ... I think he’ll still be doing it when he’s old and doddery!

My 8 yr old golden likes to have a sock in his mouth when he coms to ask to go outside!
We have had the pants embarrassment too

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Another Goldie with a sock habit here.
He will ignore all other clothes but go on sock hunting missions, no sea why. He’s not very destructive at all and never has been since a pup but he just HAS to eat ( and I mean eat) socks

When they eat socks do they digest them or throw them up?

I always worry that they'll get stuck. But I don't much like clearing up the dog sick either.

I have a golden retriever.

The vet has just had a large extension to his house... probably courtesy of my dog's eating habits.

At his last stomach pump (I thought he'd eaten some paracetamol) the vet found: two socks, a large quantity of grass, one Christmas decoration and "several bits and bobs".

Previously he has eaten a roll of wrapping paper, some tin foil and sicked up four pound coins.

He loves pants and was straining away once on a walk in the middle of a cricket pitch until a pair of dd's stripy pants gradually emerged.

I had a good chuckle at that!